Anyone had any negativity Bfeeding in public?

[diva2010]

Just wondering if anyone has experienced others disapproving of breastfeeding in public. At the moment I'm still planning exactly where I will feed when I'm out but would love to feel comfortable enough to just feed where ever we happen to be when baby is hungry! I'm fine about people seeing a little boob, I guess I'm just worried what others think and would hate it if someone made a comment!

 

[Kess]

Not that I can remember for his first year, only a bit from extended family (mostly inlaws). One funny look from a lady at a Center Parcs café (and half hour later a big grin from another woman), and some young teenage girls on Wednesday at the library didn't know what to do with themselves lol. No comments at all from strangers.

Just to add, I've always just fed whenever, wherever, not hiding at all. I have been all primed with what I'd say (the law etc) but never needed it. Last weekend I fed in McDonalds and at the next table were 4 teenage boys. DH was a bit on edge (and I had a clever riposte prepared about never having seen a real life breast before ) but they didn't even bat an eyelid.

 

[Aimee1003]

My 14 year old nephew left the room yesterday when I started breastfeeding and wouldn't return until I finished. And I use a nursing cover!!!! Oh well. It didn't bother me. I am confident in breastfeeding and believe that the more of us that nurse in public, the.more accepted it will become. Other than that I have not had any other negative experiences...

 

[staralfur]

I got some really nasty looks from an older couple at a restaurant, and they said something to our waitress about it. I was kind of shaken for a bit but got past it pretty quickly! I have NIPed countless times and that was the only issue I ever had.

 

[SassyLou]

I have always nursed my babies whenever they wanted it regardless of where I was! My boys are 13 and 11 years, I nursed them both for around a year each, I never ever had any comments.

DD is 4 months old EBF and is fed whenever she wants it regardless of where we are. I was in Morrisons cafe the other day and heard a woman say don't look now but she's breastfeeding, I made a big point of looking at her and smiling (I really wanted to be nasty and challenge her), I think because I was nice to her in made her feel that she had to be nice back lol and she even commented how lovely LO is!

On the other hand was in a little deli/cafe we have in town feeding the other day and an old lady kept smiling, when I got up to pay she commented how lovely it was to see a baby being fed the way a baby should be.

I am very discreet, but only for my own sake not that I believe you have to be, I don't use a nursing cover but just lift my top up enough for DD to latch on. DH says you can never see anything.

xxx

 

[LegoHouse]

I haven't had an issue and I didn't even cover when I was out today at a massive park with loads of people. I don't really have any issues now my family are always so supportive when I have a wobble and worry what people will think. My baby needs feeding he will be fed

 

[Kirei]

No problem, and been smiled at and even thanked before now. However if I do it and my mum's around, she makes a big deal and says everyone's going to be embarrassed, and I'm not being respectful then I lose my confidence and LO gets upset. It really hurts when she says these things.
EVERYONE else is great! I've never had any problems and I NIP anywhere I need to, sometimes covered, mostly not. If anyone looks over I just smile and they normally smile back. Sometimes I get little kids coming to watch which I think is cute xx

 

[Lilllian]

I had no problems at all feeding in public from anyone in 12 months, except for some men the other day (showed tiny bit of nipple but I was not sitting near them) and they gave a few wayhays, but apart from that - all positive. Think my mum is a bit mortified about how open I am though - she is a bit prudish though I have even fed my baby in church once - but needs must!

I did get angry at a Woman who ranted on facebook once about feeding a baby in front of her on a train - shock, horror!! apparently she should have had a tent over her as she showed some boob! idiot- made me very cross!

I think it's too hard to breast feed if you don't do it in public. I think that's why a lot of women give up after a few months - the hiding away is too difficult (and boring!).

 

[albs]

nope, and i feed everywhere. i do it very discretely though. most of the time i dont think people notice.
my friend's boyfriend left the room whilst i was feeding LO, but not in a bad way and i don't have a problem that. if people don't want to see me feeding that's fine as long as they're the ones to do the moving.

 

[Dk1234]

I don't nurse in Public but I don't find it that hard. Certainly not hard enough to quit. I just bring a bottle or I'll go to a dressing room or in the car. I'm not comfortable with it but I won't quit nursing over it.

 

[theraphosidae]

I haven't have any negativity...the hardest part is finding somewhere comfy to do it! I cover up but it's because I have HUGE areolas so even if Callum's mouth is open as wide as possible, you can still see them. I don't cover at home, only when my in-laws were visiting as I wasn't comfortable doing it in front of my FIL with no cover.

 

[Eala]

I've had nothing but positivity nursing in public Most people either don't bat an eyelid, don't realise haha or are openly supportive.

I actually had more negativity when my first DD was small and I bottle-fed her. Go figure

 

[emera35]

I had no problems at all feeding in public from anyone in 12 months, except for some men the other day (showed tiny bit of nipple but I was not sitting near them) and they gave a few wayhays, but apart from that - all positive.

I'd definitely rather get a "wayhay" than a "tutt" though!

From 11 months last time and 5 months this time, i've only had 2 negative experiences. Once i was "tutted" and had filthy looks from a couple in a restaurant, who complained to the waitress. She offered for them to move tables or leave, i nearly cheered at her and left a big tip! I wonder if it would have disturbed their meal more if i'd left my son screaming hungry until i'd finished?
The other time really upset me. I was caught short and ended up stopping in the park to feed. A middle aged woman (maybe 45 or so) was walking past and for some reason felt the need to stop suddenly in front of me, look at me aghast and hiss "that's disgusting!" with quite some venom, and then walk off muttering! Pretty odd, but it left me feeling pretty upset! Managed to shake it off though, as it wasn't a rational reaction to what i was doing, so i've since chosen to ignore it.
On the whole, people either don't notice at all, or they smile

 

[Bevziibubble]

I've not experienced any real negativity when breastfeeding in public, a lot of people do look but then look away again. I don't mind people seeing me nurse in public, I think it's important to normalise breastfeeding and the more people who feed in public will give more mums the confidence to do this. I'd love to think that I had maybe inspired someone to give breastfeeding a go one day!

I was breastfeeding my DD in the back garden on a sun lounger a few months ago when the weather was nice, and I heard giggling. I looked up and saw two boys peeping through a gap in the fence giggling at the fact I was breastfeeding! It really amused me to be honest how funny they found it, but on the other hand it is sad how over-sexualised breasts have become and that people are put off breastfeeding.

 

[diva2010]

I have just been shown how to use my baby sling properly and I love it especially for Bfeeding in. I'm still a bit clumsy and fumbly getting her on, but I can just go somewhere quiet to get her in place and then I can have hands free and even walk around while feeding it's great I love it! It's obvious if it's quiet that I am feeding cos my LO makes loud sucking and swallowing noises, but I can't explain how much more relaxed I am with Bfeeding in public when I have it on!
Some people are so backwards about the whole Bfeeding thing: I met a girl the other day who is my friends friend and I asked if she was Bfeeding- she answers: no, I know it's the most natural thing in the world, but so is going to the toilet and you dont do that in public! Wtf!! She was 22 aswell, thought younger generations would be more open minded!!

 

[kat2504]

I have had no comments at all in 4 months. I do try to plan my outings a little bit now as my LO is starting to be a bit of a pain to feed in public as he is getting distracted and seems to have taken a particular dislike to Costa coffee establishments and tries to play peekaboo with my cardigan. But I have pretty much fed him wherever necessary, including in cafes,pubs and restaurants, and parks etc. And nobody has ever passed any comment to me. Most people either don't notice or choose to mind their own business.

 

[Kristina6292]

Not had any bad comments but had a few people staring. I don't cover up, just pull my top up.
I did go up to my work which is a pub and fed and the barman phoned down to the kitchen and said "omg, kris has got her boobs out, seriously come down and have a look!"
I just laughed so much, he obvs hasn't seen someone BF before.

 

[special_kala]

I had a woman and her 2 young daughters start laughing every time i fed Willow at the park which i found pretty pathetic.

Have had a few woman come up to me and say how nice it is to see someone breast feeding and well done

A old man walked past me at a car boot while i was feeding Willow in the car and i got up to help him and he smiled at me and said no you carry on love.

One lady who took a interest on the train said well done and to keep it up but then turned round to her friend and said "did you know so and so didnt even bother trying to breast feed....".

Im a very confident NIP so i think people would have to be very brave to say something to me.