Rose, that sometimes happened. Folks look. But what you're describing is separate from the act. And it comes down to courage, no doubt about it.

There are LOTS of folks who think that - what do I call it? blatant breast feeding? Is that gonna work for y'all? - is somehow distasteful.

What you're describing is how YOU feel about the act: 'creeped out' that others might watch and some other observations from your prior post regarding 'the public'.

And that's precisely the point. If it's something that you don't want to do, don't. If you'd rather not see it, don't look. It's your choice. YOU have the choice. We, those who are focused otherwise, have our own choices to make and act upon.

Y'all also have the choice, and the right, to bark about it. *shrugs*

Btw...I don't think they are creatures or monsters or anything else. I do think they being inconsiderate to others.

I am far from squeamish or revolted or anything.

I just don't feel the need to be part of it. And I don't feel it is appropiate to not cover up while in public

Has nothing to do with courage, as far as I am concerned. It's a natural act. Nothing courageous about it. I believe it's inconsiderate to not cover.

I'm not talking about looking (glances) but watching. Should they not be able to, if they want?

When I said creeped out...I was referring to people watching...not the breast feeding itself

I just don't feel I need to know strangers that well. And if I am at a business (like a resturant) then I'm a paying customer just like the mother.

So it's not just the mom's choice. The mom involves all around if done in public

Just as some say they have the right to breast feed (uncovered) in public, the public has a right to not approve or say something.

I am going to add something that is going to probably rile a few but the mother that chooses to, and the father that allows it, to drag a newborn or young infant around so much in public that public feeding can not be usually avoided is a very poor set of parents in deed. It is not rocket science to figure out very quickly your baby's feeding sleep schedule and to have a pumped bottle of breast milk for those times when breast is not available. Fathers are suppose to step up for these moments and don't kid yourself if it means commuting and infant so it can have "breast time" it is part of the responsibility of giving your baby the best chance at health.

As far as those that try to say a baby will refuse the breast if and occasional bottle is offered are just wrong. Very few Mother's can produce enough milk that and infant does not also need pure water.

My belief is Young infants are fragile and do not need to be exposed to the world simply because a mother and father are so selfish that they have not planned for that really very short time where and infant needs to be in his/her protected home environment.

When I see babies being dragged out in every kind of weather, to deafing environments, dragged through germ laden public places, exposed to animals and people they don't even need to see them, and put through excruciating airplane or car trips I want to have the parents locked up.

Is it a financial hardship for most families to stay home for babies first year or find quality care to come in and return to nurse? Of course it is. But when you choose to be a parent you make sacrifices. I adored my grand children but I got off my behind and went to them. And when it was time to nurse I excused myself and gave Mother and child the time they needed to focus.

And if You have a job that doesn't accommodate being the parent of and infant you bite the bullet and find another or resign.

If you are the grandparent of and infant and the parents are struggling you make the necessary sacrifices to help.

I have dropped many a meatball on my chest... does that count?

Why shouldn't she complain? The fact that she is baring part of her breast to feed her baby, does not mean it's an invite for you to sit there and watch.
Sorry to say, but I find that rather narrow minded. If someone sat across from you and gawked while you ate your food in a restaurant, you'd feel awkward too. Or get PO.
If you're talking about 'not done', that is not done, it's rude. Doesn't even matter if it's breastfeeding or shoving a burger down one's throat.

I can't help but think that if they'd had internet in the 60's, they'd have similar discussions on hot pants and mini dresses in public. Some of those 60's mini dresses were so ridiculously short, that even now in 2015 I'd say they'd be close to indecent exposure. Yet women wore them.

Same thing with garter belts. I remember as a kid the older ladies still wore them. These days they are considered sexual garments. If you'd wear them in public, they'd think you were soliciting.

I think the whole issue with breastfeeding has to do with the overexposure of sex in our society, associating every bit of naked skin of the female anatomy with sex.
And everything to do with sex has lots and lots of taboos.
We seem to have forgotten that breasts aren't there to arouse men, but are meant to feed our offspring.

I'm not sure if I'd breastfeed in public, but I can't help but think the whole 'it's inconsiderate/rude' idea is off.
When we see a woman who's showing off her breasts in nice clothes, we think she's attractive and sexy. We don't want her to cover them with a blanket, well, you would if you're jealous, lol.
And when she's using the same breasts to feed her child, it is suddenly inconsiderate?
A really tight T-shirt or low cut shirt can be far more revealing than a breast that is partly bare to feed a child.

Societal tendencies are weird... incongruent and weird. I'm guessing 10-20 years from now no one will frown when a woman feeds her child in public.
Just like the mini dress, hot pants thing.

^^ Spot on Crystal. I breast fed all my children. If I was out somewhere and they needed a feed (I can't remember ever taking them to a restaurant) then I would feed them. I would take care to make it as private as possible, not for anyone else's benefit but for my own. I would have hated people staring rudely at me and it would probably have made me feel so uncomfortable that my milk wouldn't "come down". I can't remember this ever happening. Men would turn away and not stare if they realised I was breastfeeding and most women would smile encouragingly at me, in what I felt was a sisterly "good for you" way. Maybe different countries have different views. All my kids were born in the UK.

As a mother that breast fed her one and only son; placing a thin sheet/blanket over my child when he was trying to breast feed only managed to freak him out - possibly to confining for his face - I don't know but he was quite and happy when left uncovered! I used what extra blanket I could to form a barrier but I knew there were still people that would just sit and stare at me; some would smile and nod while others just gave me the 'CREEPS' - UGH

But I will say...I was at a committee meeting with a group of women and the chair person had 5 children {she just had a newborn baby} and we all understood that she was breast feeding}...the 4 yr old came running in and told her he was thirsty and was yanking at her shirt; she raised it up and he went to suckling on her breast --- NOW THAT BLEW ME AWAY!!! Quite a few of us mothers were sitting there with our jaws on the table...LMAO I thought she was saving that milk for the baby

Why should the piblic have to pretend it's not happening or look the other way. It's in public.the piblic has rights too. Maybe this woman thought it was so beautiful, she wanted to watch. Glad my sis covered up.

I'm not talking about just breast feeding. I am talking about cover up in public.


This isn't even about feeding a hungry baby. The baby will get feed whether the mom covers up, whips it out in public, goes to another room, mom has a bottle ready, etc. This is about the mom. When in public (especially at a business) adults are supposed to behave a certain way. Example: in a resturant you were shoes, don't be loud and rowdy, don't tell offensive jokes, even keep childrem from disrupting the dining of others. It seems like mom's are the only ones with rights and everyone else just has to except whatever they want to do and find somewhere else to look. Why? There is nothing wrong with covering up. It was discussed earlier that some think it's sexual. Well can't change what someone else feels. Why not cover up to avoid perverts, people giving disapproving looks, someone saying something, etc.

Mom's have a choice too...not just the public. It's about being considerate of others

I think some are forgetting that the "public" isn't just adults. There are kids there too. Kids will stare, point, say something out loud. I know my 2 1/2 great nephew would. Probably even yell boobie.

From BuzzFeed...."25 Historical ImagesThat NORMALIZE Breastfeeding"...

http://www.buzzfeed.com/southerndisposition/25-historical-images-that-normalize-breastfeeding-jlw6#.wv10q0Jye

To really get the point, look at all 25 images!...

heck,even Linus got a Blanky!

what "Discrimination"?

In my House or Establishment you do as I tell you!

Discrimination only pertains to Government Action,NOT to the action of private Citizens,the idiotic Laws ascribing Discrimination to private Citizens notwithstanding!

'10 Controversial Photos of Women Breastfeeding While Doing Something Else'



http://www.oddee.com/item_98815.aspx


PS: Perhaps (sometimes), it takes insanity to restore sanity to an insane world!

Yes feed that distraught little baby but use a blanket & that's appropriate now day's any thing seems to fly but, don't just whip out that breast like its so cool with a big fat smile on your face.. Be RESPECTFUL..