Breastfeeding in public

Very true tiggypiro. I could do that.

Absent Sorry I don't go out of my way to please everyone. Like you do.

Alright Glass! Leave off now!

Sorry I opened me flipping' gob!

x

jingl

jingle

I was on a crowded train the other day where a toddler of about three was having a tantrum. The mother undid her blouse and exposed her entire breast for all to see while the little one latched on and sucked until she went to sleep. I think the mother was Polish so maybe that is the general practice in her culture. She certainly wasn't embarrassed but then why should she be. I didn't like it but that's my problem not hers.

I would not even breast feed if my family were in the room because I was embarrassed but I think Greenfinch is right, they do not have a problem with it and so that's why they do it.

My DD also feeds her 7 month old as and when she needs it. Her little boy was also tongue tied and found it difficult to suckle adequately so needed constant feeding.

The strangest thing I have seen is in a small coffee shop where a group of 4 mums all with young babies stood up in unison and produced 'aprons' which they popped over their heads and over the babies. This was much more obvious than my DD who was seated discretely feeding her little one with no fuss whatsoever.

In the 80s my baby was screaming for a feed, I was with my M-in-L who was a bit old fashioned and I dare not sit in public for fear of upsetting her. I rushed to a friend's house not far from the town but no one was in. I opened her garage door and sat on a stool. My dress was not suitable for feeding so M-in-L produced a pair of scissors from her pocket (used to snip at plants as she passed gardens!!!) I cut the dress down the front and fed my screaming baby. That was the last time I bothered to care about other people's reactions.

I used to feed mine all over the place, including on a train on the way to holiday. And that was a long time ago. No-one ever objected; not once. Not even uncomfortable looks.

I can only remember feeding my three at home. Mostly sitting at the kitchen table. Why do mothers need to spend so much time in cafes? I'm a bit surprised they can afford to. I suppose people are wealthier this days. And expect more.

Me too Mishap all five. It was just being with my fairly new mother-in-law, lovely though she was.

I used to run a wildlife group for children. We had an outdoor meeting with a chap talking about his rescued owls. One mum had 5 children ranging from about 3 to 10. She was sitting down with the other mums when the 7 year old snuggled up to her and up her jumper and proceeded to suckle. Then the 3 year old followed suit on the other breast. The owl guy stopped talking and stood with his mouth open until I prompted him. It was a little disconcerting considering the ages of the children.

Babies are fine but I'll never forget the look on DH's face when a large, noisy toddler suddenly yelled, 'I WANT MUMMY MILK' and dived under his mother's top, slurping noisily.

Where were we? In a pod at the top of the Millennium Wheel.

Flower Why did you wear a dress that you had to cut to get your boobs out? And how was your m il to blame?

, flower, that anecdote certainly gives the lie to that old myth about breastfeeding being a good contraceptive!

Did I say MIL was to blame? Goodness knows why I wore that dress. It was the only one I had that didn't have a front opening. With 5 children I probably got dressed half asleep and didn't notice until it was feed time.

MIL certainly was not to blame, it was my feeling and fear of embarrassing her I suppose. The little one was only a couple of weeks old and it was the first time I had walked to town with him and MIL (second husband's mother and OUR first child together) Lived in a village with the other four as babies and it was the norm to feed wherever.

The worst thing about breastfeeding for me was having to wear "suitable" clothing. All that front opening stuff, and awful bras.

I wish I had been able to feed my girls myself

I never wore "front opening stuff". Just lifted up my T-shirt. Top bit of bosom is covered and the baby covers one's midriff. Discreet. Stop inventing problems, jings.

I travelled long distances by train in those days (didn't have a car) so that the kids could see their grandparents. If you're six hours on a train with a baby, you'll need to feed it. Stop pretending sitting at the kitchen table is the only suitable place, jings.

Oh, sorry. I forgot that saying it how it was is "sanctimonious garbage."

And, as others have said, hardly anyone noticed. People who did notice just smiled.

Trying to remember how many times I've seen someone breast-feeding a baby in a public place.... fewer times than I can count on my fingers.

It's not a big deal. Stop making it one.

Of course women should feed their babies when ever they need feeding. A cafe seems to be a logical place! Mountain/molehill comes to mind. .though if talking about milk laden boobs maybe wrong metaphors! !

Easy answer jingle , don't spend time in cafes. Or if you need to sit with your back to the other customers then nothing they do will offend your eyes. If on public transport, keep your gaze lowered.

I think The Jings was just in a let's wind them all up mood

So let's feed her some more sanctimonious garbage

The main reason for BF is that, if you can do it, it's the easiest option – less clutter to carry around, no sterilising, and you get to eat more than you would if you weren't feeding a baby.

Winding up successfully accomplished it would seem.

My elder daughter is 43 and all those years ago I fed her whilst on a train, on buses, in car parks, shops etc etc and I never had a comment made about it. You do not gave to flaunt the activity but a quiet baby is better than a distressed one.