Is Breastfeeding In Public OK?

[dobopoq]

Just spotted this article: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/27/nursing.cover.ap/index.html on CNN about the latest issue of babytalk magazine. There's an emerging debate between "lactivists" and those who believe breastfeeding should remain a private matter. Here are a few quotes from the article.

One mother who didn't like the cover explains she was concerned about her 13-year-old son seeing it.

"I shredded it," said Gayle Ash, of Belton, Texas, in a telephone interview. "A breast is a breast -- it's a sexual thing. He didn't need to see that."

"It's not like women are whipping them out with tassels on them," she added. "Mostly, they are trying to be discreet."

The evidence of public discomfort isn't just anecdotal. In a survey published in 2004 by the American Dietetic Association, less than half -- 43 percent -- of 3,719 respondents said women should have the right to breast-feed in public places.

"My kid needed to eat," said the 29-year-old from South Abingdon, Massachusetts. And she wasn't going to go hide in a not-so-clean restroom: "I don't send people to the bathroom when they want to eat," she said.

As this very much has to do with gender issues - it should come as no surprise that it would be on my radar. But I wonder - What do cyburbians think and feel about the issue? Care to share some experiences?

 

[Maister]

My wife's 93 year old grandfather was recently telling us about how in the 'olden days' the local theater used to reserve the upper level seating for nursing mothers.

 

[zman]

If it keeps then rugrats from crying, crabbing, or making scene because they are hungry... then by all means feed that kid!

Actually this is a natural function of rasing children. There is nothing sexual about using the mammory gland in this manner and therefore I see nothing wrong with it.

Of course, I am of the school that is against censorship of any manner, and those neo-Puritans can like it or lump it.

 

[luckless pedestrian]

slow day at work?







jk - ;-)

yes, breastfeeding in public should not a big deal and if malls and such don't want it, then they should provide a "lounge" that is separate or at least attached to the bthroom - remember old fashioned department stores had the mirrored room with couches and comfy chairs that you went through to get to the bathroom? they should do that

 

[dandy_warhol]

it is a natural thing. like the one woman said, breasts are not just sexual objects. they provide a very important function for babies.

if people are so uptight that they can't handle a mother doing what a mother is supposed to do, then they've got some issues.



re: the poll
i voted for breastfeeding should be allowed anywhere.

re: (except foodservice) do you mean women serving food shouldn't be allowed to breastfeed as they wait on tables? or that women shouldn't be allowed to breastfeed in a restaurant as a patron?

 

[Jaxspra]

I personally would not breastfeed in a public place but do not find anything wrong with it and am not offended seeing a mother breastfeeding in public.

 

[cololi]

I have no problem with it. My favorite newborn tee shirt "I eat at moms"

 

[Budgie]

I'm a big time advocate of breastfeeding. At one time I contemplating becoming a doula, for all the right reasons.

 

[NHPlanner]

Where ever, and when ever. It's about the nourishment of a child.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

Florida passed a law several years ago giving women the right to breast-feed in public; this followed newspaper stories about several moms being asked to leave malls and restaurants because they were breast-feeding.

I think it should be permitted anywhere. I mean, women can't stay at home all day in case their baby gets hungry! But... women should be discreet. We were at a spring training game this year and there was a woman sitting on the floor in a very crowded corridor breast-feeding with her whole boob hanging out (I would have never done that!). I can see where this would bug other parents whose kids see it. Most moms will at least wear a nursing garment that minimizes the view, or drape a cloth over their shoulder, so you'd hardly notice.

 

[Planderella]

There is nothing obscene or sexual about breastfeading so it shouldn't be prohibited or restricted. However, if I were a nursing mother, I would use discretion about when and where to feed my child.

 

[Mastiff]

I actually had a woman bring her kids to a job interview... then the youngest, about 4 or 5, hopped up on her lap, lifted her shirt, and went to town!

Must have been the oddest interview I've ever done!

 

[mgk920]

I have no hangups on that, it is what they were designed for, after all.

To expand on this, I do think that some 'merrcins in positions of power are a wee bit too much in a knot on the whole topic of nudity, etc, and I firmly believe that the Europeans do have the right attitude towards the subject.

Mike

 

[michaelskis]

I have no hangups on that, it is what they were designed for, after all.

To expand on this, I do think that some 'merrcins in positions of power are a wee bit too much in a knot on the whole topic of nudity, etc, and I firmly believe that the Europeans do have the right attitude towards the subject.

Mike

Well I have some body parts that were designed for specific things but I don't expose that in public other than in designated locations... often.

I don't have a problem with it in most cases, however some places breast feeding is inappropriate, including restaurants.

 

[Lee Nellis]

Vermont has a law stating that a women may breastfeed in any place she otherwise has a right to be.

 

[Richmond Jake]

... We were at a spring training game this year and there was a woman sitting on the floor in a very crowded corridor breast-feeding ...

Baseball and breastfeeding, my two favorite pastimes. Both should be allowed anywhere.

 

[Wannaplan?]

There are two visions of breasts in this country, that's for sure. I'm all for breastfeeding in public. But it's the breast portrayal in the second image that I am sure impedes the case for widespread societal acceptance of public breastfeeding. Though I do wonder why CNN didn't run an article about the angry women who write laddie mags about those sexual explicit covers. Maybe the media's milking this one magazine cover for all it can?

Breastfeeding Cover

Seductive Laddie Mag

 

[dobopoq]

I think that as with the built environment, we have overzoned much of human behavior. I am all for breastfeeding. I admit I enjoy seeing it when I have the opportunity. To place restrictions on breastfeeding would over-domesticize (it's a word ) women and child care, which is the last thing we need IMO.

What is the cut-off age? Wouldn't no restrictions make it ok for a man to suck a woman's breasts in public? What's wrong with that?

 

[SW MI Planner]

Well I have some body parts that were designed for specific things but I don't expose that in public other than in designated locations... often.

I don't have a problem with it in most cases, however some places breast feeding is inappropriate, including restaurants.

Just curious why do you think it is inappropriate to breastfeed in a restaurant? I personally don't have a problem with it anywhere, just as long as they are discreet. I would have a problem if their boobies were just hanging out. (I couldn't resist saying boobie!!)).

For me, I was never comfortable doing it in public, but I had a tough time with it anyway which made the situation worse.

 

[The One]

Yup

Where ever, and when ever. It's about the nourishment of a child.

What he said...... Never had a problem with it and never will......I wonder about people that have a problem with it....:-| :-o

 

[dobopoq]

Just curious why do you think it is inappropriate to breastfeed in a restaurant? I personally don't have a problem with it anywhere, just as long as they are discreet. I would have a problem if their boobies were just hanging out. (I couldn't resist saying boobie!!)).

For me, I was never comfortable doing it in public, but I had a tough time with it anyway which made the situation worse.

One caveat to this is: What happens to the infamous, "Shirt and shoes required" sign in fast food restaurants under this scenario?

I think women should be able to go shirtless anywhere a man is allowed to. Perhaps breastfeeding should overrule the "shirt and shoes" thing, but then wouldn't that be discrimination against men?

Why do we allow women to show lots of cleavage and neck - everything except the nipple, while men can go shirtless, except at work where they are not even allowed to show their necks? [You know dobopoq would have to work in a connection to neckties.;-) ]
But seriously though - Doesn't it seem kinda hypocritical and inconsistent? I mean sure, women can't exactly wear bikini tops in most lines of work, but they can often show some cleavage. So why the double standard toward men - either total freedom (out of work) or total restriction (in the office). It is a needless dichotomy.

 

[PlannerGirl]

Ok this begs a question I have pondered for some time

Just how old for a child to stop breast feeding? Matiffs woman with a kindergarden aged kid just seemed so wrong to me. Yup I am childless and most of my friends are non breeders

Parents and non parents just how old is old enough to say no more?

 

[SW MI Planner]

One caveat to this is: What happens to the infamous, "Shirt and shoes required" sign in fast food restaurants under this scenario?

Dude, 98% of them are wearing shirts! Most are also quite discreet and you wouldn't even know they were nursing.

Just how old for a child to stop breast feeding? Matiffs woman with a kindergarden aged kid just seemed so wrong to me. Yup I am childless and most of my friends are non breeders

Parents and non parents just how old is old enough to say no more?

For me personally, when they are old enough to ask for it verbally, they are too old. But that is just my personal opinion.

 

[imaplanner]

Interesting that the majority of babytalk magazine were offended by it.

Some people are just way too uptight.

so yes- breastfeeding whenever wherever is fine by me - but then again I don't really get offended very easily.

 

[Wannaplan?]

Parents and non parents just how old is old enough to say no more?

There was a NYT magazine article from a couple years ago about a woman who continued to let her 9-year old son breastfeed. Kind of weird, but just think, she didn't have to take birth control.

Check this blog out (SWMiPlanner will like it because it's titled "boobie juice"!):

The other day I thought it ironic that in the middle of a casino that had an enormous billboard of a lady's butt on the front (and was right next door to the "Hooters" casino) I had people staring at me for sitting in a bench inside the ladies restroom feeding my baby.

 

[Trail Nazi]

As a mother who is currently breastfeeding, it should be done anywhere as long as the mother is not being obnoxious about it. In my last job, I took my newborn (she still is) in to work to finish some work before leaving and I shared an office with a woman. I had closed our office door all the way since it was usually closed except for a few inches and got into my cubicle to nurse the baby. My office mate could not see a single thing since there was an 8 foot wall blocking us. She went to complain to my boss that even though she could not see me, it was disturbing to her. I could have killed her since it did not even disturb her. BTW, whenever, I wasn't in the office, she always closed the door. My other colleagues could not believe that she would complain and not even mention it to me first. They thought she was being petty. I told her that was my last week there so I am trying to get some work done otherwise she would be responsible for it. She did not like that idea. Heck, I thought it was mighty nice of me to even come in to finish up some work so no one would be responsible for it. :-|

 

[biscuit]

Just curious why do you think it is inappropriate to breastfeed in a restaurant? I personally don't have a problem with it anywhere, just as long as they are discreet. I would have a problem if their boobies were just hanging out. (I couldn't resist saying Bobbie!!)).

My sentiments exactly. Breastfeeding is a natural, good thing, but please, just be discreet. A little modesty can go a long ways. I was getting a bite to eat at the café in Whole Foods a few weeks back when, from across the room, I noticed a woman with her shirt half off and her big left-boob (that's for you SW) hanging out She was burping the baby and just left everything out to be seen by everyone around her. Being a fan of breasts (see, I didn't use that word) I wasn't disgusted by it, but the inside of a grocery store just didn't seem like the place for such "openness."

 

[wahday]

Without a doubt. Afterall, this is what breasts are for. That we can let our "secondary" interest in boobies override the "primary" interest (nourishing the next generation) is a sad comment on the connection we have with our own biology.

That being said, I remember a funny scene from Everybody Loves Raymond (not that I am big fan, but...) in which Raymond is with his father watching his wife nurse the twins from the other room.

Raymond says: "Aren't they beautiful?"
The father says: "Yeah - and they'll stay that way, too, so long as she keeps nursing!"

 

[Downtown]

ok - here is what i just posted on my local mom's website about this very issue, literally 60 seconds ago:

You know, in general I like to be a live and let live mama. But I think lactivism is one of those issues that I could get bully-ish about. If someone is uncomfortable seeing a woman nurse her child, I just don't care. that is THEIR issue. that baby needs to eat, where ever he or she happens to be. i don't think the general non-nursing population has really considered that if women are banned from NIP, you are effectively putting them under house arrest. in general, i don't think that we are a particularly child friendly society, and i think this is a further manifestation of that. :sigh:

I nursed Jack in public all the time, and 99% of the time, the only people that would have known I was nursing were other nursing moms that would have had a clue what was going on under the blanket.

Since we rarely went anywhere with the twins in public, I rarely NIP-ed them - especially since for most of the time I nursed them, they were tandem nursing (both at the same time).

PG - I nursed Jack for 6 mos, and the twins for 10 mos. Personally - I think children going to school are too old to be nursing.

 

[btrage]

I don't have a problem with it.

My wife wouldn't do it in public. If we were at a restaurant she would go sit in the car while breastfeeding.

I don't understand what the big deal is regarding breastfeeding in restaurants. So adults are allowed to eat there, but babies can't? Seems like some irony there to me.

As an anecdote. Whenever the "breastfeeding in public" topic arises, I always think of the scene in Me, Myself and Irene, where Jim Carrey's character begins to nurse on the well-endowed breastfeeding mom. Not a big fan of the movie, but it always makes me think of this.:-|

 

[cch]

I considered breastfeeding in public, but the idea made my husband uncomfortable. So, I would just express milk and take a pre-made bottle with us if we were going out anywhere. Dealing with keeping it cold (using an ice pack) and then making it warm (holding it under the warm tap in the bathroom) when it was time to be used, was a huge hassle, though. I have absolutely no problem with women who do nurse in public. More power to them for having understanding husbands.

I would nurse in front of my parents, and my mother in law. My husband insisted I never nurse in front of his dad, though, and he wasn't crazy about my doing it around his mom. I asked her first if it was okay, or if she prefer that I step into another room, and she was fine. When I did do it around people, I was always totally covered with a blanket. One time when my parents first arrived for a visit I was nursing, with a blanket over us, and my dad asked "is Lydia taking a nap?" I said "no. She's eating lunch." and gestured to myself. I guess that is proof of how discreet it can be.

One time a female chiropractor was in my office, inquiring about running her practice out of her home. She had a cute little son with her, told us he was 18 months old. Then he started getting crabby, she lifted him up, and stuck his head up under her shirt, and we could hear him sucking away. It really shocked my boss. And 18 months seemed pretty old to be doing that. I only nursed for 6 months. By then, my daughter was eating baby foods and juices and getting teeth, which scared me.

 

[michaelskis]

Just curious why do you think it is inappropriate to breastfeed in a restaurant? I personally don't have a problem with it anywhere, just as long as they are discreet. I would have a problem if their boobies were just hanging out. (I couldn't resist saying boobie!!)).

I think that other measures should be taken for those cases such as using a pump and bottling. Just think of all the aspects that our food goes through before it gets to the restaurant that would not be acceptable to have in a restaurant setting. It makes me uncomfortable to notice a person breastfeeding in public. I think that there is a social line of public things and private things and I think that the line gets fuzzy for too many people way too often.

 

[Maister]

George Carlin always used to say...they're for feeding babies, they aren't sex organs!
It really depends on the context, though.

 

[Downtown]

Just think of all the aspects that our food goes through before it gets to the restaurant that would not be acceptable to have in a restaurant setting.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

So women can expose almost ALL of her breasts in public, except her nipple, but if a woman is nursing underneath a blanket, or under her shirt, that's not ok?

If boobs are so unhygenic, why is Hooter's getting so much business?

 

[kjel]

I'm not sure what the foodservice exclusion was for, but I voted everywhere. It's been a long time since I have been a nursing mom, but I breastfed my daughter for about 9 months in public and at home. I think most moms who choose to breastfeed are discreet and aren't the "let it all hang out" type. Most moms I knew just used a blanket and wore a shirt that gave easy access without showing her wares to the world. It is interesting how the prevalance and acceptance to breastfeeding varies amongst countries and cultures. I happen to think that the U.S. doesn't offer widespread support of new mothers and babies....6 weeks maternity leave, often unpaid, etc....we can do better than that.

As far as the maximum age of a child to nurse? It depends, but barring any health issue I would say around the year mark since at that point most of the nutrition is being derived from solid foods or transitioning to that point. If you wouldn't give a kid a bottle or pacifier at 4 years you shouldn't let him breastfeed either.

I think that other measures should be taken for those cases such as using a pump and bottling.

I was never successful at pumping or expressing milk because a babies mouth works in a much different way than a pump does.

 

[Downtown]

I was never successful at pumping or expressing milk because a babies mouth works in a much different way than a pump does.

that was my next point. most women who nurse exclusively don't have an electric pump, and using a hand pump (or even worse - manually expressing) is pretty time consuming for most women.

 

[BeansandCod]

Baseball and breastfeeding, my two favorite pastimes. Both should be allowed anywhere.

I was at a Red Sox game last summer and there was a family sitting a row behind me and a little to my left. Dad was dealing with the two older children, explaining the game and answering their questions. Mom had the newborn in her arms. (Turns out he was - only six days old!) At one point Mom was sitting alone and she had a pastel crocheted blanket thrown over her shoulder. Clearly Jr. was in need of a feeding, and I never heard a peep out of him. He slept peacefully the rest of the game.
I was glad that no one made a fuss about the situation, and they could enjoy the outiing as a family. Mom was being very discreet about it and it would have been a shame if there was a no NIP rule at Fenway.

My biggest issue is discretion. Yes, the child's needs come first but there has to be a happy medium. I agree that being exiled to a rest room is unpleasant but plunking yourself down in the center of a massive amount of people traffic is just setting yourself up for dirty looks and caustic comments.

 

[dobopoq]

I'm not sure what the foodservice exclusion was for, but I voted everywhere.

Well, I'm thinking of say a woman who works at a Wendy's and get's a frosty from the machine for a customer, while also breastfeeding. Or a lady at the donuts place gets you a dozen glazed donuts while her boob is flopping out with milk droplets on it. Or maybe a women at a yogurt plant. Just these few instances when mother's milk could come in contact with food products they are serving to customers.

 

[Jen]

And it is the looks and stares that I find bewildering. I cannot for the life of me understand rubberneckers, people who have no notion of FMYOB.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

Well, I'm thinking of say a woman who works at a Wendy's and get's a frosty from the machine for a customer, while also breastfeeding. Or a lady at the donuts place gets you a dozen glazed donuts while her boob is flopping out with milk droplets on it. Or maybe a women at a yogurt plant. Just these few instances when mother's milk could come in contact with food products they are serving to customers.

And exactly why would these mothers have their kids at work with them in the first place? They would be in day care.

 

[Planner Groupie]

There was a NYT magazine article from a couple years ago about a woman who continued to let her 9-year old son breastfeed. Kind of weird, but just think, she didn't have to take birth control.

That's where you are wrong. You can most certainly get pregnant again while breastfeeding. There are plenty of women who learned this the hard way and now have Irish Twins.

I brought this subject up a parenting board that I am a host for. As someone who breastfed her child (and will do so again) it was a bit complicated for me due to (sorry for the TMI) being top heavy so I didn't do much of it. I see absolutely nothing wrong and if someone does, no one is telling you to look. You have control over your eyes and your brain so just turn the other cheek. If this was 20-30 years ago, this wouldn't even be an issue!

 

[cch]

Exactly what I was thinking, Zoning Goddess.

There is a website called tshirthell.com, and they've got some pretty funny and raunchy shirts on there. Some are way over the top offensive. They offer baby shirts, and some are pretty funny. A couple say:

BREASTFED BABY, STICK AROUND FOR THE SHOW.

SCREW THE MILK. WHERE'S THE WHISKEY T*%S.

 

[dobopoq]

And exactly why would these mothers have their kids at work with them in the first place? They would be in day care.

Well, that's certainly true. But I'm not opposed to adults - female or male, being allowed to bring their kids to work. I think it would be a good thing if more employers offered on-site child care facilities. I think it would be a good way to stop having childcare interfere with women's careers. But that is another thread.

 

[kjel]

Well, I'm thinking of say a woman who works at a Wendy's and get's a frosty from the machine for a customer, while also breastfeeding. Or a lady at the donuts place gets you a dozen glazed donuts while her boob is flopping out with milk droplets on it. Or maybe a women at a yogurt plant. Just these few instances when mother's milk could come in contact with food products they are serving to customers.

That is such an ignorant statement. First off, you give no credit to a woman's sense of what is acceptable/unacceptable, barring a few women most nursing women would not choose to have "her boob is flopping out with milk droplets on it."

Secondly, 99% of restaurants usually have a rule of no children or other people not employed at the restaurant (including children) cannot be in the work area and the same with many manufacturing or service type jobs as well.

 

[dandy_warhol]

I think that other measures should be taken for those cases such as using a pump and bottling. Just think of all the aspects that our food goes through before it gets to the restaurant that would not be acceptable to have in a restaurant setting. It makes me uncomfortable to notice a person breastfeeding in public. I think that there is a social line of public things and private things and I think that the line gets fuzzy for too many people way too often.

what do you think occurs when a woman is breastfeeding? do you think her boobie-germs are going to fly around the restaurant and get in your soup?

some babies with health issues, such as acid-reflux, are supposed to drink straight from the boob.

plus, if you really want to think about it, some breast milk would be the least of my concerns when it comes to bodily fluids and food preparations.

 

[btrage]

Well, I'm thinking of say a woman who works at a Wendy's and get's a frosty from the machine for a customer, while also breastfeeding. Or a lady at the donuts place gets you a dozen glazed donuts while her boob is flopping out with milk droplets on it. Or maybe a women at a yogurt plant. Just these few instances when mother's milk could come in contact with food products they are serving to customers.

This made me laugh. I'm still surprised at some of the scenarios you create. Has this happened to you? Has it ever happened anywhere? To anybody? If it has, please let me know.

As a customer, I'd be more worried about the lack of hand washing than as you call them "milk droplets".

 

[Downtown]

Well, I'm thinking of say a woman who works at a Wendy's and get's a frosty from the machine for a customer, while also breastfeeding. Or a lady at the donuts place gets you a dozen glazed donuts while her boob is flopping out with milk droplets on it. Or maybe a women at a yogurt plant. Just these few instances when mother's milk could come in contact with food products they are serving to customers.

Aside from the comments other posters have been made about regulations that would make this a non-issue - breastfeeding requires at least one hand, unless teh child is in a sling. boxing donuts and making frosties are activities that require two hands, so, if a woman were to be doing this while breastfeeding, and squirting breast milk would be stopped and absorbed by the sling.

 

[dobopoq]

That is such an ignorant statement. First off, you give no credit to a woman's sense of what is acceptable/unacceptable, barring a few women most nursing women would not choose to have "her boob is flopping out with milk droplets on it."

Secondly, 99% of restaurants usually have a rule of no children or other people not employed at the restaurant (including children) cannot be in the work area and the same with many manufacturing or service type jobs as well.

Look I don't personally have a problem with it. But I think the health department would consider any potential for an employee's breast milk to mix with food they are serving customers, to need some sort of regulation. Some people are lactose intolerant.

Don't you think it is possible that say a baker at a restaurant could have some spill into a batch of dough? Again, it wouldn't really offend me. To me, it wouldn't be an issue of acceptability. It's more just simply a matter of compliance with the pure food and drug act. In fact, I would love to sample some human breast milk. I even looked into the possibility of making a type of cheese from it. Alas, I was informed by a cheesemaker that human breeast milk lacks certain enzymes necessary to form a cheese. If the donut lady's breast was dripping milk on my glazed donuts, I would be drooling on the floor. I would politely ask for more glaze if she would be so kind. Do I think this is likely to occur? Probably only in my dreams.

 

[Downtown]

Don't you think it is possible that say a baker at a restaurant could have some spill into a batch of dough?

Yes. In the same way that all sorts of bodily fluids make their way illegally into food for public consumption.

 

[kjel]

Anything is possible, but some things are not likely to happen. At any rate, I'm sure that OSHA bureaucrats have taken care of most of the issues you speak of, along with the health departments, risk management departments, and cadres of lawyers behind most businesses and business practices.

You are much more likely to find some disgruntled person spitting on your food or whizzing in your coffee than seeing a boob flopping out adding icing to your donut.