breastfeeding . in public, in sitting rooms, at friends houses? your thoughts?

Question

if you breast feed what do you do when your baby is hungry and you are out and about? do you excuse yourself to a private area? what about friends' houses? is there places you absolutely wouldnt breastfeed?

i'm an expectant mother and i'm not sure what the etiquet on this is, but i def plan to breastfeed.

Answer 1

Do what you feel is OK. Some mothers cover up and some don't. But breastfeeding is the BEST thing for your baby and you should not feel embarrassed by doing it in public.

I usually have a blanket with me when I go out. I personally don't like to expose my breasts so I cover up. Dressing/fitting rooms in department stores are wonderful places. They are private, have a place to sit, and are clean. At church, I excuse myself to the Mother's Lounge. At a friend's house, if it's all women and I know them then I don't bother - I just use my shirt as a cover. If there's men around or people I don't know, then I cover up with a blanket.

I have even fed my baby in a corner of a bookstore and on a bench at a quilt show. Sometimes, there aren't too many private places. But all you really need is a place to sit and a blanket.

In short - there is no etiquette on breastfeeding in public. But do what makes you feel the most comfortable.

Answer 2

When I'm in public and my son is hungry, if its a place i feel comfortable. i drape a blanket over my shoulder and latch hI'm on and go about my shopping. If its a place im not comfortable with or its extremely crowded i will ask to use a fitting room. I have also nursed my son in the car before going into a store.

As for being at friends and family's houses, i simply ask if it would make them uncomfortable if i nursed there of if they would like me to go to another room.

The only place i refuse to breastfeed is in a bathroom, that's disgusting, i wouldn't eat my meal in a bathroom and i don't expect my son too.

Research the breastfeeding laws in your area. Don't be afraid to ask when you out in public to use a fitting room. Some stores have mothers lounges where you can nurse in private. Don't be afraid to ask your friends and family how they feel about it!
Congrats on your baby!

Answer 3

It would depend whose house I was at, if a close girlfriend then i would feed in front of her (nothing can be seen anyway) if in a coffee shop I would use a blanket (but always asked) Debenhams were the best & most child friendly, they said if people did'nt like it they could eat somewhere else! There are more feeding rooms now than almost 17 years ago when I had my 1st. One experience that has always stuck with me, was in East Croydon Mcdonalds, I asked if they minded if I fed my baby (this was 1991) they said yes that was fine & did I want the bottle warmed up, I explained that I was breastfeeding - i may as well have said I had 4 heads the look i got - i was told to use the toilets - have you been in there toilets! I asked if he would eat his burger & chips in the loo - of course not he said, I rest my case I said and stormed out. I was so angry - my poor sister was just hungry but would not give them money on principle!

Answer 4

Congratulations. I say that you should breastfeed where ever you feel comfortable doing it, If I was at a friend's house I would always ask first if they minded. I would never get offended by a breastfeeding mother, I think it is a wonderful thing and the most natural thing in the world. Don't worry what people think.

Answer 5

I nurse wherever i am.

I used a sling with her as a newborn which helped a lot. I would walk and wear her- and nobody knew I was nursing.

Do I nurse in restrooms? NO.

Check these out:
www.hotslings.com
www.newnativebaby.com
www.mayawrap.com

When she got a little older:
www.babyhawk.com

Good luck to you!

Edit: the whole "covering your baby while you nurse" thing- doesn't really work. Why? Babies don't want to be covered. It's hot in there and they want to see things.

Also- practice at home nursing- when you get the hang of it, you will find that very little shows and the only people that see ANYTHING are those that are watching. I pull my shirt down to cover the breast and my arm covers my side- nothing shows at all.

Edit: Mandy- good point! I didn't think about our own bathroom. So, to rephrase, no, I never have nursed nor will I in a public restroom to "get away" from pyring eyes. However, I have nursed our babies in our own bathtub- did just last night as a matter of fact during our bath.

Answer 6

It would depend on the situation, but what I found easiest was to take a big thin blanket out with baby.

It didn't matter were I was I could just drape the blanket over my shoulder and baby, undo my top and bra, get baby latched on and just sit there as if nothing was happening.

I have done this in airports, cafes, restaurants with waitresses leaning over serving and they don't have a clue. The only time I had a problem with this was when people would come over trying to look at the baby as they didn't realise I was feeding ( I think they were always more redder than me though lol!)

BTW - I don't believe there is anything slightly "Muslim" about using a blanket to cover up, especially if it saves other people blushes. Yes, it is a natural thing to do, and people are alot more considerate of breast-feeding mothers these days - but this doesn't mean that they don't feel uncomfortable. I would be more than happy to get my **** out left, right and charlie - but as long as baby is fed, and EVERYONE is happy, does it matter whether a blanket is involved or not!

Answer 7

i use a blanket. if i am uncomfortable where i am or feel like those around me might be, i excuse myself. it's not always possible to excuse yourself though and you have to feed baby when he/she is hungry. so it's a good idea to learn to use a blanket or sling.
i don't generally nurse in church on Sunday mornings when there are alot of people there, but i will on sunday nights when there is less. i don't nurse in any crowded room...this is a comfort thing for me.. I believe a mother should be able to nurse wherever she is when the baby is hungry. oh yea, I wont nurse in a bathroom.

Answer 8

I excuse myself now because my son is a toddler and way too active and nosy. If I'm at a friend's house though I just nurse him where ever because there's usually less going on than say... the mall.
I've breastfed EVERYWHERE and didn't start going off in private until he was 10-12 months depending on his mood.
There is no etiquette. Everyone has different opinions. I don't cover and no one has said anything, not that I'd care if they did. If they don't like seeing a baby eat then that's their hangup


ETA..... I notice how a lot of breastfeeder say they'd never nurse in a bathroom. Now- I would never stand for being FORCED to nurse in a bathroom but am I seriously the only one who's ever been uh... busy... and baby walks in for a snack?
Gotta do what you gotta do to do your business in peace

Answer 9

I nursed my daughter whenever and wherever. I can't really think of anyplace that I would take a baby, but wouldn't breastfeed.

It can be awkward to nurse in public at first, so do what you are comfortable with. La Leche League meetings are a great place to get some practice nursing in a semi-public place. A sling can make things easier as well.

http://llli.org/NB/NBpublic.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/bfip.html
http://peppermint.com

Answer 10

I won't breastfeed anywhere I wouldn't eat myself (in the toilets, for one), and it's appropriate to nurse a baby anywhere it's appropriate for an adult to eat _and then some_; I can hold off on having a sandwich, but babies cannot be asked by sensible mothers to wait on having milk.

If you can give a baby a bottle in a particular place, it is certainly appropriate to nurse in that particular place.

I'm not friends with anybody who would think anything of it.

Usually I just find a quiet corner and go to it. I have nursed in pubs, I have nursed in parks. Nobody bats an eye.

The whole covering-with-a-blanket thing is silly. A bit too Muslim for me, for lack of a better way to put it. There is no more than the briefest flash of nipple anyway, and I refuse to act as though there is something shameful about giving a baby his or her birthright.