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My Views on Breastfeeding in Public
Breastfeeding in public tends to be controversial.
However, if a bottle-fed baby can have her dinner in public, why
shouldn't a breastfed baby have the same rights? I have certainly
never seen a public restroom that I would like to feed my baby in!
And I'm certainly not going to stay cooped up at home all the time
because I'm afraid that my baby will get hungry while we're gone.
I nursed my daughter in public from the time that we started going
out (when she was about 6 weeks old) until she was no longer wishing
to nurse when we were out and about (probably around 2 1/2 or so).
My son started nursing in public at the ripe old age of two days,
and still nurses pretty often when we are out (he's 12 months now).
If my child is hungry or just wants to nurse, then he gets to nurse.
After 12-18 months, I sometimes offer baby a snack or a drink of
water to hold him until we can go somewhere more convenient, but
if he still insists that he wants to nurse I let him. So far no
one has ever commented on it; as far as I can tell, no one has even
noticed. We've nursed walking through stores (we all love our sling!),
at the state fair, at practically every restaurant we've ever been
to, at parks, at the beach, at a hockey game, at movies and plays...
well, we've nursed pretty much everywhere.
I, personally, have never put a blanket over my nursing baby,
though some moms are more comfortable doing this. I feel it just
draws attention to the fact that I'm nursing (I know I always
notice this when someone else does it). Besides, I live in Florida
and it's just too hot for something like that! As long as your baby
isn't looking around every few seconds (I've experienced this occasionally
and now I'm fast), a loose t-shirt and the baby will keep
you perfectly covered and modest. If you've never nursed in public
and are nervous about "what people might see," practice in front
of a mirror or a good friend or your husband. Go to a La Leche League
meeting. It's a good place to practice - there are always mothers
nursing there - and you can get tips from experienced mothers on
public nursing.
I have heard of mothers getting negative comments and nasty looks
when breastfeeding in public. This is really sad. When someone sees
a nursing ANIMAL they will say, "oh, how cute!" Shouldn't a nursing
baby get the same reaction (if any at all)? Besides, a nursing baby
should be much more welcome than a screaming baby who needs to eat.
I know so many nursing moms (including myself) who have gotten
really nice comments from the surrounding passengers on airplanes.
And, by the way, breastfeeding in public is not
illegal and is not indecent exposure - anywhere! Many states
have laws expressly saying this. Some moms even carry a copy of
the law in their diaper bag or purse. I know that in my state (Florida),
a mother is legally allowed to breastfeed her child any place that
she is legally allowed to be, so as long as you're not trespassing,
you're fine.
So if you are breastfeeding, please don't stay at home! Go out,
have some fun, and nurse in public. The more often mothers nurse
in public, the more accepted it will become.
Getting
Off the Back Room Team from the LLL website
From
Bashful to Brazen: The Indiscreet Breastfeeder's Manifesto by
Sundae Horn, from Mothering, Issue 109, November/December
2001
Breastfeeding
and Real Life
Breastfeeding
in Public Is a Basic Civil Right by Nancy M. Solomon
Nursing
in Public resources from Breastfeeding.com
Modest
Breastfeeding by Shari Ann Wenzel, from New Beginnings,
Vol. 19 No. 5, September-October 2002, pp. 175-176
Baring
Breasts for Baby by Rebecca Ephraim, RD, CCN
Eating
Out by Shel Franco
Handling Criticism @ 
Breastfeeding
out and about by Dot Newbold BA, Grad Dip Women's Studies, ABA
Breastfeeding Counsellor
Breastfeeding
in Public articles from LLL
Can
You Give Me Some Tips for Discreet Breastfeeding? LLL FAQ
Nursing
Discreetly by Anne Smith, IBCLC
Have
Breasts Will Travel: Nursing Discreetly In Public by Lisa Palazzo,
from Mothering, Issue 109, November/December 2001
Rules
of the Road: Tips for Nursing Discreetly and Publicly from OneHot
Mama.com
Motherwear's
Guide to Nursing in Public
Tips
for Breastfeeding in Public from Elizabeth Lee Designs
Thank You
for nursing your baby in public by Lisa Russell
"Caught
you nursing" postcards from BESTPART New Zealand
Oops!
You Caught Me Breastfeeding -- Business Sized Breastfeeding
Cards by Shana R. May. "Sometimes it's hard to know what to
do or say when someone makes a comment to you about breastfeeding
in public. These little breastfeeding cards will help you in case
you're at a loss for words."
Breastfeeding and the Law
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Page last modified:
10/10/2005
Written: 02/17/1998
