General Chat

i must say i am pretty annoyed at some of the comments on this thread. i breast fed both my children and i never had to " bare my all". most of the time looked like i was just giving my children a cuddle. what do you think women should do? stay at home until they have completely weaned their children? i would have taken great offence if someone suggested that i should feed my child in a toilet. after all would anyone here eat their lunch in the toilet? i have seen scantily clad young girls in the street showing off more than a woman breastfeeding her child. but as for the 4 year old breastfeeding. well that is not healthy. they should be getting enough nutrients through other sources. the world health organisation only recommends that you breast feed a child until the age of 2. but that is for third world countries. over here they recommend 6 months.

Breast feeding in public doesn't wory me a bit, most women do it very discreetly, and the weaning age is up to the parents, we all have different views. I AM disgusted by adults who nose pick or remove their false teeth or hawk up in public, especially eating places.

i dont think that's right to still be breast feeding a 4 yr old i breast feed all 3 of mine & they where all off the breast by 18mnth's i dont know if anyone else saw it but a while ago a watch a program on sky(late at night) this mother was still breast feeding her child (not a baby) that's for sure he was 14 yrs old she even took him out of lesson's to be breast feed i think that is just discusting

id rather be a bit embarrassed than have a hungry child scream the place down!

I'm sitting here watching a litter of kittens bombard their mum for their supper, and it occurred to me that when kittens or puppies and all manner of other animal babies are nursing, the usual reaction is 'how sweet' and everyone rushes to look. What a pity that sexualization of something so natural for babies has caused embarrassment for human adults and banishment to the toilet for human babies and their mothers.

I am really interested to read the threads for this subject. I live in Ontario, Canada originally from Bristol. Tonight I was reading my local paper and this is what the Ontario Human Rights Commission has published. "You have rights as a nursing mother" You have the right to breastfeed your child in a public area. Some of these areas might include: -Restaurants -Stores and Malls -Schools -Parks No one should prevent your from nursing your child simply because you are in a public area. They should not ask you to "cover up", disturb you, or ask you to move to another area that is more "discreet". Do whatever you need to do to ensure that you and your child can feed comfortably. Talk it out with the manager/owner or leave and follow up later. Follow up with a letter to the manager/owner. In the letter explain what happened. Inform the manager/owner about the Ontario Human Rights Code. At work, your employer should provide you with enough time to breasfeed or express milk for your child. Both you and your employer share the responsibility of finding a way to meet your needs. I nursed my own son until he was a year old, I wanted to carry on, but by that time he'd had enough of me and just wanted a cup. I never had any problems, and I see nursing mums everywhere, but there are family rooms for parents at most malls. As for breastfeeding in America I have never heard of any places where you can not feed your baby in public, the States are just as child friendly as Canada. Maybe the UK needs re-educating as their will always be nursing mums somewhere. Amanda in Ontario.

Just remembered, a man tried to get a woman charged with indecency on an American flight about 18 months ago - for breast feeding her baby!! He must have craned his head a long way!! maggie

Marjorie, I think you've discovered why David is embarrassed! Breasts are put about as sexual objects by the tabloids - seems a lot of journalists have a boob fixation. I think they'd seem much more mundane if they were described as what they are - adapted sweat glands!! Not much different from your armpit then, except they stick out! lol maggie

By the time I got to the third one I was pretty confident and would discreetly feed my baby anywhere. I was once told off loudly and publicly in a restaurant, to which I replied "Screaming or feeding? You choose." I must agree though, some women seem to deliberately flaunt their boobs and that is bad manners, nothing worse. However, doesnt seem to offend when they flaunt their boobs WITHOUT a baby attached!

I breasfed both of my children, and did so in public (hesitantly with the first, and more confidently with the second). I use to wear loose t-shirts and carry a light shawl to drape across my shoulder and around the baby for discretion. I have no problem wih seeing mothers breastfeeding in public. However, I have known at least 2 mums so mortified at being "told off" for doing so by another member of the public or member of shopping centre staff - Bluewater take note! - that they immediately gave up breastfeeding. Their babies lost out on important nutrients and immunity as a result. I think breastfeeding is less offensive than smoking in public, or eating takeaways on the train. And far healthier. If other people don't like it, they can look away. But a baby can't do without its lunch just because someone is offended. And an unfed baby screams very loud. I would rather sit next to a contented mum and baby in a restaurant than crying baby and harrassed mother. Angela

OUCH David!!!! Christine

dave you are adevil.but we like it!!!!xxx(:

LOL David, I used to say that about my second child, that I'd be feeding her at the school gates! She was breastfed 'til she was two and a half, but only last thing at night, as it's the only way she would settle. I did read a few years ago about a woman in America who was being taken to court for child abuse because she was still feeding her 7 yr old son. What age do you all think it is right to b/f until? My 1st I fed 'for 9mnths, 2nd 'til 2 and a half yrs, 3rd 9 mths and fourth a year. Personally I think the child usually lets you know when they don't want to anymore, but I did have to stop with my second or she'd still be at it!! (she's 17 now) LOL Christine

Estelle its funny you saying that because I actually bottle fed my first two babies and then breast fed my next four babies and I used to cringe more when I seen a tiny baby with a big bottle stuck in its mouth..... LOL Not that I have anything against bottle feeding, after all I did it myself twice and do appreciate that breast isnt for everyone and some women have problems breast feeding. I dont have any problems with other women breast feeding around me, its just me who didnt want to flash my boobs around for all to see.... well that and the fact that if someone had decided to have a go at me for it, I may have reacted quite badly..... LOL

I can't see why people get offended or embarrassed by breast feeding. I breast fed both of mine and as others have said, it can be done discreetly, you don't need to expose yourself at all. It's disgusting for people to expect babies to be fed in toilets, adults wouldn't want to eat there, I find people smoking while i'm eating more disgusting and annoying. Another thing, why do people find breastfeeding in public a problem, but not topless women in newspapers and magazines? M

Im for breast feeding in private or in public. But most mums are descreet when doing so. Its just a few who spoil it for others. I tried to feed Kyle but he was disintrested, and he ended up on the bottle. With Connie I bottle fed her from the start but wished Id tried to feed her myself as she was a better feeder than kyle. Sadly 9 years ago when I had Kyle midwives wernt as supportive and helpfull as they are now. You get more breastfeeding support now, E x

I am going to play devil's advocate here. As a breastfeeding mother I could say that I find it offensive to see a baby with a bottle of formula. Please don't shoot me down in flames, my son was given formula as well as breast milk. Just wanted to put a different view point.

i can see no problem in this it has been going on since the start of time and anyone who thinks it should be done away from public view wants to get a life

It's the most natural thing in the world, why do they make a big thing about it? As long as a woman dos'nt go flashing her boobs about but does it discretly it's fine! Jo.

i have no problems with that it's natural and a mother shouldn't be forced out of a public place because of disapprovalxxxx(: