Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

I have a 2 1/2  year old and an 9 month old and am currently nursing my littlest one. I am a fairly modest person but I will nurse my son whenever and wherever I want. When my son is hungery he will eat. I don't tell you to go and eat somewhere else because you eat like a pig and it offends me. I think it is just rediculous for people to even say something. Wether you are covered up or not for someone to tell you to go and nurse somewhere else is just rude. I agree with the person who asked if you have tried to eat under a blanket and in 90 degree heat. It probably wouldn't appeal to you to do so. So I don't think that my son should have to either. I was kicked out of a JC Penneys one time for nursing in a dressing room!!!! I have a cover for nursing also and was still kicked out. I just think that if you payed more attention to what you were doing and not to what others were doing then you wouldn't notice so much. And for the lady on the show who said that I could just remove myself and feed, well she also is capable of removing herself if she doesn't want to see it. I have a lot more about this subject but I will just go with that. 

I am the woman from the show. Certainly you can't expect to clear out an entire restaurant for your own selfish reason? That attitude is called entitlement, and too Americans carry it. A little consideration for others will get you far in life. 

I admit than when my first daughter was born I was very timid about breastfeeding in public. It wasn't that I thought it was wrong, but rather that I was insecure and worried I would expose myself. That was quickly cured when we took a trip across the country and her needs where more important than my worries, or anyone else's judgments.  

When my first was a year old I felt pressure to wean her. As we began to wean one feeding at a time (she was only breastfeeding 4 times a day at this point) she got sick. After going to the doctor I decided to call La Leche League in my area. I found the most caring mother and a future friend on the phone that day. I headed to a meeting thinking they would be a bunch of "mother earth types" -- though, I decided I would be okay with that, and to my surprise I found a wide variety of caring mothers at the meeting. The leaders offered a lot of information, and lending library, and they didn't act as though they new the right way, but allowed for differing opinions. Some of the mothers there had several children, and some had only one, some were college students, some were employed and others stayed at home with their children. Everyone was willing to share their experiences and ideas. I felt so at home that I continued to attend and later became a La Leche League Leader. I highly recommend the group to any mother interested in breastfeeding information, and parenting ideas. 

I have breastfed my babies and toddlers in public often. I'm did not do it to make a political statement, I did it because my child needed the nutrition and attention at the time. I certainly didn't hope to expose myself, on the contrary I hoped no one would notice and that is why I purchased a baby sling. Once, at the zoo, I asked my mom if I looked "okay", she asked me why and I told her "the baby's nursing" she said she wouldn't have known if I didn't tell her. That's the way I liked to breastfeed in public, but I completely support any mother’s method of breastfeeding in public. 

I am only sorry this is still a "controversy." How did the natural way of feeding our babies and toddlers become "taboo?" And why should we support anyone who still believes breastfeeding our offspring to be wrong in any way shape or form? 

Have you ever been so disturbed by the behavior of children with their parents that you left a business, rather than dealing with the situation?  I was in a local health food store/co-op when I observed two parents shopping with their two young children.  The parents were chatting with the store staff, and they were clearly regular customers.  I saw the children, who were within a few feet of their parents, going through the bulk food bins, taking food out of the bins, putting it in their mouths, and then putting in back in the bins.  This occurred several times, by both children.  I was so grossed out that I just walked out of the store.  Since the parents were charming ex-hippies who knew everyone in the store, I figured I'd be the "bad guy," so I just left.   I haven't been back to the store, and I avoid bulk foods in open bins. 

At the time, I just didn't feel like dealing with the situation.  But, if it ever happened again, I would say something to the parents, or more likely, the store staff.  I don't think it would change the parents behavior with the children, but the store staff should be warned.  

I am Breast feeding my two month old, and I am very discreet about it but when I get looks like it is disgusting I feel enraged. Why should mt daughter have to go eat in the bathroom no one else does. But I also try to pump if I can sometimes I can't but If I have a bottle of breast milk available in public I try to use that before I will breast feed. Because I don't want to make people uncomfortable with the situation.  

You were right to feed your daughter on that plain. 

Why is it that those without the children know how it should be done????  My brother in law was full of opinions on how I handled things with my son when he was a baby. Opinions on how my child should be acting, what I should be doing etc.... Now he has one of his own, and she rules the roost.. 

Anyway on the subject of breast feeding.  I breast fed for 18 months, I don't ever recall just popping it out and exposing myself.  I feel a woman has every right to feed her baby, and can do it  

discretely.  I have been around alot of breast feeding women and sometimes you don't even realize what they are doing....Those without the babies, don't know what it is like to deal with a hungry child.   Every notice, non-breast feeding moms always have a bottle. 

OK, Condoms in School.. I am with you Dr Phil...Education is the key...Knowledge is Power.. I think that condoms should be available, thru a counsler or sex ed teacher.  But a structured Sex Education course will help alot of these young, hormonal teenagers make smart decisions... 

Jump in a discipline someone elses kid...Don't think so... Again, the one WITHOUT the kids know how it should be done.   I believe that uncontrollable kids should either be left home and/or removed from the situation at hand... I never put up with my son acting up..  He would be removed, taken home, put in time out, until he calmed down enough to be spoken to.  You are right on the money when you tell the parents with the unruly kids, to reward the good behavior and punish the bad..   

Donna Reid 

Always Watching, sometimes agreeing and sometimes not.... 

Some of the arguments on both sides of this debate are silly and immature. It scares me that you have children. 

I bet that most of the people who have a problem with feeding in public do so because of the attitudes. Any time someone says they are going to BIF and without cover and they don't care what people think it alienates even their allies. It's like a smoker blowing smoke in your face. Learn some respect. 

I agree that feeding a baby in a restroom stall is a bad idea. But if your argument is abot the unsanitary conditions then please realize that a lunch table at a mall or a table in a restaurant, or even a doctors office with sick people in it is not a very sanitary place either. If it's  your baby's health your concerned about then think twice about where you feed them. Anywwhere in public has its problems. 

Good comment well said.  While there are so many other things that deserve attention.  This should be a given.  Geez.