[S1969]

Next time maybe you can carry a blanket to cover yourself with in case you see shocking things.

Ah, that's the funniest thing I've read in a long time.

As to the topic, breast feeding in public doesn't bother me, but there have been a few times when I've been a little uncomfortable about a mom's total indiscretion. I think it is "the norm" that Americans are typically very discreet (obviously too much so, to the point where people find babies nursing in public to be disgusting), so anyone who is not *very* discreet stands out. As others have said, in other countries no one would have even noticed, and I'm sure our "indiscreet" mothers would probably be considered very discreet in other cultures.

[SendenHorse]

At A MUSCIC CONCERT? you have to be flippin' kidding me.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should, and I don't have to be ok with it.

[dangerbunny]

I feed my baby in public, usually with a blanket or shawl over is. I try to be discreet but if it's going to be obvious whats going on. Newborns need to eat often (seems like constantly!) and I would rather nurse my baby in public then listen to him scream because he is hungry.

I honestly don't see the big deal, in our society many of the advertisements and clothing fashions expose more and are much more provocative. A nursing mother isn't exposing much, besides it is a normal and natural thing to do.

[SaturdayNightLive]

Yeah, I know it's natural and necessary, but I still think it's gross and I don't want to watch. This is particularly true of the lady who "whipped it out" at the table immediately to my right while I was trying to eat my $30 steak. You couldn't have fed the kid before you came into the fancy restaurant? And no, she didn't bother to cover anything up. Disgusting.

Breastfeed in public - whatever. It's not like there's a way around it. But try to be considerate of those around you. The reality is that we are prudish about it here in the US, and you getting all militant about it (yeah, aspenlucas, I'm looking at you) isn't going to do anything to further your point.

[Alagirl]

At A MUSCIC CONCERT? you have to be flippin' kidding me.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should, and I don't have to be ok with it.

Having been to a concert in the same time frame with people bringing little kids, the nursing part is really the least intrusive. The restless kid ruins it for everybody. At least the nursing you can look the other way and pretend it's not there.

[SarahandSam]

My husband and I were visiting a couple of friends in Vermont and went out to lunch with them. They had a new baby, and when he got hungry, she popped out a boob to feed him at the table across from us. I was a little shocked for a moment, but then I thought about it--I have boobs (albeit much smaller ones) myself, so it wasn't going to offend me; I doubted my husband would find it attractive to see a boob with a baby attached to it; and any kids running around are generally oblivious to such things. So while I personally think it's probably kindest to those around you to throw a blanket or shawl or whatever over the top, based on the dress/modesty standards that most people in public are used to, I have no objection to moms feeding in public in general. Much better than finding a dirty or cramped bathroom.

Then again, this was in Montpelier, where I also saw a singing naked guy riding a tricycle down the street in front of the state capitol one day. So I don't think anyone there would be concerned. (:

[spurgirl]

It does not bother to me to see breastfeeding most of the time, it is a normal, natural process. I just think it can be done discreetly, and should be done discreetly.

The ONLY time I found the breastfeeding offensive was at a Cub Scout function when my son was 7 or so....The den leader's wife had twins-TWINS-and she literally opened her shirt, bared her breasts for the kids to latch on to (they were just at the walking/climbing stage). It was pretty rude, and quite a few parents-men and women-were shocked...Not to mention the boys!

Nothing like a lot of awkward conversations with little boys, explaining why "Mrs. Smith opened her shirt, and showed off her breasts".Honestly, I think it was done to shock. While the woman was rather petite, it was NOT necessary to show the entire room your engorged breasts. Thanks so much, like cover up now....let's have a little class, shall we?

[Alagirl]

It does not bother to me to see breastfeeding most of the time, it is a normal, natural process. I just think it can be done discreetly, and should be done discreetly.

The ONLY time I found the breastfeeding offensive was at a Cub Scout function when my son was 7 or so....The den leader's wife had twins-TWINS-and she literally opened her shirt, bared her breasts for the kids to latch on to (they were just at the walking/climbing stage). It was pretty rude, and quite a few parents-men and women-were shocked...Not to mention the boys!

Nothing like a lot of awkward conversations with little boys, explaining why "Mrs. Smith opened her shirt, and showed off her breasts".Honestly, I think it was done to shock. While the woman was rather petite, it was NOT necessary to show the entire room your engorged breasts. Thanks so much, like cover up now....let's have a little class, shall we?

LOL, again, if you liken it to the cute calf drinking on the cows utter...
I am sure that would have stopped much of that right away.

[Reynard Ridge]

Only in the US would breastfeeding in public be considered "awkward", "uncomfortable", or "inappropriate".

In the rest of the world, no one would even notice.

Exactly what I was just thinking. Seriously, the function of the breast is to provide food for baby. The rest of it is in your imagination.

[Coanteen]

I'm not sure if it's common or not, but I was on a cross-country flight 2 days ago and there was a woman in the row behind me breast feeding in her seat. I thought it was EXTREMELY inappropriate. I understand that children need to eat, but please use the privacy of the restroom so we don't all have to see it.

Restroom?
That's bad enough (I don't want to spend any more time in a public restroom than absolutely necessary, and some kids feed for like 20 min or more).

But a restroom ON A PLANE??? Holy hell, if it bothers you, YOU go hide in that tiny closet.

The US can be so funny sometimes. Overtly sexualized yet so incredibly repressed about some issues. For the record I don't have kids and I never will (childfree), but my God, get over breastfeeding already, silly nation!

[sublimequine]

As a person who has sat in a lot of auditoriums/concert halls (classical musician), I guess I'll be the odd man out and say I think what the lady in the original post did was possibly a little inappropriate. Just because when you're sitting next to someone in most auditorium seats, you're just about ontop of them. I don't think I'd want some stranger breastfeeding without a blanket/shawl whatever when they're about 2 inches away from me. Call me a prude I guess.

But if it were a different environment, like sitting at tables or what have you, then I probably wouldn't take offense/notice.

[rodawn]

Breastfeeding in public has only bothered me once: in a restaurant the woman was having her dinner while her SIX year old son stood next to her chair bent over breastfeeding...

Other than that...boobs are supposed to be food dispensers.

Ok, THAT is a bit much. Seriously, wean the kid already.

In some countries breast feeding until they're 2 or 3 or even 4 is quite normal. But 6 is really pushing the boundaries. They should be solidly onto solid foods by now and at 6, he's already in school. Can you just imagine if his peers found out, how much teasing he would get? Oiy!

I never had kids, but I have plenty of friends who did. They breastfed wherever and whenever the infant demanded, but they always had a blanket that they draped over their shoulder and slipped the infant under the blanket and went from there. It's very discreet and yet still functional. Everyone could carry on around us and she could still peek down and make sure all was well if there was some coughing or sputtering going on, which sometimes happens too usually necessitating some napkins for cleanup. It's natural, but there is a way to be discreet and yet still be a strong proponent of natural feeding.

I work in medicine. I'm a huge proponent for natural feeding of children - because they're immunologically stronger and get a good dose of colostrom and antibodies from mom, thus they're healthier with fewer illnesses, and there is some evidence that children who are breast fed into their 1 and 2 year old have fewer allergies although more studies need to be done on that.

[PeteyPie]

I have no problem with it. It even seems especially funny on this forum, considering all the practical issues horse people have to deal with with their animals, that a simple biological event with a human would be a big deal.

After that funny post a few days ago about sheath cleaning, and dealing with animal parts, cleaning, doctoring, etc., a human baby nursing just strikes me as such a non-issue.

Also, it is so healthy for the baby that I wish our society would be more supportive.

[PeteyPie]

Ok, THAT is a bit much. Seriously, wean the kid already.

In some countries breast feeding until they're 2 or 3 or even 4 is quite normal.

Actually, the average in the world for breastfeeding is until age 5, according the the World Health Organization. It is only in a few developed countries that it is seen as odd.

[vacation1]

Eh. I'm uncomfortable with the idea of continuing any part of "women's bodies are dirty and sexy, so cover them up" idea, so I wasn't too sympathetic to the OP. Then there was the "it's totally natural and what boobies are for!" faux outrage, and I got more sympathy. A bare breast doesn't somehow undergo a metamorphasis just because it's being used as an udder. The societal cues of "bare breast = explicit sexual image" are still there. Being uncomfortable with the partial nudity of a stranger isn't weird or inexplicable, it's normal. Maybe not a reason to banish the udder and child to a toilet, but not an unfathomable and perverted reaction either.

[Canaqua]

Don't look. You said you didn't want the baby to be making lots of noise...that's how you keep a nursing baby quiet . I nursed my babies in public many times. I did put a baby blanket over my shoulder and baby's head: I'm somewhat modest, I know it bothers some people and baby pays attention to the business at hand better without distractions. Even with nothing to see, some people still get offended, I considered that their problem...if they are imaginging what's going on under the blanket and getting upset about, they have issues.

Nursing babies eat frequently and women shouldn't have to stay home or go hide in a bathroom every timg the baby needs to nurse, it's about nutrition, not sex. I don't agree with just whipping a boob out in public and not making at least some attempt at discretion, though, I think people do that purposefully, to be inflammatory and make a point. I'm not a fan of showing off, no matter what the attention getting activity is.

[fordtraktor]

I agree, nursing babies eat frequently and if they are hungry, they scream. I breastfed often in public places (with a drape) because otherwise I would never be able to leave the house. Many breastfed babies won't take a bottle, so that is not an option. They literally eat every hour and a half, at least mine did.

I do not believe that women who breastfeed are heroes or rare, however. There is enormous pressure to do it now, for a year. I only know a few moms who didn't, or at least go to the ends of the earth to try. Women who get in your face with their nursing about how much society oppresses them puzzle me. I breastfed and I constantly felt society should get out of my face about its benefits which I think are totally overblown. There are some, but it is not the magic elixir some insist.

Also, on planes, many docs tell you to breastfeed on takeoff. It helps equalize the ear pressure and reduce screaming babies on airplanes. I am all for it.

[WildBlue]

Personally, I'd prefer if someone sitting right next to you--where you have to deliberately look away to give privacy--would SAY something first. For me, handling the surprise is the big social awkwardness: Lalalala, minding my own business... Wha? OMG! Oh, don't look! Did I take too long figuring out what I was seeing, so I stared and looked like a creeper? Not looking over there... Not looking over there... Just act casual...

If it sounds like I've thought about it, well, yes. My first cross country flight, I was 14 and raised in the kind of home where my mom wouldn't let anyone in the room when she breast fed. All of the sudden, the woman next to me whipped everything out and started feeding her kid. I wasn't mortified because she was breast feeding. I was mortified because I didn't realize what she was doing, looked (and got an eyeful), and that was RUDE. Which, of course, led to shy teenager social angst.

[Laurierace]

I'm not sure if it's common or not, but I was on a cross-country flight 2 days ago and there was a woman in the row behind me breast feeding in her seat. I thought it was EXTREMELY inappropriate. I understand that children need to eat, but please use the privacy of the restroom so we don't all have to see it.

Have you ever been in the bathroom on an airplane? You seriously think it would be safe to nurse a baby in there? Just so you don't have to avert your virgin eyes? WTF? I always used a receiving blanket over both of us but that was to make me more comfortable not to protect the public. Grow up people.

[caffeinated]

And then there are babies who just will not nurse under a blanket or cover. *sigh*

I wish I understood what the big deal was. People post pics all the time of foals and puppies nursing which are seen as super cute, but when baby people are involved it's 'weird'....

I try to be discreet, but kid hates blankets. If I wasn't willing to nurse in public I would never be able to go anywhere. That said I've gotten pretty good at finding quiet places where I won't attract attention, though had to feed him at a restaurant the other day. That would have been much less eventful if my SIL hadn't gotten up to 'help' by holding a blanket over me like a shower curtain....