NationStates Jolt Archive

The World Health Organization and UNICEF strongly encourage breastfeeding through toddlerhood: "Breastmilk is an important source of energy and protein, and helps to protect against disease during the child's second year of life." Our biology seems geared to a weaning age of between 2 1/2 and 7 years, and it makes sense to build our children's bones from the milk that was designed for them.

Link (http://www.breastfeedingresources.net/article.htm)

My wife fully intends to breastfeed our baby, who is now 14 months, until she weans herself.
Many people have problems with her feeding in public but the latest research from WHO, UNICEF and UNESCO seem to suggest that it's the very best thing.
Note that "between 2 1/2 and 7 years".

What do you think. Is breastfeeding in public OK?
Is breastfeeding toddlers OK?
Do you care either way?

Link (http://www.breastfeedingresources.net/article.htm)

My wife fully intends to breastfeed our baby, who is now 14 months, until she weans herself.
Many people have problems with her feeding in public but the latest research from WHO, UNICEF and UNESCO seem to suggest that it's the very best thing.
Note that "between 2 1/2 and 7 years".

What do you think. Is breastfeeding in public OK?
Is breastfeeding toddlers OK?
Do you care either way?don't care. if someone is breastfeeding near me, I give them all the privacy I can (I don't watch)

Breastfeeding toddlers is fine. Don't know about in public, some people may be uncomfortable.

Don't care either way. But....2nd grade and being brestfed? Wow.

What do you do if you have one of those monsterly huge 7 year olds?

That long? Hmmm... seems a tad long to breastfeed. What about psychological development and all that?

I think it is rather absurd not to breastfeed. I have yet to hear a legitimate reason not to and it is quite obviously beneficial.

I agree age 7 is a bit far in the west but consider the benifits in the 3rd world.
WHO etc are more concerned with Africa than they are with my wife but your attitudes are really refreshing.
We regularly hear the tuts of disaproval when we're out and Mrs. Rainy is always very discrete.

Bitty!

:p

Bitty!

:p
Yeah, that's exactly what I say to her when she says she'll never stop.
It's funny but there's a subdued horror under there. :p :eek:

Ours weaned themselves at about 10 months, but I've seen some people keep going up to age 7 or so. Seems as though the presence of teeth and the ability to chew food indicates weaning time, but that's just my take on it.

Breast feeding doesn't make me uncomfortable, but I've seen 7 year olds nursing and had a negative reaction. Dunno, perhaps what makes me uncomfortable is that a child is being held in an infancy stage when he should be beyond it - or maybe that the mother doesn't want to give up that special relationship for selfish/personal reasons. The decision to continue breast feeding should be left to the parents, though, and not be based on societal standards.

Link (http://www.breastfeedingresources.net/article.htm)

My wife fully intends to breastfeed our baby, who is now 14 months, until she weans herself.
Many people have problems with her feeding in public but the latest research from WHO, UNICEF and UNESCO seem to suggest that it's the very best thing.
Note that "between 2 1/2 and 7 years".

What do you think. Is breastfeeding in public OK?
Is breastfeeding toddlers OK?
Do you care either way?

Breastfeeding in public? Meh. Natural, who cares? If you're talking about breastfeeding toddlers in public I'd be a little more cautious, but babies, sure.
Breastfeeding toddlers? Meh. Little bit weird; could be embarrassing for the child in school (kids'll pick on anything these days, and yes, it starts young). But it might be natural too.

I don't know enough about the subject to complain or commend to be honest. All I do know is that I wasn't breastfed at all. I have, according to the doctor who last took a sample anyway, extremely high-quality blood with plenty of 'factor 8' (the stuff that haemophiliacs lack; clots your blood among other things). My bones are virtually unbreakable, thanks to drinking a lot of (cows) milk as a child -- very important, is milk, by the way, don't forget that. I did pretty well in school. I never get ill; never have, still don't, hopefully never will. I'm perfectly fit and healthy; exercise regularly, have decent blood pressure, etc.

If you want to breastfeed, fine. Good for you; you want your baby to be healthy and that's commendable. All I'm pointing out is, don't get scared by scientists and think that your baby is going to die or turn into a weakling who'll always be ill if you don't breastfeed it for as long as you possibly can.
Scientists tend to exaggerate on matters like this, almost as though they're trying to scare people; and they're not always right either. I seem to remember them declaring a lot of things as 'healthy' and 'unhealthy', before quietly retracting their statements later on.
I personally think that the biggest impact you can have on a child's future health is when they're a little older, right up until adulthood basically. Like the milk thing I mentioned, healthy eating and the like. There's no point pressuring the breastfeeding issue and then letting them eat whatever they want when they grow out of it.

Ours weaned themselves at about 10 months, but I've seen some people keep going up to age 7 or so. Seems as though the presence of teeth and the ability to chew food indicates weaning time, but that's just my take on it.

Breast feeding doesn't make me uncomfortable, but I've seen 7 year olds nursing and had a negative reaction. Dunno, perhaps what makes me uncomfortable is that a child is being held in an infancy stage when he should be beyond it - or maybe that the mother doesn't want to give up that special relationship for selfish/personal reasons. The decision to continue breast feeding should be left to the parents, though, and not be based on societal standards.
another reasonable point of view.

Where's the loony fringe tonight? :rolleyes:

People who have a problem with a mother breastfeeding her baby in public shouldn't be in public. If they want to be that sheltered, they should stay at home. That said, discreetness on the part of the mother is good too.

As for toddlers, I probably wouldn't breast feed past about 2 years old, but that's just me. I wouldn't take it so far that the kids are going to school - that could get messy, but 2-3 shouldn't be a problem.

Breastfeeding till the toddler is 2-3-4 years old seems fine. Older than that hmmm... I dunno.
It's always possible to switch to non-human milk (cow, goat) at any point if the mother gets tired of it, or has sore breasts. But still, it's important to breastfeed at least for some time, as it gives the baby the most well-balanced, rich food. And it strengtens his/her immune system.

As for breastfeeding in public, here we see mothers doing it anywhere (even in restaurants... but hey, why not! it's a place for eating, after all!!!)

Humans are the only species that drink the milk of another animal :p

I'm probably gonna breastfeed when I have a kid. I don't know if I was or not.

I agree age 7 is a bit far in the west but consider the benifits in the 3rd world.

What benefits? By then most women would have had at least another, and quite probably more, children. Plus the woman would need to receive proper nutrition to keep her milk up to good standard.

I still think 7 years is too long. Even 2.5 seems like pushing it. I need to read more before deciding, though.

Oh, and about the breastfeeding in public, I have no problems.

1st: Breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for your baby. Improves their immune system like nothing else! :p

2nd: I don't know about the age range though (I mean, your kid comes home from school at age 7 "Mom, what's for dinn... uh, never mind!").
I've found the same numbers derived from other mammals and applied to the human baby on German "how to" pages (3-7 years) but I believe that it's not necessary to go that long. 12-18 months should be fine. After all, it all depends on the mother how long she'd like to "leak" ;)

3rd: If the baby is hungry it definitely does not give a shit whether it's in public or at home: hungry is hungry and hungry babies ain't happy! If people have a problem with public breastfeeding, it definitely is their problem! I mean, come on! What's more natural than breastfeeding your baby?!? A naked breast has honestly never hurt anyone!!! :D

What do you think. Is breastfeeding in public OK?
Is breastfeeding toddlers OK?
Do you care either way?
I think breastfeeding in public is fine...but you should also be understanding when some people get weirded out by a five year old tucked under mommy's shirt:). I think breastfeeding toddlers is fine, though really after a year, there isn't all that much point to it for regular kids who have a good diet. I breastfed my first daughter until the birth of my second (the first was 2 years old at that point), and I did so because my daughter has a strange condition that causes her to vomit undigested food quite frequently. Sometimes the only sustanence we could keep in her was breast milk. I weaned the second one at 13 months, not because I had to, but because it was becoming mightily inconvenient. I only nursed her at night, and she was waking up about six times a night to feed. I desperately needed sleep, and so did she, so weaning was the best solution (I did it cold turkey and it was a weak of hell!)

My people regularly nurse their children to about age 4 or 5. It's a cultural thing, and no, I don't think it's weird. But many other people do, and so we tend to do it at home, or around one another rather than out in public. Just so we can avoid the weird stares and long explanations:)

*looks at my children's teeth* .... ouchie

To each their own .... but 7? Ah well ... we do live in a time where everything must be done "to the extreme".

Humans are the only species that drink the milk of another animal :p

I'm probably gonna breastfeed when I have a kid. I don't know if I was or not.
Hehehhee...you mean you'll let your CHILD breastfeed, right? :D

I knew a family that breast fed well into the milk tooth stage and had a problem with tooth decay. The kid would fall asleep with teat in mouth and ended up having teeth extracted. The mother just didn't want to give up the nursing despite seeing the evidence of decay.

Hehehhee...you mean you'll let your CHILD breastfeed, right? :D

Hahaha, so I'm not the only one who had that thought when I read that!

What benefits? By then most women would have had at least another, and quite probably more, children. Plus the woman would need to receive proper nutrition to keep her milk up to good standard.

I still think 7 years is too long. Even 2.5 seems like pushing it. I need to read more before deciding, though.

Oh, and about the breastfeeding in public, I have no problems.
Breastfeeding does all sorts of wonderful things for the mother too. Her womb contracts much more quickly to its pre-partum size. It helps the woman lose weight, and while not 100% effective, often acts as a form of 'birth control'. It really seems in native populations particularly that this is true...the longer you breastfeed, the longer the time in between children. Of course, it doesn't work for plenty of women, so it would be folly to rely on it alone:)

However, as you pointed out, the mother's nutrition is very important too. Nursing takes a lot out of you in terms of minerals and vitamins (fat soluble ones). If the overall diet of the family is poor, the mother will literally be sacrificing her own health to nurture her child this way. I think most women would make that sacrifice though, if there was no alternative. Breast milk provides moisture, fat, and assorted proteins. Breast milk changes; it seems to be very 'in tune' with the nutritional needs of the infant. However, it can actually become detrimental in areas where the food or water sources are heavily polluted, as many of these pollutants will be passed to the infant through the milk.

It's a complex issue, but I understand the push for breast feeding in the case of the WHO, especially after the Nestle fiasco where baby formula was so heavily advertised in areas where the water supply was not safe. Better breastfeeding even with latent pollutants in the milk than that.

Again, if the nutritional needs of the child are being met in other ways, breastfeeding is not necessary after a year. But sometimes other health factors come into play and it is better to prolong it. And then there is the choice of the parents (and the child, if they do not wish to be weaned yet).

I knew a family that breast fed well into the milk tooth stage and had a problem with tooth decay. The kid would fall asleep with teat in mouth and ended up having teeth extracted. The mother just didn't want to give up the nursing despite seeing the evidence of decay.

That same thing happens to parents who let their children go to sleep with a bottle. It's just a bad idea all around. I think if you can chew, you should.

Humans are the only species that drink the milk of another animal What about my cat?

And piglets are given human milk in some parts of Indonesia.

Tits drink milk by pecking holes in the tops of bottles. But tits don't have milk of their own.

To eliminate the unfortunate image I've just created in some people's minds, I should point out that tits are small birds.

Trying to think of other examples of cross animal milk drinking. You'd think there would have been time for the evolution of the titty cuckoo, which fools mammals into giving it milk. Also, I could probably get a dog to breastfeed a robot if the robot played a recording of the appropriate puppy sounds. I know that they will treat a tape recorder like a puppy if it plays the right sounds. I wonder what happens when a deaf dog has puppies? Anyone know?

To each their own .... but 7? Ah well ... we do live in a time where everything must be done "to the extreme".
This is not a 'new' thing Keru. Though breastfeeding does tend to go through fads in the West...from 'absolutely not!' to, 'why not'?

And trust me...teeth or no teeth, your kids learn quickly not to bite.

I knew a family that breast fed well into the milk tooth stage and had a problem with tooth decay. The kid would fall asleep with teat in mouth and ended up having teeth extracted. The mother just didn't want to give up the nursing despite seeing the evidence of decay.
This condition is more commonly known as 'baby bottle' syndrome:) It can happen just as easily with bottlefed babies who fall asleep with milk or juice in their mouth.

Edit: I see this has already been pointed out, but I'd like to say again, YAY FOR BREASTFEEDING! :D

Breastfeeding is all good and fine, but it just gets a little weird when you do it in public. Seriously, I do not want to see some lady pull out her tit in public and shove a baby's mouth on it. If the baby is hungry while you're out in public, you should have the consideration for the other people who don't want to see that and use a bottle. And if you really, really need to give the baby breast milk instead of cow's milk, milk yourself or something.
Yes, it's natural, but still, I don't want to have to see a woman's breast in public. Atleast take it into a car, bathroom or something where other people don't have to see it. It bothers me like how public nudity bothers and public urinating bothers me.

To eliminate the unfortunate image I've just created in some people's minds, I should point out that tits are small birds.



Thanks for the image. Here's another:

http://tecfa.unige.ch/perso/staf/nova/blog/2004/12/09/weird-the-royal-tit-watching-society-ornithology/

Sorry for the interruption... just a little humor. Carry on....

Seriously, I do not want to see some lady pull out her tit in public and shove a baby's mouth on it. We all have our little hang ups. When you feel upset about seeing someone breastfeed I'd suggest just reminding yourself that it's not doing any one any harm and there is no point ruining your day by getting upset over it. If you can laugh at yourself, that can help improve your mood a heap.

This is not a 'new' thing Keru. Though breastfeeding does tend to go through fads in the West...from 'absolutely not!' to, 'why not'?


I imagine it's not a 'new' thing, but I was brought up around a people that tend to make you grow up fast. Traditionally, children are off the teat the second they get teeth and working, in some capacity, by 5. Treated as adults by 10.

I think in a land of plenty, breastfeeding until 7 is a little strange. But, then, I look at my 7 year old daughter who, as I type this, is picking tomatoes from the garden, and I can't even imagine. I can certainly understand it for places where nutrition isn't readily available and I take no issue with public breastfeeding.

Like I said ... to each their own .... but 7? Yikes.

I don't get upset over it and it doesn't ruin my day. It just makes me feel uncomfortable.

It doesn't harm anybody, but there's some things that you just don't do in public. Taking a dump on the middle of the floor in a resturant doesn't hurt anybody, so why shouldn't I do it? If they don't like it they can just ignore it.

Link (http://www.breastfeedingresources.net/article.htm)

My wife fully intends to breastfeed our baby, who is now 14 months, until she weans herself.
Many people have problems with her feeding in public but the latest research from WHO, UNICEF and UNESCO seem to suggest that it's the very best thing.
Note that "between 2 1/2 and 7 years".

What do you think. Is breastfeeding in public OK?
Is breastfeeding toddlers OK?
Do you care either way?

Breast feeding in public is fine.

I have two kids of mine own.

BUT!

Breast feeding your child anything past 2 years of age is just not right. In fact most stop at 1 year. But I guess it's okay till 2. Anything past that is just odd. I mean if you seen someone breast feeding their 5 year old or 7 year old.. you'd think them mad. I know I would. They just don't need it. Not at that age and I don't care what the WHO or any other angecy says. That's just freaking creepy.

Breastfeeding is all good and fine, but it just gets a little weird when you do it in public. Seriously, I do not want to see some lady pull out her tit in public and shove a baby's mouth on it. If the baby is hungry while you're out in public, you should have the consideration for the other people who don't want to see that and use a bottle. And if you really, really need to give the baby breast milk instead of cow's milk, milk yourself or something.
Yes, it's natural, but still, I don't want to have to see a woman's breast in public. Atleast take it into a car, bathroom or something where other people don't have to see it. It bothers me like how public nudity bothers and public urinating bothers me.
Comparing the feeding of a child to public nudity and URINATION is silly. And if you don't want to see it, turn your head. Prude. Most women cover themselves with a blanket anyway, and NEWS FLASH!!! The baby's head is generally big enough to cover any exposed breast flesh.

You know what grosses me out? People chewing with their mouths open. Yuck! I don't want to see that in public! Have some decency and do that sort of thing in the bathroom! :eek:

Breastfeeding is all good and fine, but it just gets a little weird when you do it in public. Seriously, I do not want to see some lady pull out her tit in public and shove a baby's mouth on it. If the baby is hungry while you're out in public, you should have the consideration for the other people who don't want to see that and use a bottle. And if you really, really need to give the baby breast milk instead of cow's milk, milk yourself or something.
Yes, it's natural, but still, I don't want to have to see a woman's breast in public. Atleast take it into a car, bathroom or something where other people don't have to see it. It bothers me like how public nudity bothers and public urinating bothers me.

No reason why your reaction is wrong, but you would get used to it if you were around it more. If you saw a family member or friend feeding regularly you'd see how normal it is and you'd never think twice about it.

I don't get upset over it and it doesn't ruin my day. It just makes me feel uncomfortable.

It doesn't harm anybody, but there's some things that you just don't do in public. Taking a dump on the middle of the floor in a resturant doesn't hurt anybody, so why shouldn't I do it? If they don't like it they can just ignore it.

Taking a 'dump' in the middle of the restaurant would be a health risk. It would also be a safety risk if you slipped on it. And it would stink.

Breastfeeding is not a health risk, nor a safety risk, nor does it stink. Just look away if it bothers you.

But tits don't have milk of their own.

To eliminate the unfortunate image I've just created in some people's minds, I should point out that tits are small birds.

Way too late! That image is stuck :D:D:D

I imagine it's not a 'new' thing, but I was brought up around a people that tend to make you grow up fast. Traditionally, children are off the teat the second they get teeth and working, in some capacity, by 5. Treated as adults by 10.

I think in a land of plenty, breastfeeding until 7 is a little strange. But, then, I look at my 7 year old daughter who, as I type this, is picking tomatoes from the garden, and I can't even imagine. I can certainly understand it for places where nutrition isn't readily available and I take no issue with public breastfeeding.

Like I said ... to each their own .... but 7? Yikes.
Breastfeeding a child does not 'prolong their infancy'. Cree, Dene and Inuvialuit children are no more infantile for their longer nursing period than are other children who are weaned early, or never breast fed. Of course, anyone can turn it into something creepy if they really wanted to...but those type of people are (thankfully) in the minority. It's not a sexual thing, it's not a repressive thing. That being said, I didn't want to nurse my children until they were five, because it was becoming a pain (literally...one day away from my daughter left me swollen and feverish).

And I think the whole '7 years old' is the far end of the spectrum. I doubt many people make it last that long.

Taking a dump on the middle of the floor in a resturant doesn't hurt anybody, so why shouldn't I do it? 1. Odour. 2. Bacteria 3. Lack of dinner invitations.

Shitting on the floor doesn't help anybody. Breastfeeding a baby in public helps the baby and helps the mother.

I don't get upset over it and it doesn't ruin my day. It just makes me feel uncomfortable.

It doesn't harm anybody, but there's some things that you just don't do in public. Taking a dump on the middle of the floor in a resturant doesn't hurt anybody, so why shouldn't I do it? If they don't like it they can just ignore it.
Stop comparing the feeding of a child to bowel movements. The fact that you somehow consider eating and shitting/urinating to be the same thing is disturbing to the extreme. You go eat in the bathroom...I can't stand the way you smack your lips while you chew. Pretty gross thought, isn't it?

Breastfeeding a child does not 'prolong their infancy'.

I never said it did.

That's just freaking creepy.
Major cultural bias here. This reminds me of the thread about the guy who's wife is Japanese and wants him to bathe with their daughter. It's weird for Westerners, but perfectly normal for Japanese. And many cultures have an extended nursing period for their children. Immigration guarantees you'll be seeing more of that. It's really not that bad...if it makes you uncomfortable, you should ask yourself why. Do you consider it to be a sexual thing after a certain age? Why is it 'creepy'? If you just think, "Well, the kid doesn't really need it, so why bother", that's fine...but I doubt creepy feelings would accompany that thought just on their own, for no reason...

I've never seen a breastfeeding woman who's had the decency to cover herself in public. Maybe that's why it bothers me.

I'm probably the farthest thing from a prude as you can get, but it's just some things like this that bother me. Yes, I can turn my head and not acknowledge it, but I still know it's happening and it bothers me.

It still bothers me if family members does it. Infact, it would bother me even more if I had to see one of my aunt's tits in public. YES, breastfeeding is natural. It still just bothers me to have to see that in public.

There are so many alternatives to breastfeeding in public and so many ways to hide it.

I never said it did.
That's what I took out of this:

I imagine it's not a 'new' thing, but I was brought up around a people that tend to make you grow up fast. Traditionally, children are off the teat the second they get teeth and working, in some capacity, by 5. Treated as adults by 10.

It seemed fairly clear you were making some sort of comment about 'growing up' and breastfeeding...otherwise, why say it?

I never said it did.


I don't say that either. But I do think that it's probably not emotionally good for them. Think about it for a second. I have a seven year old. (I really do IRL) I can't even imagine breast feeding him at this age. He eats all foods just fine. I think maybe the WHO, etc are saying that for 3rd world countries where proper foods are not easy to get. But in the west, no one breast feeds their 7 year old. I mean come on, they go to school full time. They just don't need it either. Nope, I'm about as liberal as they come, but breast feeding really any child past 2 years of age has to be some what emotionally damaging on your kid.

There are so many alternatives to breastfeeding in public and so many ways to hide it.
Yes. Alternatives like:

1) Making your hungry child wait until you can be 'private'. Letting them scream and cry so you don't inconvenience people. Wait a minute...

2) Spend an inordinate amount of time and effort to 'express' milk, so you can bottle feed. Be prepared to spend about 45 minutes, and to have extremely sore nipples afterwards. And, most babies that are breast fed don't transition well from breast to bottle, so they often won't drink it.

3) Bottle feed your kid formula, because it's just more 'convenient'.

4) Never leave the house, because you might have to feed your child, and you may have no where private to do it.

5) Covering your breast and the child with a receiving blanket (pretty common).

6) Using a 'nursing station'. Sometimes they have these in public washrooms or in department stores. Here's a thought...if the public feeding bothers you so much, why don't you petition your local malls and stores to have one of these centres? They are truly wonderful.

7) OR...quietly giving the finger to the creep who is STARING at you disapprovingly while you feed your child. Some how, all those bared bosoms on tv and in the movies are suddenly more decent than a breast being used for it's natural function? LOOK AWAY.

Grace: "Karen, what are you do-- Are you-- Are you flashing that woman?!"

Karen: "She started it!"

Grace: "She's nursing!"

Karen: "Hmm. That explains the little bald man...."

1) Making your hungry child wait until you can be 'private'. Letting them scream and cry so you don't inconvenience people. Wait a minute...

Baby bottle.


2) Covering your breast and the child with a receiving blanket (pretty common).

As I said before, I've never seen a woman do this. It wouldn't be half as bad if they would.


3) Using a 'nursing station'. Sometimes they have these in public washrooms or in department stores. Here's a thought...if the public feeding bothers you so much, why don't you petition your local malls and stores to have one of these centres? They are truly wonderful.

I doubt I could do anything in the ways of petitions because I'm a minor. I've never looked into it, but even if I could nobody would listen to me.


4) OR...quietly giving the finger to the creep who is STARING at you disapprovingly while you feed your child. Some how, all those bared bosoms on tv and in the movies are suddenly more decent than a breast being used for it's natural function? LOOK AWAY.
The whole reason it bothers be is because it's a bared breast. The nudity on TV bothers me just as much. I'm not a guy or a lesbian, I don't want to see that at all in public.

Breastfeeding does all sorts of wonderful things for the mother too. Her womb contracts much more quickly to its pre-partum size. It helps the woman lose weight,

Yes. Of course breastfeeding has benefits. But seven years? A womb can only contract so much. And deficient nutrition is especially a problem in the thirld world, many mothers would be at risk.

and while not 100% effective, often acts as a form of 'birth control'. It really seems in native populations particularly that this is true...the longer you breastfeed, the longer the time in between children. Of course, it doesn't work for plenty of women, so it would be folly to rely on it alone:)

Yeah, but that's because the woman is like "go away, can't you see I'm busy with the child" :)

The whole reason it bothers be is because it's a bared breast. The nudity on TV bothers me just as much. I'm not a guy or a lesbian, I don't want to see that at all in public.

If you're not a guy, I assume you have breasts yourself of some sort. In which case you should be even less bothered, I would have thought.

I have them, but that doesn't mean I want to see another woman's breasts.

I have them, but that doesn't mean I want to see another woman's breasts.

I don't particularly want to see another person's legs. But I have them, see them all the time, and they don't bother me. What is it about breasts that makes them any more or less offensive than any other body part? I just don't understand this fear people have of certain body parts, is all.

Baby bottle. I've explained the pain and effort needed to express breast milk, and the lack of results when the baby won't take the bottle.


As I said before, I've never seen a woman do this. It wouldn't be half as bad if they would. You probably didn't notice them. I've only very rarely seen a woman NOT use a blanket.


I doubt I could do anything in the ways of petitions because I'm a minor. I've never looked into it, but even if I could nobody would listen to me.
She who thinks she is powerless truly is.


The whole reason it bothers be is because it's a bared breast. The nudity on TV bothers me just as much. I'm not a guy or a lesbian, I don't want to see that at all in public.
What you seem to not get is that no, it is not a bared breast. It is a breast, with the nipple covered by a hungry baby's mouth, and the flesh mostly hidden by the baby's head. If you're seeing major tit, the kid is probably not nursing. Also, you should be examining your reaction to this. Again...do you think there is something sexual in a woman breastfeeding a child?

Yes. Alternatives like:

1) Making your hungry child wait until you can be 'private'. Letting them scream and cry so you don't inconvenience people. Wait a minute...

2) Spend an inordinate amount of time and effort to 'express' milk, so you can bottle feed. Be prepared to spend about 45 minutes, and to have extremely sore nipples afterwards. And, most babies that are breast fed don't transition well from breast to bottle, so they often won't drink it.

3) Bottle feed your kid formula, because it's just more 'convenient'.

4) Never leave the house, because you might have to feed your child, and you may have no where private to do it.

5) Covering your breast and the child with a receiving blanket (pretty common).

6) Using a 'nursing station'. Sometimes they have these in public washrooms or in department stores. Here's a thought...if the public feeding bothers you so much, why don't you petition your local malls and stores to have one of these centres? They are truly wonderful.

7) OR...quietly giving the finger to the creep who is STARING at you disapprovingly while you feed your child. Some how, all those bared bosoms on tv and in the movies are suddenly more decent than a breast being used for it's natural function? LOOK AWAY.

8) Teach your baby to flick people off!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/babywithattitude.jpg

Yeah, but that's because the woman is like "go away, can't you see I'm busy with the child" :)
Hahahaha...not really...we don't tend to be as prudish about hiding sex from children:)

The whole reason it bothers be is because it's a bared breast. The nudity on TV bothers me just as much. I'm not a guy or a lesbian, I don't want to see that at all in public.
Why? What did bared breasts ever do to you?

For the record. I'm a straight guy, but I'm not aroused by the thought of a woman breastfeeding. Maybe if I was 13.

Because it's widely accepted that if your tits are hanging out, it's atleast partial nudity. My embarrassment with it is really less because it's offensive, but because it embarrasses me if there are other people around who may or may not notice that I've noticed that there's some tits hanging out. I don't really know how to explain it.

If I'm watching TV with one of my family members and some nude lady pops up, it bothers me and I feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. It doesn't really bother me if I'm watching TV alone and some nude lady pops up because nobody else really knows that I've seen it, I guess. I don't know if that sums it up well enough or not, but that's generally why breastfeeding bothers me x100 due to all the people that are around in public.

As for if I find it sexual, yes and no. I just find the breast sexual, not the actual feeding and I certainly don't find the baby sexual. It doesn't matter if the baby's there or not, the breast is still out there and that's what bothers me.

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If I'm watching TV with one of my family members and some nude lady pops up, it bothers me and I feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. It doesn't really bother me if I'm watching TV alone and some nude lady pops up because nobody else really knows that I've seen it, I guess.
I do understand this. I hate watching shows with nudity or sex around my folks, because it's just icky:) But they just laugh at me for being a prude (in comparison to others of my culture, I guess I am)

I don't like seeing hairy sweaty men with potbellys without their shirts. I can't stand fat chicks in tight clothes. It drives me nuts when people shove their tongues down each other's throats in the food court. Old men who empty their noses into the street make me gag. Breastfeeding? When you can't really see the breast (unless the kid has a head the size of a pin, or the woman is sporting double Zs)? Do you get disturbed by any of the other things I've described here? Do you look away and try to ignore it? Then please do it for breastfeeding mothers. You have no idea how hard it is to find a 'private' spot to feed, and when the baby is hungry, it's hungry NOW. It's crying will cause a woman to start expressing milk...leaking everywhere if she doesn't feed fast. Would you rather see a woman with a soaked shirt over her breasts than a woman sitting down, feeding her child with ONE breast (sorry...kids just don't like a double mouthful)?

Because it's widely accepted that if your tits are hanging out, it's atleast partial nudity. My embarrassment with it is really less because it's offensive, but because it embarrasses me if there are other people around who may or may not notice that I've noticed that there's some tits hanging out. I don't really know how to explain it.

So, you're bothered because some people may see your reaction to a bare breast. Perhaps that reaction is fascination provoked by curiosity, not necessarily sexual in nature, but just simpe curiosity. However, you think it shows and that other people will think you're a pervert. Or maybe you yourself think you're a pervert because you feel certain attraction towards it.

Interesting. It's far more common than you believe, and doesn't necessarily relate to a strict upbringing or sexuality issues.

I don't like seeing hairy sweaty men with potbellys without their shirts. I can't stand fat chicks in tight clothes. It drives me nuts when people shove their tongues down each other's throats in the food court. Old men who empty their noses into the street make me gag. Breastfeeding? When you can't really see the breast (unless the kid has a head the size of a pin, or the woman is sporting double Zs)? Do you get disturbed by any of the other things I've described here? Do you look away and try to ignore it? Then please do it for breastfeeding mothers. You have no idea how hard it is to find a 'private' spot to feed, and when the baby is hungry, it's hungry NOW. It's crying will cause a woman to start expressing milk...leaking everywhere if she doesn't feed fast. Would you rather see a woman with a soaked shirt over her breasts than a woman sitting down, feeding her child with ONE breast (sorry...kids just don't like a double mouthful)?

Yes, all these bother me, and I do try to ignore it after I've seen it. I do the same for breastfeeding. I never make a big deal out of it, but it still bothers the hell out of me.

It really does sound like you've had better experiances with seeing breastfeeding than I have. Where I live (which is still America) the mothers will pull both their tits out (they pretty much lift their shirts up and shove the baby on one) and don't even cover it.

It really does sound like you've had better experiances with seeing breastfeeding than I have. Where I live (which is still America) the mothers will pull both their tits out (they pretty much lift their shirts up and shove the baby on one) and don't even cover it.
Are these women braless? Nursing bras are a great wonder too...they allow you to unsnip a portion on one side to feed the baby while allowing coverage on the other side...which should be no worse than seeing a woman in a bikini top.

In any case...I think you've had some extreme exposure. Don't judge all breastfeeding by these events. And I think Itz had some good insight into why it bothers you at all.

I think it is rather absurd not to breastfeed. I have yet to hear a legitimate reason not to and it is quite obviously beneficial.

In specific cases, it can be a bad thing. Like if the mother has an illness or a drug addiction, that could be passed to the child via the milk.

I don't think nursing bras are even known to exist by these women. They pull it all up, bra and all (if they're wearing one at all).


So, you're bothered because some people may see your reaction to a bare breast. Perhaps that reaction is fascination provoked by curiosity, not necessarily sexual in nature, but just simpe curiosity. However, you think it shows and that other people will think you're a pervert. Or maybe you yourself think you're a pervert because you feel certain attraction towards it.


No, I don't feel any attraction to it. I don't have a breast feeding fetish and I'm not a lesbian or bisexual, it's just the thought of other people noticing that I noticed that bothers me. I'm rather good at hiding any surprise or disgust I feel, so I don't think I've ever made a scene because of it or drawn attention to it. I don't know how to explain it well, as I've said. Most of what I feel about it is surprise and discomfort, maybe disgust if the mother is disgustingly fat or they're crusty, but never any kind of curiosity or fascination.

Breastfeeding is great, and in my experience mothers routinely manage it in public without exposing their breasts to anybody but the baby. Deft use of blankets, you know.

Doing it past lap baby age, 2-ish, would make me wonder if the mother were as concerned as she should be with helping the little one develop a strong notion of self. The point that circumstances are different in the poorest parts of the world is well taken, though.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF strongly encourage breastfeeding through toddlerhood: "Breastmilk is an important source of energy and protein, and helps to protect against disease during the child's second year of life." Our biology seems geared to a weaning age of between 2 1/2 and 7 years, and it makes sense to build our children's bones from the milk that was designed for them.

In any case, I think people read this wrong. The WHO is NOT advocating breastfeeding until age seven, but rather through toddlerhood (depending on the definition, age 1 - 5). The article that is linked to added the bolded part itself.

No, I don't feel any attraction to it. I don't have a breast feeding fetish and I'm not a lesbian or bisexual,
You don't have to be lesbian or bisexual to feel curiosity towards other woman's breasts. Curiosity and arousal are two very different things.

Guys are very curious about other guys' penises, in fact, they talk about it all the time, but that doesn't make them gay.

it's just the thought of other people noticing that I noticed that bothers me.
What do you imagine someone will think if they noticed you noticing?

I'm rather good at hiding any surprise or disgust I feel, so I don't think I've ever made a scene because of it or drawn attention to it. I don't know how to explain it well, as I've said. Most of what I feel about it is surprise and discomfort, maybe disgust if the mother is disgustingly fat or they're crusty, but never any kind of curiosity or fascination.
What do you think about women who breastfeed in public?

Let's play a game. Imagine you're on the beach in Majorca, it's very nice and relaxed, but you suddenly notice that almost every woman there is topless, some even bottomless, and a few guys too. How do you think you'd feel?

If you had read the brochure, which clearly states that people in Majorca are usually naked, would you have gone? Even though you're having a great time, would you take the first plane back home?

I have to go home now, but I'll be back, so think about it.

There are things that are natural and healthy yet you wouldnt do in public. Would you urinate in public? Would you take a dump in public? Of course not. Then dont go exposing your breasts in public either. There is such a thing as being considerate to those around you.

There are things that are natural and healthy yet you wouldnt do in public. Would you urinate in public? Would you take a dump in public? Of course not. Then dont go exposing your breasts in public either. There is such a thing as being considerate to those around you.

The reasons that always refraining from breastfeeding in public is simply not feasible have already been explained.

If you can't stand the sight of a baby eating, you probably shouldn't be out in public yourself.

There are things that are natural and healthy yet you wouldnt do in public. Would you urinate in public? Would you take a dump in public? Of course not. Then dont go exposing your breasts in public either. There is such a thing as being considerate to those around you.
Read the damn thread. This terrible analogy has been used and refuted already. And put your shirt back on. I'm tired of seeing men's breasts.

The reasons that always refraining from breastfeeding in public is simply not feasible have already been explained.


The situation under which you would have nowhere else to go to breastfeed is extremely rare. When was the last time you were somewhere in public that didnt have a restroom within walking distance? There may be some rare occasions (maybe if you are having to stand in line somewhere for a long time), and I can understand doing it in those situations. But most of the time, you could easily go somewhere private to do it. I didnt say dont ever do it in public, I said you need to be considerate of those around you. If you have no choice then thats too bad for them. But the vast majority of the time you do. Heck, most shopping malls have installed breastfeeding rooms already or are in the process of doing so.

I've decide to let my friend Terre Blanche have his say:

"When I'm in a restaurant and I see black people eating, it makes me feel uncomfortable. If they have to eat they can go and do it in the kitchen. At the very least they should sit somewhere where we can't see them or put a blanket over their heads or something. I know know that now black people have equal rights and all, but I live in an area that traditionally has no black people and I think that black people should respect respect our customs when they come here."

The situation under which you would have nowhere else to go to breastfeed is extremely rare. When was the last time you were somewhere in public that didnt have a restroom within walking distance? There may be some rare occasions (maybe if you are having to stand in line somewhere for a long time), and I can understand doing it in those situations.

Would anyone here care to eat in a public restroom? Would any of the people advocating feeding a kid in a bathroom actually eat their lunch in a room that is loaded with germs from human waste?

If you (general, not specific to LazyHippies) are not willing to brown-bag it in the bathroom, you shouldn't attempt to banish anyone else there to eat.

Read the damn thread. This terrible analogy has been used and refuted already. And put your shirt back on. I'm tired of seeing men's breasts.
Sinuhue. When I think of the earth godess in future I shall picture you. :)

You've put up a better defence than I ever could.

Those of you who think it acceptable to feed children in the toilet.
I suspect you may either be grumpy old men or young people with no children.
I don't even like my children to go into public toilets let alone use them unless absolutely necessary. The idea that you want people to feed in there just to prevent you seeing a little breast revolts me. You seem to relate all bodily fluids to sex. Grow up.

It's sad that in some places it's more acceptable to spit in the street than to feed a baby.

As to feeding toddlers. Would you rather, as a mother in rural Africa, feed your child polluted water or breast feed. The answer is obvious.

It's suprising in a world where I can talk instantly to people in all corners that we have so little regard for and understanding of cultural differences.

already been said, but, meh....

it's natural, and unlike urination/defecation or some of the other amazing analogies thusfar, involves no offensive odors/hazardous substances/defacement of property.

i dont see it happen often, but the few times i have noticed, the women doing it were pretty slick about it, either using blankets, or some wierd nursing-shirt type contraption.

or maybe its just that seemingly innate woman ability to don/remove/manipulate clothing without any regard to what order it is normally put on/taken off.

i do think 7 is a bit extreme, but that doesnt seem to be the argument here.

on a side note, i dont see why women shouldn't be able to wander around topless if they choose, as much as i like and value clothing, i dont find nudity particularly harmful (assuming you are in a pleasant clime...)

I nursed until I was three and my sister until she was four. The son of the owners of my yoga studio is almost two and he nurses in public view. I'd say it's fine, and until about 2 1/2 or 3 nobody in public should give a shit. After they can talk pretty well and have developed a small capacity to wait then perhaps you could try to restrict it to times when there's privacy.