Breastfeeding in Public.

[Tim]

I think the PA law sums it up very well....

1 Protecting the right of a mother PERMITTING A MOTHER THE FREEDOM <--
2 to nurse her child in public; prohibiting a unit of local <--
3 government from adopting an ordinance prohibiting
4 breastfeeding in public; and providing that breastfeeding may
5 not be considered a nuisance, indecent exposure, sexual
6 conduct or obscenity.
7 WHEREAS, There are benefits to the child, the mother and <--
8 society by encouraging and enabling mothers to breastfeed their
9 children; and
10 WHEREAS, An infant who is breastfed receives protection
11 against infection, illness and allergies, and long-term positive
12 effects on the development, intelligence and health of breastfed
13 children have been found; and
14 WHEREAS, A protective effect against various types of cancer
15 and greater emotional and physical health are found for mothers
16 who breastfeed; and
17 WHEREAS, Breastfeeding promotes sufficient birth spacing,
18 improved vaccine effectiveness and decreased food and medical

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

I think the PA law sums it up very well....

Yup. PA has it down pat.

 

[Ria]

Breast feeding has been around for centuries and is a natural thing for those mums who can be OK dooing it - people just need to remember how long it's been going on. What is so wrong about feeding your baby? Nothing at all imo. I would have thought neglect would be more an issue for not feeding b/c of a few mindless people kicking up about a mother doing what is to be done, no matter where it is.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Breasts were around long before bottles were.

True story.

 

[debbie t]

Breasts were around long before bottles were.

True story.

and wet nurses were heriones:nod:

 

[Tim]

It's funny how people can see a dog nursing it's puppies and say "Awe how cute" yet get all bent out of shape when it's a fellow human...

 

[debbie t]

It's funny how people can see a dog nursing it's puppies and say "Awe how cute" yet get all bent out of shape when it's a fellow human...

as i said the whole worlds gone mad:nod:

 

[iced_shrapnel]

I just think that American society sexualizes the breast WAY too much.

I don't think it has anything to do with sex, i just know if i had a curious toddler who sees a woman breastfeeding, i wouldn't want to have to explain it all to him right there...I would want to wait until I felt ready to explain it...and I'm not gonna lie to the kid, but i wouldn't feel that would be the best time for such a conversation

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

I don't think it has anything to do with sex, i just know if i had a curious toddler who sees a woman breastfeeding, i wouldn't want to have to explain it all to him right there...I would want to wait until I felt ready to explain it...and I'm not gonna lie to the kid, but i wouldn't feel that would be the best time for such a conversation

by being uncomfortable about it you are just feeding the stigma that it is bad...a toddler wouldn't be the least bit uncomfortable about it, if they asked, all you have to tell them is that it's how little babies eat. Plus, if you did have a toddler, I think by then you would understand how breastfeeding women felt and you might be more ok with it.

 

[gLing]

I don't see what the big deal is because it is just a woman feeding her child. If somebody accidentally gets a glimpse of her bare breast then so what? Your face isn't going to melt off and it isn't like she is flashing people on purpose.

 

[iced_shrapnel]

by being uncomfortable about it you are just feeding the stigma that it is bad...a toddler wouldn't be the least bit uncomfortable about it, if they asked, all you have to tell them is that it's how little babies eat. Plus, if you did have a toddler, I think by then you would understand how breastfeeding women felt and you might be more ok with it.

Thats what I'm saying though...its a social stigma for sure, but then once the kid finds out, he's going to do things like talk about it constantly, maybe even go so far as try to open mommy's shirt to show people what he means...toddlers don't understand tact...and neither do older people sometimes...even if they don't freak about it, they often cause unneccessary attention to the mother and child, and feeding babies don't need to be under a lot of stress...that makes feeding more difficult...I just don't see why its that hard to go find a quiet area...i mean most public places have restrooms...

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

I don't think it has anything to do with sex, i just know if i had a curious toddler who sees a woman breastfeeding, i wouldn't want to have to explain it all to him right there...I would want to wait until I felt ready to explain it...and I'm not gonna lie to the kid, but i wouldn't feel that would be the best time for such a conversation

You know what? I'd bet most toddlers wouldn't have a problem with seeing another toddler being breastfed by their mother. After all, they would have gone through the same thing themselves, and not too long ago themselves if it is they are no longer being breastfed themselves.

No, the toddlers have an innocent outlook to this. It is (some) adults who would want to put sexual or other connotations to something which is a natural function such as this because of ignorance for not accepting it for what it is.

And even if it comes to explaining, it really is not difficult to explain why the baby is being fed.

 

[Boomer]

Maybe if you ladies showed your breasts more often, they wouldnt have as much of a shock factor. :ninja

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

You know what? I'd bet most toddlers wouldn't have a problem with seeing another toddler being breastfed by their mother. After all, they would have gone through the same thing themselves, and not too long ago themselves if it is they are no longer being breastfed themselves.

No, the toddlers have an innocent outlook to this. It is (some) adults who would want to put sexual or other connotations to something which is a natural function such as this because of ignorance for not accepting it for what it is.

And even if it comes to explaining, it really is not difficult to explain why the baby is being fed.

couldn't have said it better myself! And also, many women breastfeed for up to 3 years...it's not very common but it is perfectly healthy. By 3 the kids can talk, and I'm sure they tell their mothers "I want boobie!" or something seemingly embarrassing...but these mothers don't care, because their child's wellbeing comes first.

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

couldn't have said it better myself! And also, many women breastfeed for up to 3 years...it's not very common but it is perfectly healthy. By 3 the kids can talk, and I'm sure they tell their mothers "I want boobie!" or something seemingly embarrassing...but these mothers don't care, because their child's wellbeing comes first.

Of course.

 

[Keight]

They are boobs!
I dont see the big problem here, A child is having its lunch :shrug:
I dont see why its such a big problem

 

[dt3]

I do it all the time :dunno

 

[GuesSAngel]

Thats what I'm saying though...its a social stigma for sure, but then once the kid finds out, he's going to do things like talk about it constantly, maybe even go so far as try to open mommy's shirt to show people what he means...toddlers don't understand tact...and neither do older people sometimes...even if they don't freak about it, they often cause unneccessary attention to the mother and child, and feeding babies don't need to be under a lot of stress...that makes feeding more difficult...I just don't see why its that hard to go find a quiet area...i mean most public places have restrooms...

Next time you go out to eat, make sure you don't sit at the table to eat, and make sure that you take your food to the restroom and eat it at the toilet...only b/c if someone looks at you eating, they just might be offended by the way you eat.

I'm not trying to be mean, but just trying to get a point across.

 

[iced_shrapnel]

Next time you go out to eat, make sure you don't sit at the table to eat, and make sure that you take your food to the restroom and eat it at the toilet...only b/c if someone looks at you eating, they just might be offended by the way you eat.

I'm not trying to be mean, but just trying to get a point across.

I get your point, but it is different...I mean if I were to eat at the table with my mouth open and chomp my food like a cow, you WOULD be offended and ask me to eat somewhere else...so therefore give yourself and your child the privacy to eat where no one will be gawking, making comments, and feeling uncomfortable

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

I get your point, but it is different...I mean if I were to eat at the table with my mouth open and chomp my food like a cow, you WOULD be offended and ask me to eat somewhere else...so therefore give yourself and your child the privacy to eat where no one will be gawking, making comments, and feeling uncomfortable

if i didn't know you and you were doing that, there is no way i would ever ask you to leave! I might personally think it's gross that you don't know how to eat properly, but if I had a problem with it I would simply turn away. No way would I ask you to leave!