Breast feeding in public? Your views?

[Dk1234]

i dont want to see anyones naked boobs whether they are nursing or otherwise. being courteous in public doesnt make ne an anti-nurser, i nursed for 18 months with one and 10 months with my other. keep your breats where they belong, in babes mouth, or in your top.

It's pretty difficult to breastfeed without your breast in your baby's mouth, surely?!

Am I the only one who wants to know where these 'radical' women waving their breasts around are? I know some pretty 'hardcore' lactivists and I have yet to see any one of them get their boob out or leave it out when they are not breastfeeding their baby, which seems to be what people are now talking about here. So where are these women?

Well personally I'm assuming all of you are leaving your boobs out for everyone to see because that's the only thing I've said I don't agree with and you're all arguing with me

 

[Dragonfly]

I think I'm bowing out of this one. No one is even listening to what I'm saying. You feel the way you feel because BFing is very normal to you, see a breast full on seems very natural to you. You are in a bubble though if you can't understand that this isn't the same for everyone. I'm all for normalizing things. I talk about nursing in everyday conversation but I don't shove it down people's throats, I post about it on fb on the rare occassion but I don't clog up people's newsfeeds with it, I nurse my son if he needs nursing but I am always respectful of those around me. That's how you are gonna make people comfortable with it.

Not that the rest of us make people uncomfortable , I think its like some made up row and not nice being told what to do with your body and baby. I nurse discrete, not because someone tells me to. Because I do. Many others do but shouldnt be told to do it like they have to hide away. And some just have problems with breastfeeding anyway and discrete isnt good enough. yes I met plenty like that.

 

[meli1981]

i said breasts belong in babes mouth or in your top.

 

[Button#]

That discrete issues some have, thats your own problems. Mums dont have to take orders from you and be discrete.

That goes both ways. Why do you get to dictate if their children see a naked breast? It's not your choice to make. I would think as a pro-BFer you would get that, but apparently that 'my child, my choice' thing only applies to the people who disagree with you.

Because a naked breast feeding a baby is not offensive. Discriminating against women who breastfeed in public, no matter how discreet, is.

That is your opinion. Do we want to start parenting based on other people's opinion.

It's not my opinion it is enshrined in law. I may find it offensive for my son to see women wearing a short skirt but I would not expect all women to go round with long skirts on in order to respect my parenting choices as it is unreasonable.

What is deemed offensive is so subjective. I could easily take offense at someone saying they don't want to see my breast!

 

[pinklightbulb]

I guess I'm just not seeing what there is to get offended about at all.

 

[Tasha]

Really? So by NIP, you're not thinking about your child's best interests? Again, so hypocritical.

No. But I don't want my seven year old seeing a naked boob. You don't get to decide if that's right or wrong. Just like I don't get to decide if BFing your baby was right or wrong.

All your arguments focus on your right to feed your baby, with no consideration to the rights of any other parent in the world. That's what I find baffling. Give me my rights, but you don't get rights too.

Beyond hypocritical.

If you want you seven year old to see boobs, go ahead. You don't get to make that choice for mine. And really, you can see a full boob just by looking up. No one is invading your space.

But why should another child's rights become before that of her own? You can very easily remove an older child, distract them, turn them away, whatever should that be what you want to do but when a baby needs to feed it needs to feed. Some people simply cannot nurse discretly, and so why should their baby be left distressed when a breast will not distress a seven year old.

 

[Randianne]

has any one seen these woman that breastfeed naked or something? seems like a stupid argument when most of us would breastfeed not bearing all anyway. I have breastfed in a room of people and they didnt even notice. Yet to see these ones that arnt discrete.

That's my question. We've been talking about exposing a full on nipple, and yet people are acting like we want to lock BFers away for a flash of cleavage. We're only asking for courtesy for those who don't want their kids exposed to nudity.

To those of you who are asking why I wouldn't want my kid to see a breast, do you want to have to explain your parenting decisions to everyone? Or do you just want them to respect them?

As for the 'get over it' comment, I think you need to 'get over' being arrogant enough to think that the only child that matters is yours.

 

[pinklightbulb]

 

[midori1999]

I mean seriously you don't see a difference in breasts and mouths? For one we don't walk around topless all day. I am a nursing mother and don't wanna see someone's boobs. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it might make say your teenage son, or some other teenager, some random man walking by, a pastor. Fact of the matter is breast are sexual. Maybe some people don't like that they are but I am proud that they are. My husband can't wait to have them back. Too bad he has gone and knocked me up before I even stopped BFing. You can't change the fact that over time breasts have become sexual to most everyone. IMO people should be mindful of this and not just whip out their boobs. I just don't understand why people think this is so wrong. Its so easy to nurse discretely. i hate she. People say, don't like it, don't look because that's just a poor attitude if you ask me. What if everyone had this attitude about things. The world would be a miserable place. I just think you should be mindful and courteous to those around you. Same as I wouldnt let my baby scream in a public place. It's natural, it's just a baby but it isn't polite. I mean imagine if I said, don't like it, don't listen.

As for the bit in bold, your husband has missed a trick, because breasts are dual purpose, they can feed a baby and be sexual too. My husband loves my breasts, I would go so far as to say he is a bit obsessed with them and he has enjoyed them fully in the 19 months I have been breastfeeding my daughter. Just not while I am actually feeding my daughter obviously, because he can seperate the two purposes and he doesn't find them sexual during breastfeeding.

That said, he doesn't 'get them back', they're mine....

This is the only comment I feel the need to quote because I'm obviously not Ashamed of BFing. I'm so proud I have done it for al long and guess what I've never made anyone uncomfortable. Im 11 weeks pregnant btw and still bfing because bfing is very important to me. I guess I'm just a considerate person. I. Dont think flashing your boobs around makes BFing normal to people, it puts them off. not everyone understands BFing. we live in a world with a lot of different people. Imo those people seeing someone feeding their child in a way with no regard to anyone else, just makes it look bad. I mean serioisly if you want to normalize somethjng you dont go anout it in a way that offends a bunch of people. maybe one day if lots of people nip without making a huge spectacle of themselves, it will be completely jormal and then it wont matter if you flash a boob. fact is it does offend people and it has done more harm than good. Much like nurse ins, I think they bring negative attention to BFing. It's treating BFing like it is some radical thing. but thats just my opinion and i dont expect ANY of you to listen tk it or respect it. I obviously was speaking in terms of our own countries, the comment about countries where they walk around topless has confused me.

My husband could care less if they are being used for another purpose it's me. The last thing I want at the end of the day is someone else pawing at my boobs. I am not an idiot I realize you can still use your boobs however you want.

I think it's particularly pertinent that you chose to ignore my question whether, in order to be considerate to others, I keep my rather unsightly burn scar, which some people may not wish to see and may be repulsed by even, covered. Do you think I should keep it covered in order to be considerate to others?

Nurse ins are something completely seperate to a Mother feeding going about her normal business breastfeeding in public. I actually agree with you I think they can create the wrong impression, but I also think they can have their place. Once upon a time people thought women chaining themselves to railings, throwing themselves under the King's horse and burning their bras was radical, as well as off putting. I mean, those dreadful women, couldn't they behave with some decorum? However, all of those things and what they related to have made the world a much better place for women today.

You keep mentioning women 'flashing their boobs about'. I really do not see how a woman sitting down, feeding her baby, who happens to expose most of her breast to feed is 'flashing her boobs about' or 'flashing her boobs in your face'. Presumably you're not sitting a foot in front of her and the nature of breastfeeding means in itself that a baby or toddler is going to be covering the breast to a large extent.

This link contains a woman breastfeeding and she's pulled her top down to do it. Do you really think she is 'flashing her boobs about'?

https://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01563/breastfeeding_1563610c.jpg

I didn't answer that question because I thought it was a little crazy to be honest. A scar that you can't help isn't the same thing at all as someone showing no consideration for others when it comes to nudity. I hinestly don't understand the comparison.

It's a pity it is so hard for you to understand. You were talking about being considerate of others. People may not want to see women breastfeeding, people may not want to see my scarring. I may not be able to help being scarred, but I could cover up. Same as I could cover up when breastfeeding. But I don't and the law is on my side.

How about I make it easier for you. Some people don't want to see breastfeeding in public at all covered or not. What about being considerate towards them? Perhaps none of us should breastfeed in public at all? After all, we don't have to.

You seem to be avoiding the issue yet again though, is the woman in the photo linked 'flashing her boobs about' or not?

 

[pinklightbulb]

But you can't just not feed a baby. Of course the child needing to be fed matters more than some mother being offended on her child's behalf.

 

[Randianne]

That goes both ways. Why do you get to dictate if their children see a naked breast? It's not your choice to make. I would think as a pro-BFer you would get that, but apparently that 'my child, my choice' thing only applies to the people who disagree with you.

Oh here we go...."will someone please think about the chiiiiiildren" It really does irk me when people use children as an excuse to display their own prejudices.

Seriously? You think your children are going to be scarred for life by seeing a bit of boob? And a small bit at that? Do you take them to a swimming pool? Plenty of boob on show there. How about the beach? Or any high street, or park on a warm summers day. Flesh is everywhere.

If your child is so close to me that they can see a part of my boob whilst I am feeding, simply encourage your child not to invade someone else's space in that way.

Really? So by NIP, you're not thinking about your child's best interests? Again, so hypocritical.

No. But I don't want my seven year old seeing a naked boob. You don't get to decide if that's right or wrong. Just like I don't get to decide if BFing your baby was right or wrong.

All your arguments focus on your right to feed your baby, with no consideration to the rights of any other parent in the world. That's what I find baffling. Give me my rights, but you don't get rights too.

Beyond hypocritical.

If you want you seven year old to see boobs, go ahead. You don't get to make that choice for mine. And really, you can see a full boob just by looking up. No one is invading your space.

Your right to control what your child sees ends when you leave your home. A mother's right to feed her child does not end anywhere.

Cool. So when your kid is out of the house, can I run up to them and show them people being shot in the head or tortured? I mean, by that logic it would be fine. Because you're outside, you no longer have the right to protect your child from things you don't want them to see.

 

[Natsku]

But you can't just not feed a baby. Of course the child needing to be fed matters more than some mother being offended on her child's behalf.

Exactly this. Especially when the child probably doesn't care at all about seeing a breast.

 

[pinklightbulb]

But you can't just not feed a baby. Of course the child needing to be fed matters more than some mother being offended on her child's behalf.

Exactly this. Especially when the child probably doesn't care at all about seeing a breast.

That's it The mother is likely more offended than the child, and sorry, but I don't care one bit about an adult who can take their child and walk away if they don't want their kid to see something.

 

[Dk1234]

Ahhh DK you know I love you but I just don't agree this time. Your opinion is very vaild to you, but I just do not see why something natural that has a purpose (and a very important one) should be made to be discreet just because the world has decided breasts are more a sexual object than a feeding apparatus.

I love you too but you know what in caveman times we use to go out and kill an animal for dinner and I don't think I'll be doing that to I but either. Ha ha ha just a bit if humor. Honestly I love women who nip and I wish I was more comfortable with it than I even am. I don't think you should hide away and I def don't think you shouldn't do it. I just think its possible to do it while respecting others and more importantly I think that's how we're gonna make it more accepted.

Of but has anyone seen the Luvs commercial. Google it. She is hiding with a cover with her first kid and the second kid she is pretty confident and I think that is amazing And awesome and I was so excited to see a commercial like that. She is still being discrete but its def noticeable and out there and I think that that is awesome.

 

[Natsku]

That goes both ways. Why do you get to dictate if their children see a naked breast? It's not your choice to make. I would think as a pro-BFer you would get that, but apparently that 'my child, my choice' thing only applies to the people who disagree with you.

Oh here we go...."will someone please think about the chiiiiiildren" It really does irk me when people use children as an excuse to display their own prejudices.

Seriously? You think your children are going to be scarred for life by seeing a bit of boob? And a small bit at that? Do you take them to a swimming pool? Plenty of boob on show there. How about the beach? Or any high street, or park on a warm summers day. Flesh is everywhere.

If your child is so close to me that they can see a part of my boob whilst I am feeding, simply encourage your child not to invade someone else's space in that way.

Really? So by NIP, you're not thinking about your child's best interests? Again, so hypocritical.

No. But I don't want my seven year old seeing a naked boob. You don't get to decide if that's right or wrong. Just like I don't get to decide if BFing your baby was right or wrong.

All your arguments focus on your right to feed your baby, with no consideration to the rights of any other parent in the world. That's what I find baffling. Give me my rights, but you don't get rights too.

Beyond hypocritical.

If you want you seven year old to see boobs, go ahead. You don't get to make that choice for mine. And really, you can see a full boob just by looking up. No one is invading your space.

Your right to control what your child sees ends when you leave your home. A mother's right to feed her child does not end anywhere.

Cool. So when your kid is out of the house, can I run up to them and show them people being shot in the head or tortured? I mean, by that logic it would be fine. Because you're outside, you no longer have the right to protect your child from things you don't want them to see.

I have no right and no ability to control what my child sees outside of my private property and I do not ever expect to have that right. If you did that I'd tell Maria not to look and walk away. But thats a stupid example - do breastfeeding mothers run up to your child and show them their breasts?

 

[pinklightbulb]

Ahhh DK you know I love you but I just don't agree this time. Your opinion is very vaild to you, but I just do not see why something natural that has a purpose (and a very important one) should be made to be discreet just because the world has decided breasts are more a sexual object than a feeding apparatus.

I love you too but you know what in caveman times we use to go out and kill an animal for dinner and I don't think I'll be doing that to I but either. Ha ha ha just a bit if humor. Honestly I love women who nip and I wish I was more comfortable with it than I even am. I don't think you should hide away and I def don't think you shouldn't do it. I just think its possible to do it while respecting others and more importantly I think that's how we're gonna make it more accepted.

Of but has anyone seen the Luvs commercial. Google it. She is hiding with a cover with her first kid and the second kid she is pretty confident and I think that is amazing And awesome and I was so excited to see a commercial like that. She is still being discrete but its def noticeable and out there and I think that that is awesome.

Ahh big loves all around

Of course it's an emotive topic (though I don't see why) but I always did try to be discreet where I could. What I'm saying is if someone kicked off because I flashed a bit, I see it as their problem, not mine.

Will google it and check it out

 

[Dk1234]

I mean seriously you don't see a difference in breasts and mouths? For one we don't walk around topless all day. I am a nursing mother and don't wanna see someone's boobs. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it might make say your teenage son, or some other teenager, some random man walking by, a pastor. Fact of the matter is breast are sexual. Maybe some people don't like that they are but I am proud that they are. My husband can't wait to have them back. Too bad he has gone and knocked me up before I even stopped BFing. You can't change the fact that over time breasts have become sexual to most everyone. IMO people should be mindful of this and not just whip out their boobs. I just don't understand why people think this is so wrong. Its so easy to nurse discretely. i hate she. People say, don't like it, don't look because that's just a poor attitude if you ask me. What if everyone had this attitude about things. The world would be a miserable place. I just think you should be mindful and courteous to those around you. Same as I wouldnt let my baby scream in a public place. It's natural, it's just a baby but it isn't polite. I mean imagine if I said, don't like it, don't listen.

As for the bit in bold, your husband has missed a trick, because breasts are dual purpose, they can feed a baby and be sexual too. My husband loves my breasts, I would go so far as to say he is a bit obsessed with them and he has enjoyed them fully in the 19 months I have been breastfeeding my daughter. Just not while I am actually feeding my daughter obviously, because he can seperate the two purposes and he doesn't find them sexual during breastfeeding.

That said, he doesn't 'get them back', they're mine....

This is the only comment I feel the need to quote because I'm obviously not Ashamed of BFing. I'm so proud I have done it for al long and guess what I've never made anyone uncomfortable. Im 11 weeks pregnant btw and still bfing because bfing is very important to me. I guess I'm just a considerate person. I. Dont think flashing your boobs around makes BFing normal to people, it puts them off. not everyone understands BFing. we live in a world with a lot of different people. Imo those people seeing someone feeding their child in a way with no regard to anyone else, just makes it look bad. I mean serioisly if you want to normalize somethjng you dont go anout it in a way that offends a bunch of people. maybe one day if lots of people nip without making a huge spectacle of themselves, it will be completely jormal and then it wont matter if you flash a boob. fact is it does offend people and it has done more harm than good. Much like nurse ins, I think they bring negative attention to BFing. It's treating BFing like it is some radical thing. but thats just my opinion and i dont expect ANY of you to listen tk it or respect it. I obviously was speaking in terms of our own countries, the comment about countries where they walk around topless has confused me.

My husband could care less if they are being used for another purpose it's me. The last thing I want at the end of the day is someone else pawing at my boobs. I am not an idiot I realize you can still use your boobs however you want.

I think it's particularly pertinent that you chose to ignore my question whether, in order to be considerate to others, I keep my rather unsightly burn scar, which some people may not wish to see and may be repulsed by even, covered. Do you think I should keep it covered in order to be considerate to others?

Nurse ins are something completely seperate to a Mother feeding going about her normal business breastfeeding in public. I actually agree with you I think they can create the wrong impression, but I also think they can have their place. Once upon a time people thought women chaining themselves to railings, throwing themselves under the King's horse and burning their bras was radical, as well as off putting. I mean, those dreadful women, couldn't they behave with some decorum? However, all of those things and what they related to have made the world a much better place for women today.

You keep mentioning women 'flashing their boobs about'. I really do not see how a woman sitting down, feeding her baby, who happens to expose most of her breast to feed is 'flashing her boobs about' or 'flashing her boobs in your face'. Presumably you're not sitting a foot in front of her and the nature of breastfeeding means in itself that a baby or toddler is going to be covering the breast to a large extent.

This link contains a woman breastfeeding and she's pulled her top down to do it. Do you really think she is 'flashing her boobs about'?

https://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01563/breastfeeding_1563610c.jpg

I didn't answer that question because I thought it was a little crazy to be honest. A scar that you can't help isn't the same thing at all as someone showing no consideration for others when it comes to nudity. I hinestly don't understand the comparison.

It's a pity it is so hard for you to understand. You were talking about being considerate of others. People may not want to see women breastfeeding, people may not want to see my scarring. I may not be able to help being scarred, but I could cover up. Same as I could cover up when breastfeeding. But I don't and the law is on my side.

How about I make it easier for you. Some people don't want to see breastfeeding in public at all covered or not. What about being considerate towards them? Perhaps none of us should breastfeed in public at all? After all, we don't have to.

You seem to be avoiding the issue yet again though, is the woman in the photo linked 'flashing her boobs about' or not?

You are very rude. I didn't click on that link til just now and no she isn't. She has a baby in front if her boob. I think you're the one who doesn't understand.

 

[Foogirl]

Really? So by NIP, you're not thinking about your child's best interests? Again, so hypocritical.

No. But I don't want my seven year old seeing a naked boob. You don't get to decide if that's right or wrong. Just like I don't get to decide if BFing your baby was right or wrong.

All your arguments focus on your right to feed your baby, with no consideration to the rights of any other parent in the world. That's what I find baffling. Give me my rights, but you don't get rights too.

Beyond hypocritical.

If you want you seven year old to see boobs, go ahead. You don't get to make that choice for mine. And really, you can see a full boob just by looking up. No one is invading your space.

Hardly hypocritical. You are absolutely right, my child is my priority, just as your child is yours. So, I say again, if your 7 year old is close enough to me to be gawping at part of my boob when I am Bfing, simply remind them not to be invading someone's personal space. Turn them away, teach them not to stare at other people and to mind their own business. They no more HAVE to look at it than you do, and if you cannot make your child look away, that's your problem not mine.

My daughter is exposed to all manner of rude behaviour from both adults and children, staring, making comments, whispering etc. Her life is like that and I can never stop it, all I can do is teach her how to behave in public and how to deal with things she might not want to see.

 

[pinklightbulb]

I'd rather my kid see a BFing mother and baby than see some yob on the street flashing his arse to everyone during happy hour We live down the road from a pub. So we get all sorts going on. You know what, I just take Eamon and walk away and don't make a scene about it. You can't force others to tailor their behaviour to your child. That just isn't how the world works.

 

[Foogirl]

I have no right and no ability to control what my child sees outside of my private property and I do not ever expect to have that right. If you did that I'd tell Maria not to look and walk away. But thats a stupid example - do breastfeeding mothers run up to your child and show them their breasts?

Totally agree.