Breastfeed in Restaurants OK or not OK? - Page 5

kval07 · 08-19-2009, 04:46:29 PM

Originally Posted by cjnelson

After my extensive experience in traveling, I hate to break the news to everyone...the USA seems to be the only place in the world who have major hangs up about breastfeeding.

Ironic since we are alleged to be one of the most open-minded and advanced countries in the world.

krmore · 08-19-2009, 05:50:36 PM

I don't like watching others breastfeed for entertainment but if I see it it's not offensive to me either. It's just a boob. I think the the polite thing to do when someone is breastfeeding in front of you is sort of ignore it.
That being said.
I breastfeed my kids when ever and where ever they want. I honestly don't care if it makes someone uncomfortable. If someone else doesn't like it they can look away or on the other hand if the are liking it too much I say something to them about it.

MrsPinecone · 08-19-2009, 05:56:44 PM

I don't watch, but if I happen to notice, I give a little silent cheer.

FWIW, I had a conversation with someone in JCP yesterday while I was outside the fitting room waiting for my mom. She never even knew that I was nursing DD at the time (with no cover). She actually commented on how peacefully she was "sleeping" in my arms. LOL

running2live · 08-19-2009, 07:05:34 PM

I think HappySoul makes a good point. If the shoe is on the other foot it seems offensive. No one would ever think of telling a mom to go bottle feed their baby in the restroom, but somehow it's OK to tell a woman that if she's BF'ing? There is nothing disgusting about BF'ing just as there is nothing disgusting about feeding a child formula.

nicellis0325 · 08-19-2009, 07:23:09 PM

Seriously? How do you compare breastfeeding to bottle feeding? So how would you feel if a man whipped out his penis on the table next to you? I am all for having a breastfeeding section, just as some places have a smoking section. Why should others have to be exposed to that? I for one do not want my husband to be exposed to another woman's naked breasts. Very inappropriate. Yuck.

Originally Posted by running2live

I think HappySoul makes a point. If the shoe is on the other foot it seems offensive. If someone told a mom to go bottle feed their baby in the restroom, I think most moms would be upset. There is nothing disgusting about BF'ing just as there is nothing disgusting about feeding a child formula.

running2live · 08-19-2009, 07:52:45 PM

That is a weak point at best. The female equivalent of a penis is a vagina and the vagina is not exposed during BF'ing. Vaginas are for creating babies, but boobs are there for feeding them, big difference.

Originally Posted by nicellis0325

Seriously? How do you compare breastfeeding to bottle feeding? So how would you feel if a man whipped out his penis on the table next to you? I am all for having a breastfeeding section, just as some places have a smoking section. Why should others have to be exposed to that? I for one do not want my husband to be exposed to another woman's naked breasts. Very inappropriate. Yuck.

cjnelson · 08-19-2009, 08:14:26 PM

Originally Posted by nicellis0325

Seriously? How do you compare breastfeeding to bottle feeding? So how would you feel if a man whipped out his penis on the table next to you? I am all for having a breastfeeding section, just as some places have a smoking section. Why should others have to be exposed to that? I for one do not want my husband to be exposed to another woman's naked breasts. Very inappropriate. Yuck.

Ridiculous point...as Running2live just posted a penis is not comparable to a breast in the female anatomy If a man did this in public he'd be SO in jail.

However it's not against the law to breastfeed in most places. Prohibiting breastfeeding has lost in the courts. Breasts are God's form of baby bottles.

Is there some insecurity about DH's inability not to gawk at a mother & baby breastfeeding.

mandybeyl · 08-19-2009, 08:20:37 PM

Originally Posted by nicellis0325

Seriously? How do you compare breastfeeding to bottle feeding? So how would you feel if a man whipped out his penis on the table next to you? I am all for having a breastfeeding section, just as some places have a smoking section. Why should others have to be exposed to that? I for one do not want my husband to be exposed to another woman's naked breasts. Very inappropriate. Yuck.

I'm sorry but that's just silly. First of all, the VAST MAJORITY of nursing mothers are not trying to draw attention to themselves. I am around breastfeeding moms all the time and I have never ever seen a "naked breast" while a mom was feeding. And besides, your husband is a grown man. On the rare chance he might be "exposed to another woman's naked breasts" couldn't he look away? This type of attitude is really detrimental to women who want to do what is best for their children. Personally I find it offensive that a woman would be expected to sit in a "special section" or have to feed her baby a sub-standard food just in case some other woman's husband might happen to glance her way.

Originally Posted by running2live

That is a weak point at best. The female equivalent of a penis is a vagina and the vagina is not exposed during BF'ing. Vaginas are for creating babies, but boobs are there for feeding them, big difference.

Amen to that. Breasts' physiological purpose is for feeding babies whenever possible. It is our society that has made them something different. And until we change those types of attitudes, we will always be having these debates. Would we shield our children or husbands from a mother dog nursing it's puppies? It's just silly.

Sculpture Widow · 08-19-2009, 08:26:56 PM

I love it when women breastfeed in public, especially when my 5-year-old notices it.
Because we start talking about how humans are mammals, and all mammal mothers make milk to feed their young, and that leads to further discussions of what mammals are and how they are different from other living creatures, then we'll talk about what other living creatures are out there and what they do, and how do they feed their babies, and then that leads to more discussions of how living creatures live, eat, breathe, survive....and that will lead back to how human bodies work (sorry, I'm anatomy and physiology freak), and my 5-year-old then likes to explain to me how the digestive system works (oh, he thinks it's so funny when it ends up at the poop part), and how the respiratory system works, or the endocrine system, and somehow the discussion with end up back at how women have breasts that grow bigger when they get older, and men have breasts, but they don't grow bigger when they get older....and yes, after women give birth, their breasts make milk for the baby to survive like other animals......

do you think I worry about my kids seeing a mom breastfeeding? It only opens for a conversation about humans and people. They think nothing of it because we treat it like it's no big deal and gives an opportunity to learning. I want my kids to be exposed to the human body in a normal, healthy manner so they are not embarrassed, so they know what is right and wrong, so they are not uninformed pre-teen boys giggling. I want them to be cool, educated, aware.

Anyway, most of the time no one ever even notices a mom nursing, because Moms are super awesome about being discreet. But when it is noticed, i think it's best to address what is TRULY going on, instead of making into something that it IS NOT (like sexual or something stupid like that).