breastfeeding in public

So, Ryan, I was just thinking -- You have a 9-year-old and you don't want her?? to see breasts?

I was a C-cup at 9 and had my first period at 11. She may not be developing, but some of her friends are. She's seen and known more than you can imagine, unless you don't allow her friends.

My daughter and I talk about what is going to happen to her body. She has seen me in a bra and knows that changes will be happening to her body. We are both female though. The comment was more geared to my son, his father will discuss with him what changes will happen. He does not need to see a female breast for educational purposes at 7 not mine or anyone's for that matter.

I guess my whole point is that I should decide when my daughter or son will be exposed to body parts, not the lady in the store who whips out out for the whole world to see!

And again we come back to the question: how many women have you really seen "whip it out for the whole world to see?" As many nursing moms as I've been around, I can honestly say I've never seen that, with the exception of my sister when I was with her in her own home, so that doesn't count. Most nursing moms are discreet. And if you happen to see one who isn't, and your child asks, you can simply tell them, "She's just feeding her baby. I fed you the same way." Easy peasy. Because any other answer makes it look like you think breastfeeding is gross, which clearly isn't the case since you did it yourself. So it's your job to clarify that for your kids.

Clearly if they're 9 and 7 (I think that's what you said) and they haven't seen it yet, it must not happen too often, so I don't know why you're so worried about it.

I agree with this. Most kids you can give them a matter of fact answer and they're satisfied. When my son was born I had to pump for him because he couldn't eat and was a NICU baby for 3 months. I did let it all hang out in my home because it was just easier. I wasn't going to go hide in a room to pump just cause my daughter (who is 6) was around the house. If we had guests then I found somewhere else just because I didn't want to make them uncomfortable and I wanted to be comfortable pumping. My daughter asked questions about it and I told her that some mommies feed their babies this way and that she got fed a little this way too. That was it, she moved on.

I can't argue the point too much because every parent is different and wants to raise their kids their way and that's cool too. I think at 9 and 7 though they're going to either find out very soon and not from you or already know more then you think. I remember myself at those ages and I certainly knew quite a bit about my body already.

There is already a part 2? Wow Hot topic!

Many Breastfeeding moms are way more discreet than most people are on any occasion... You see a lot more cleavage and skin on the beach that you probably would from a nursing mother.

Yes is she just whips her boob out in the middle of wal-mart, with nothing to cover her, then sprays everyone around her when she's done like a porn star. I could see how people would get offended...

But if she keeps the girls covered up then what is the problem.

I agree with the person in the previous posting on this... It is way more offensive to me when people don't wash their hand after going to the bathroom... which by the way is potentially getting their urine on door handles and money, shopping carts etc. that we all touch... gross!

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And again we come back to the question: how many women have you really seen "whip it out for the whole world to see?" As many nursing moms as I've been around, I can honestly say I've never seen that, with the exception of my sister when I was with her in her own home, so that doesn't count. Most nursing moms are discreet. And if you happen to see one who isn't, and your child asks, you can simply tell them, "She's just feeding her baby. I fed you the same way." Easy peasy. Because any other answer makes it look like you think breastfeeding is gross, which clearly isn't the case since you did it yourself. So it's your job to clarify that for your kids.

Clearly if they're 9 and 7 (I think that's what you said) and they haven't seen it yet, it must not happen too often, so I don't know why you're so worried about it.
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I have seen maybe three women whip it out. I never even said I was worried about it. I just gave my opinion that it should be done tasteful and out of respect for others it should be done while covered! I also stated that it was sick for a child to see their moms breast, I should have clarified that it was directed towards a son and mother and I should have used a better choice of words.

Again this is just my opinion, other than the statement about the kids seeing moms breasts being gross imo, I have yet to question anyones choice to raise their children how they choose.

I'll say it again, I believe it should be the parents decision when a child is exposed to others private body parts. If it does ever happen I will talk to my son, but it still should have been my decision!

Although this may be an interesting thread, here's a tip everyone can use:

Learn to quote the ACTUAL post your responding to, and not the entire history!! Do you guys HAVE to get your response in so quickly that you have no time to delete previous quotes?!

For those with short-term memories, I apologise. For everyone else, this is annoying!!

The more someone tells me something is annoying, the more I want to do it.

Just sayin'.

So, Ryan, I was just thinking -- You have a 9-year-old and you don't want her?? to see breasts?

I was a C-cup at 9 and had my first period at 11. She may not be developing, but some of her friends are. She's seen and known more than you can imagine, unless you don't allow her friends.

My daughter and I talk about what is going to happen to her body. She has seen me in a bra and knows that changes will be happening to her body. We are both female though. The comment was more geared to my son, his father will discuss with him what changes will happen. He does not need to see a female breast for educational purposes at 7 not mine or anyone's for that matter.

I guess my whole point is that I should decide when my daughter or son will be exposed to body parts, not the lady in the store who whips out out for the whole world to see!

It worries me that you think you have that much control.

And I NEVER just wiped those bad boys out... I had a blanket or hid myself in a corner... but it is part of life and think it is ridiculous to try to hide what you are doing

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I'm sorry, but I have to call bull *kitten* on this. You are 10 years my junior, and I am a BF mom who has gone out in groups of other BF moms; I teach a BF class for WIC and have mom groups through WIC, and I have never even seen a mom just "flop it all out" there for all to see...

yeah. I just have to call bull *kitten*. sorry. Most moms are freaking terrified to even try to nurse in public because of moronic views like the ones you've read here... and you're saying that you just see people all over the place whipping them out there.... give me a break.

So because you are 10yrs older than me that means you've seen it all? Thats really ignorant for you to even imply.

And I didnt say "all over the place" but since I was a child I've seen women breast feed in public. Having a mother who is practically a hippy always tried to teach me to be tolerant of it. I understand women CAN be discreet. But if all the women were I dont think this would be an issue.

It bothers me that moms don't try to breast feed... I think it is ridiculous and selfish honestly... I mean IF YOU CAN"T that is one thing but you WON't is another.

I breast fed both of my girls... NOTHING but breast for this last one for 5 mths... she just started baby food and is almost 6 mths. I mean our bodies do produce it for a reason.

You must have missed the other 20 pages. I breast feed and there are tons of women on here who have.

This is a picture of a woman breastfeeding in public:



Are you scandalized?

Quick, cover your eyes! Get the kids in the car, Bob!

It bothers me that moms don't try to breast feed... I think it is ridiculous and selfish honestly... I mean IF YOU CAN"T that is one thing but you WON't is another.

Do you really feel that way, though?

How do you feel about it when other people apply that logic to you? For instance, say I'm a health nut, and I make homemade soup for dinner many nights. But YOU open a can of soup one night. So I call you "ridiculous and selfish." Because you COULD have made the perfect choice ("the perfect choice" equals MY choice, of course!!). Is that reasonable?
How about if you work? Do SAHMs think you're selfish and ridiculous? Or if you are a SAHM, do working moms think .... well, you know the rest.

Hey, I cloth diapered my older kids. Maybe you're ridiculous and selfish because you didn't happen to make the same choice I did.

Or... you know what? Maybe you just live a different life, and make the choices about what's best for YOUR family.

I agree. Breastfeeding is best health-wise for probably 95% of babies or so. Not all. Even at that, I've never known a mother who said, "You know what? I don't care about my kid's health. I don't want to breastfeed and that's that. I hope he grows up all sickly." Formula is a choice -- many babies do thrive on it, some babies require it, and some mothers need it for various reasons. Some moms choose it because they're misinformed, some moms do so with their eyes wide open. It's not a giant thing. I was formula-fed. I had health issues, some of which are directly related to the fact that I was highly allergic to cow's dairy and my formula was dairy-based. Does that mean formula is evil or that my mom was a bad mom? No. It means my mom did the best she could with the information she had available. It means that while yes, I had some health issues, I'm a reasonably healthy adult, and that's directly due to the fact that my mom made lots of choices throughout my life to keep me healthy and safe. Breastfeeding is normal and healthiest for most babies, yes, but formula is not evil, and neither are the mothers who choose it for their kids.