Is it ok to breastfeed in public?

Answer 1

This is a rather tricky question! I suppose it would be OK, as long as it's not being done in a place where you, yourself, would feel offended if you saw someone else doing it!!!

Answer 2

When I had my kids, I breastfed them and there were times I was in public places that I had to breastfeed my babies. I'm naturally a shy person, but I had to get over it because when your baby is crying in hunger, you just gotta do what you gotta do regardless of what the general public thinks. Besides, in 10 years will it matter what they thought? Now, I was modest about it and always carried a baby blanket to cover myself and the baby while nursing. I don't recall anyone ever looking down on me or making a negative comment either. If they did, their opinion wouldn't matter because the real need is feeding my child. A woman's life doesn't have to end shut in the house just because she became a Mother. I doubt women in the pioneer days, or other era's before us made a big deal out of nursing a child in public.

Maybe a better question should be, "Is it ok for guys to 'sag' their pants in public?" How many young men have I seen driving in my car, walking along in public places with their pants hung well below their buttocks with the only thing that covering their obvious butts was the boxer underwear they love to show off? If someone's got a problem with you breastfeeding your baby, tell that person perhaps they need to address the kids today who think sagging is cool. I really don't enjoy looking at their rear ends and IMHO, they should be arrested for indecent exposure. But, no, our society as a whole accepts it! Therefore, don't worry about giving your baby the food he/she was naturally designed to receive from its Mother in public!

Answer 3

That's like asking, "Is it ok to blow your runny nose in public?"

Women were given breasts to nourish their children, not as decorations for men to ogle. If a baby needs to eat, there is no better nourishment for his or her developing body and brain than mama's milk.

Why would you make your hungry child wait to receive sustainence if you happen to be out in public. Your breasts are attached to your body so that they go with you when you're out and so that there is always a source of food for your baby when needed. If you don't want other people looking at your breast while you feed your child, then put a receiving blanket across your shoulder. If they have a problem with public breastfeeding, it's not your concern. The health and well-being of your child is your concern.

You don't have to let your entire breast hang out in the open to breastfeed your baby. Get some nursing tops that have holes cut out for this purpose or wear layers that make it easy to provide extra coverage when you pull out your breast to nurse. There are ways to be discreet if you feel you need to be discreet.

But let me say, just for the record, there is absolutely nothing sexual about exposing your breast to feed your child. Anyone who thinks that is a complete moron. The fact that someone even has to ask if it's ok to properly care for their baby in public just goes to show how warped our priorities as a society have become. Do what your baby needs you to do and let other people deal with their own hangups.

Answer 4

No, i think it is really not OKay to breastfeed in public because it is embarrassing and people is going to start looking at you like what the? Why there is a woman breastfeeding in here even no matter where you are. it is more safer and easier to breastfeed at home because it is more safer. In the public, when you have like diapers and baby products. If your baby needs something or cry in the middle of breastfeeding, it will give you a whole lot mess. So, it is not ok to breastfeed in public.......Sorry but not OK.

Answer 5

Society views it as OK, as long as it is discrete. People will stare though, and some will find it repulsive. For this reason I would not allow my wife to do it if we had a child, nor would she want to. It brings attention to you. But I have seen it done very nicely, with a towel over the entire baby and chest.

Sometimes the boy (or girl) has to eat, and at a mall or something, there is nowhere to go.

Answer 6

It's okay and it's often necessary. Once you have a baby, you start to look at your breasts as purely functional, and so breastfeeding in public doesn't seem like a faux pas anymore (not that it ever was). Mothers just have to make sure they cover themselves with a blanket or something so that they're not on display, just as much for themselves as for others. I think that part is just common courtesy to the people around you.

Answer 7

Should be. Some people get offended, but really - it's just a breast, and it's not even being exhibited in a sexual manner. It's just an everyday thing.
A social taboo on breast feeding in public does nothing to help promote this more natural manner of feeding a baby.

Answer 8

i have to say yes my breasts were put on my body to feed my babies and if my baby is hungery in the middle of the target or the mall then im gonna feed the baby... im aloud to eat in a public place so why cany my baby?.... now i do agree with not just whipping it out for all to see but so long as nothing private can be seen nothing is wrong with it... like i said breast are made to feed babies not for men to drool and feel all over...

Answer 9

Yes, but please try to be somewhat subtle. For example, don't plant yourself in the middle of the crowd and pop one out for the baby. Cover up. I breast-fed in public and always tried to be discrete. Granted, my child was very active and would sometimes throw the blanket off, but I tried to keep covered up as much as possible.

Answer 10

An hungry baby will not know public or not. No matter how we take it if there is nothing else to keep the baby we have to buy it that way.