News flash: There's no shame in breastfeeding in public

Right on!!

I find myself slightly uncomfortable when I see a nursing mother, same way I feel slightly uncomfortable when I see a disabled person or a really fat person. Mostly I feel uncomfortable b/c its not something I see every day and I wonder where should I put my eyes. But come on, get over it (myself included) babies and nursing moms should be welcomed with open arms just like everyone else that makes us slightly uncomfortable. It would be nice if businesses provided clean and comfortable lounges for nursing (i.e. see Nordstrom's) but if not mom's should be able to nurse in public without scorn.

The only thing I have to say is in response to the people that believe a mother should breast feed her child in the ladies room. Why don't you go and eat in the ladies (or mens as it may be) instead, since you feel it is such a good idea.

Go moms!!! This includes both those who and who do not breast feed for whatever reasons.

There's no reason not to take care of business before they leave the house. Some of these women do it just to push the envelpoe or for personal satisfaction. In either case, it is wrong. There are times when they are out all day and need to feed, but a majority of the time I would bet they had an oppurtunity not to do it in public.

Rat wrote:

There's no reason not to take care of business before they leave the house. Some of these women do it just to push the envelpoe or for personal satisfaction. In either case, it is wrong. There are times when they are out all day and need to feed, but a majority of the time I would bet they had an oppurtunity not to do it in public.

Breastfeeding, like going to the restroom, does not follow a timetable. Just happens. Live with it, and if you are "too sensible" just look the other way.

I don't think any woman in her right mind would want to show anyone her breast in public. Usually when a woman breast feeds in public, she covers herself up w/a blanket. Also, if you knew anything about babies, you would know that newborns feed every 2 - 3 hours, and if you are breast feeding it could be anywhere from 1 - 2 hours. To those who are oppose to breastfeeding in public, would you rather that a baby would fuss and cry near you, or have a nice quiet evening while the baby is feeding. What's next, banning babies in public?

What are people going to bitch about next ???
You would think there would be more important this to be concerned about than a women breast feeding a child covered with a blanket ..

Good thing some of your readers don't live in Ontario, Not only do we have laws to protect women who breastfeed, we also have a law that allows women to go topless if they wish. Unfortunately its too darn cold.

the manager there is a prude anyway

Average Joe wrote:

Breastfeeding is natural. So is urinating but if I whip it out in public and do so, I get ARRESTED! So how come a mom who whips out her breast in public does not get arrested? I thought it was illegal to show breasts in public (indecent exposure)? If there is some exception for breastfeeding then why isn't there an exception for me to show my penis in public if it is being used to release waste, a natural and very important function of the human body. Or why not sex in public, after all those kids would not be around to brest feed if sex wasn't involved. Where does it stop, who sets the line that determines what is acceptable and what is not? I say make it black and white, do not allow any form of public exposure of private parts, regardless of what they are being used for.

If you, as you so delicately put it "whip it out" to urinate, you are causing a public health hazard by not properly disposing of human waste in a public area.

MOST women who breastfeed-including myself, back in the day-realize that not everyone wants to see, nor do they want to be a "show". They would discreetly cover the exposed body part with a blanket AS THIS WOMAN DID IN THE RESTAURANT.

You know what's going on under the blanket-if you don't want to see, DON'T LOOK.

I never nursed at the dinner table but I did on the bench provide at the hostess station. Too bad, my child needed to eat on schedule no matter where I was. If I could, I found a quiet corner of the restaurants I went to, but if there wasn't one, it was the bench in front of everyone to see. Yes, I covered myself and the child with a blanket.

There's a lot of anger in this comment board. A little suprising is the majority of comments that are so angry are from men. Why such strong feelings of anger? You can't even breatfeed to begin with. It doesn't make any sense to compare feeding a child with defecating.

You have people who for what ever reason are against breast feeding (despite the medical research supporting breastfeeding) and others who support a mother's right to feed her baby in a way she see's fit to.

As far as this situation, the woman WAS being discrete. I have seen women who didn't cover themselves in the least.

Tolerance doesn't come easily to some (see many of the above comments) but perhaps they have nothing better to do than discuss how a mother feeds her own children. Tell you what, as a pregnant woman I can tell you the decision to nurse my child has been thought through. I personally am not comfortable with breastfeeding in public. So I will be pumping and bringing a bottle with me. I still don't think it's wrong to breastfeed in public, it's just not for me.

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Breastfeeding has been around since the beginning of childbirth, and after I'm dead and gone, it will still be here. Public opinion won't change that fact of life.

I breast fed my daughter and I had the manners to either sit in the ladies lounge or in my car. I would never have thought of breast feeding in public!!! As is with everything now adays, people have got to push the envelope. Breast feeding is a wonderful thing to be shared with your child and yourself and NOT to be shared with people that you don't know.

The issue is NOT whether breastfeeding in mixed company is good or bad. The issue is that the property owner has the right to decide for itself what types of behaviors will be tolerated, regardless of whether you, the invitee, agree with it. Some places have dress codes ("no shirts, no shoes, no service"), and while many customers may dislike that, it's still the owner's right to decide.

If you're upset about the restaurant's policy, then organize a boycott or a letter-writing campaign, but don't haul the lawyers into this. Whatever happened to voluntary, civil society?

Red wrote:

There's a lot of anger in this comment board. A little suprising is the majority of comments that are so angry are from men. Why such strong feelings of anger? You can't even breatfeed to begin with. It doesn't make any sense to compare feeding a child with defecating.
You have people who for what ever reason are against breast feeding (despite the medical research supporting breastfeeding) and others who support a mother's right to feed her baby in a way she see's fit to.
As far as this situation, the woman WAS being discrete. I have seen women who didn't cover themselves in the least.
Tolerance doesn't come easily to some (see many of the above comments) but perhaps they have nothing better to do than discuss how a mother feeds her own children. Tell you what, as a pregnant woman I can tell you the decision to nurse my child has been thought through. I personally am not comfortable with breastfeeding in public. So I will be pumping and bringing a bottle with me. I still don't think it's wrong to breastfeed in public, it's just not for me.
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Breastfeeding has been around since the beginning of childbirth, and after I'm dead and gone, it will still be here. Public opinion won't change that fact of life.

As a WOMAN, I am outraged that you think it's acceptable. It is disgusting and wrong in public. I once told a woman who was doing this in Walmart to go home and get her jollies in her own place. It is filthy and I would NEVER do it in public-Just like i would not urinate in public or have my hands down my pants in public. Women who do this in public are looking for people to loom at them and pay attention to them while the kid is just making a fool of himself.

I am a woman too and ITS WRONG-UNACCEPTABLE to do this in public.

I am a woman and find breastfeading in public improper. She especially shouldn't be doing so in front of her other children. Years ago, the restrooms offered a lounge. Today the facilities are more purposeful. The mother could have taken her child out to the car. There are so many options.

Boca Resident wrote:

I breast fed my daughter and I had the manners to either sit in the ladies lounge or in my car. I would never have thought of breast feeding in public!!! As is with everything now adays, people have got to push the envelope. Breast feeding is a wonderful thing to be shared with your child and yourself and NOT to be shared with people that you don't know.

That was your perogative to got sit in the ladies' lounge or your car, but that's all. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this when a woman is being discreet and covering with a blanket. It's not that people have to push the envelope now adays, more like people are trying to think for themselves and not walk on eggshells all the time. This country is conerned with offending people all the time. And now it has come down to people comparing "whipping it out" to urinate with breastfeeding or ostrasizing a woman who is breastfeeding. Just ridiculous.

I breastfeed my baby in public all the time. I've breastfed him in restaurants, movies, airports, airplanes, parks, malls, bookstores... you name it. No one has ever said a word to me, and if they did, I would happily inform them of Florida law. I'm doing what's best for my baby, period.

Oh, Tangela, Mel and Taylor: These women aren't "doing it", their babies are EATING. Do you think that babies should not eat in public? Even bottle fed ones?
You will find that most comments fall into 2 categories: the first is for those who believe that breastfeeding is an excretory activity. These people believe that breastfeeding should happen in the bathroom. The second group sees breasts as sexual organs, so they believe that breastfeeding should happen "in private". Breastfeeding is, in fact, neither of these. It is very simply feeding the baby the way God intended.
And Florida law states that babies may be fed anywhere that it is legal for both mother and baby to be. The law does not distinguish between public or private property. A baby may not be fed in a courtroom or strip bar, as it is not legal for baby to be there.
A little history lesson: our country was founded by puritans (who all breastfed, by the way) who considered a woman showing her ankle in public to be quite scandalous. Public decency standards have changed over the past 350 years. Now breasts are used to sell cars. Let's get past that use, and go back to using breasts as God wishes us to, feeding babies. It's what they're for! Got milk?