Poll: Breastfeeding in public

[Galliam]

It's a perfectly natural act. If you wanna act like a 12 year old boy about it you should probably grow up and show some respect. Mothers don't get to chose when their kids are hungry. And how would you like it if someone said that you can't eat in public, but that you had to go into the bathroom to eat.

This is similar to the reaction that I was getting originally. Trying to cite my supposed immaturity but I just don't see it that way. If anything, I see the stubborn refusal to politely excuse yourself and spend a few minutes in private feeding your child is more immature.

The other part, you know, the bathroom part. Thats what REALLY bugs me at times. I can almost guarantee that your baby has no preference for eating location as long as he gets him some food. If your baby needs a diaper change, you don't plop the child down on the table to do it. (yes I realize its not the same thing, no I don't think that invalidates my point)

 

[Nouw]

As a 20 something man, I feel perfectly justified NOT wanting to see certain things when I go out into public. Its not because I think its wrong to breastfeed, or even because its supposedly "obscene". It just strikes me as something that should be done privately.

Did this guy say he doesn't like Boobies??!!!

Yeah well not all tits look good.

 

[the_green_dragon]

Ok. Lets get some FACTS out there shall we.

If anything, I see the stubborn refusal to politely excuse yourself and spend a few minutes in private feeding your child is more immature.

1) Breastfeeding can take anywhere between 30 mintues to an hour or more. This is because breastmilk does not POUR out like if you were drinking a cafe latte. Which means if the mother orders a meal, baby gets hungry, she can't duck out for a minute. It would look like she skipped out on the bill or she would lose her table and order.

The other part, you know, the bathroom part. Thats what REALLY bugs me at times. I can almost guarantee that your baby has no preference for eating location as long as he gets him some food. If your baby needs a diaper change, you don't plop the child down on the table to do it. (yes I realize its not the same thing, no I don't think that invalidates my point)

2) The bathroom smells. A mother cannot just sit on the loo and feed the baby (see above point) her arms would get tired since babies start at 3 kilos and go up from there. You need a proper chair, preferabily with armrests. Toilets just don't cut it.

And even if the baby isn't offended by having to spend up to an hour in the toilets, I think the mother might have a "preference for feeding location"

 

[trooper6]

It is natural. Kids need to eat. I'm all for it.

Also, this idea that "it makes me uncomfortable to look at you so you shouldn't be allowed in my sight" can just lead to creepy places.

 

[ado01]

Men are allowed to be shirtless in public, and they don't even use their nipples for anything. Why not let women breastfeed in public?

 

[Jfswift]

I realize this is natural but it honestly weirds me out to see it.

 

[the_green_dragon]

Heres something to think about:
A mother is breastfeeding in public, shes fine with the idea.

You see a mother breastfeeding in public and don't like boobs (or whateva), you feel uncomfortable.

So whos got the problem?

Maybe the one with the problem should go to the toilet for an hour until it's over.

 

[Galliam]

It's a perfectly natural act. If you wanna act like a 12 year old boy about it you should probably grow up and show some respect. Mothers don't get to chose when their kids are hungry. And how would you like it if someone said that you can't eat in public, but that you had to go into the bathroom to eat.

This is similar to the reaction that I was getting originally. Trying to cite my supposed immaturity but I just don't see it that way. If anything, I see the stubborn refusal to politely excuse yourself and spend a few minutes in private feeding your child is more immature.

The other part, you know, the bathroom part. Thats what REALLY bugs me at times. I can almost guarantee that your baby has no preference for eating location as long as he gets him some food. If your baby needs a diaper change, you don't plop the child down on the table to do it. (yes I realize its not the same thing, no I don't think that invalidates my point)

Ok. Lets get some FACTS out there shall we.

1) Breastfeeding can take anywhere between 30 mintues to an hour or more. This is because breastmilk does not POUR out like if you were drinking a cafe latte. Which means if the mother orders a meal, baby gets hungry, she can't duck out for a minute. It would look like she skipped out on the bill or she would lose her table and order.

2) The bathroom smells. A mother cannot just sit on the loo and feed the baby (see above post) her arms would get tired since babies start at 3 kilos and go up form there. You need a proper chair, preferabily with armrests. Toilets just don't cut it.

If they require arm rests to feed, most restaurants aren't all that accommodating either. If the only argument is that she needs to rest her arms to do it, then why the hell does that make it ok for her to do it out at a table?

I can understand it being a time consuming process, and even I am willing to admit that if the woman goes to lengths to cover herself I really don't care too much if she does it at the table.

My problem is largely that women I know just stubbornly refuse to even take that step. If its any help, the facebook post that sparked this controversy in the first place was about caps that women were putting on their childs head that basically resembled a boob. I found this to be pointlessly inflammatory.

 

[Bakuryukun]

If the baby is hungry then it's hungry. Everyone should just get over it imo. It's really not that bad, it's not like you see anything anyways, Babies have big heads you see.

As a 20 something man, I feel perfectly justified NOT wanting to see certain things when I go out into public.

Entitlement, the other other white meat of Modern culture.

 

[CCountZero]

If you wanna act like a 12 year old boy about it you should probably grow up and show some respect.

This is similar to the reaction that I was getting originally. Trying to cite my supposed immaturity, but I just don't see it that way. If anything, I think the stubborn refusal to politely excuse yourself and spend a few minutes in private feeding your child is more immature.

Frankly, I'd have simply walked away from any intelligent conversation at that point.
It's a show-stopper; period.

Having a baby does not excuse you from common courtesy.
I realise such a thing might seem unimportant to the mother of a small child, given how she undoubtedly has more important things on her mind, but just like with so many other things, there's a price to pay for having children.
Most of them are much harsher than this, and none of them have stopped humanity from procreating as of yet.

I haven't yet fathered a child, but I know plenty of couples who manage to plan around the needs of their babies, in every way possible, and it is not an easy task.
That being said, it is a task they accomplish, and that they knew they'd have to before they made the decision to become parents.

 

[Bakuryukun]

I guess it shouldn't be illegal, but should this be considered a perfectly fine behavior? It can be really gross at times, especially ever since I sucked on a nipple for a purpose other than nutrition, I can't get rid of the feeling that the lady is getting sexual pleasure from an infant. It's still perfectly natural and all. I don't know, I don't really care, which means I don't mind, I guess.

should feeding your child be perfectly fine behavior? That is indeed a question every parent has to ask themselves.

 

[TheIronRuler]

It should be illegal.
If you're going to pull out your breasts, I will pull out my penis.
I'm warning you.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

It should be illegal.
If you're going to pull out your breasts, I will pull out my penis.
I'm warning you.

Heck, just make that second clause legal.

 

[Gaiseric]

I just think it's strange and kinda weird. I would rather not see it if I had a choice. But if a mom needs to feed her kid well she needs to feed her kid.

As long as the kid isn't too old cause that's creepy .

 

[CCountZero]

Should feeding your child be perfectly fine behaviour? That is indeed a question every parent has to ask themselves.

That's an extreme over-simplification of the subject.

For one thing, breast feeding is a choice, and I believe it's even possible to... "extract" the milk, and feed it to the baby without use of the standard delivery device.

I'm all for women choosing the natural way to feed their kid, but the old "It's natural, get over it" argument is... just not valid in our modern society. Nothing we do is natural any more, and if we did do those things, we wouldn't be invited over to dinner next time, or we'd get arrested.

The bottom line is that public nudity is illegal in most countries, and that feeding your child in public, without being nude, is both possible and practical.

 

[latenightapplepie]

I'm all for it. Some ladies are busy and have to breastfeed on the go. It's really not that awkward. It really doesn't bother me much at all.

 

[Vault boy Eddie]

If she whips one out, I get to watch. None of that, "Hey! What are you looking at?!" business, i'm looking at your titty you simple *****!