Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

It always shocks me when I hear how offensive the act of breastfeeding is in public.  As the mother of a 5 month old, I have recently spent many a time in the ladies bathroom relegated to the stall to feed feed my child.  This kind of thing needs to stop!  By asking people to "compromise" as you did this morning on your show, all you are doing is continuing the problem.  And indeed it is a problem.  What kind of society are we that we can watch nudity and violence on TV on a regular basis and get offended or lose our appetite at the sight of a mother feeding her child?  That is absurd. 

It is true, look away if you feel offended.  To me, it is the most amazing experience.  If I don't want people to look I would remove myself from the public.  However, it is a basic instinct for our chlidren to want to eat.  By making women uncomfortable, we force many women to STOP breastfeeding early just so that they can be out in "public".  Scientific studies have repeatedly proven how beneficial and necessary breastfeeding is.  Our children are forced to formula too soon because of archaic beliefs and ideology.    

We are one of the ONLY societies in the world who don't look favorably at breastfeeding in public.  It's a VERY selfish person who can't put aside their bias for the good of a child.  If I thought breastfeeding was just a simple choice, bottle or breast I would have gone to the bottle.  However, nothing can replace breastmilk.  Nothing provides the nutrients and antibodies prevelent in breastmilk but breastmilk.   

So get OVER it.  Deal with it and look away and go about your business.  It's only a breast! 

I think if another persons child is misbehaving in public to a point where my children are going to be injured and there parent is not doing anything about it I have every right to say something.  I recently took my 2 y/o twins to a local parade.  The people in the parade were tossing candy to the children who were watching.  This was my childrens first experience at a parade and they were having a blast.  An older kid was continously running in front of them and taking pretty much every piece of candy thrown.  His mother was saying nothing to him.  I bit my tongue hey its just candy.  However, at one point the kids snatched a piece of candy right from my daughters hand knocking her down.  Since my child is 2 and really could do nothing about it I said something to the other child.  Only once I raised my voice to him did his mother say something and it wasnt to him it was to me.  She told me she would disapline her kid.  I said then good start doing so and informed her that he had knocked my child over.  She simply walked away with him.   If my kid had knocked over some other kid for a tootsie roll I would have made them apologize and give it back.  She didnt seem to care at all.  I feel I was in the right to say something to the kid.  I know others will disagree but thats my opinion. 

Breastfeeding in public....sure if a woman gets out a boob before she gets her child ready to eat - then she is inconsiderate and inappropiate.  But that would be 1 woman in a thousand who wants people to see her...most woman do NOT want stares. She will use a blanket to cover herself - but sometimes it is just way to hot for the baby to eat under a blanket.  I've had my daughter come up gasping with a sweaty head full of wet hair from being under a blanket.  So - sometimes I went without but kept my shirt low.  And most women will be modest.  That is the reality. 

Condoms passed out in school.  HELLO!  This is just another reason why I homeschool.  I don't want some teacher/school board giving my son and daughters the message of sex.  I'm not looking forward to teaching my son about it - but I know I will do a better job of it since I know his heart (he's 8) I know his dreams and I want to keep them intact - I have a vested interest in his life...some teacher who has 30 kids does not.   

Disciplining someone elses child? If they parent isn't around - I will tell a child to stop - or not to use certain language....etc.  If the parent IS around and is letting it all slide - I will hollar for my kids and tell them we have to go - that we can't be around people using language like that - or not playing safely or whatever...passive aggressive? Yup.  I just get so sick of parents being lazy about parenting ~ 'cause they are only causing themselves more problems in the future.  But I'll use their kids bad behaviour as a learning tool - to teach my kids how to act, how to react, how to remove themselves from bad acting people. 

I have two children ages 5 and 1. I breastfed both for about 1 year. Breastfeeding in public is a necessity. Especially with my second one. He feed every 1.5 to 2 hours (both were low birth weight). I literly could not get to and from the grocery store in between feedings. He never would take a bottle. While he does not like his head covered (he would squirm and pull at the blanket creating more of a scene and often exposing me); I wore nursing shirts and exposed as little as possible.  

Eating in the bathroom (public or private) is gross, weither you are a baby or an adult. 

One thing I haven't seen commented on is the fact that a mother's body will physically react when a baby cries. It is very hard to ingnor a baby's cry when you milk lets down and you are leaking through your shirt. Mother's are hard wired to respond when their baby cries. 

Mother have the right to feed their babies, but need to be resposible about how they go about it. 

I'm 28 yrs. old with a 2 month old-my first child. I'm going to be more concerned with his needs than the needs of anyone around me. Breasts were made for feeding our children. This country is so upside down and turned around on breasts it's ridiculous. I don't breastfeed to look good or get attention. I don't do it to be sexy or attractive. I do it to feed my son. It's the best food for him. As a parent shouldn't I try to do what is best for him? Why should I have to spend time running around trying to find a place to "hide" so I can do what is best for my child? I understand that people don't want me to throw my boobs around in their faces, but I'm not going to put strangers ahead of my sons needs. As long as I'm discrete people should just let me and my son do what is natural, and best for both of us. 

Nissa 

Norfolk, VA. 

 I think it is a give and take issue. I am a happy mother who believes you should NOT breast feed in public. I think mothers can breast feed their children before they go out or in a private surrounding. If they give me that courtesy than its the same reason I give them the courtesy later when that child is older by watching my language in public places. When I am at a restaurant and I know there are children sitting in the next booth behind me.. I am careful not do talk about adult conversation or inappropriate language. I wouldn't want someone talking filth in front of my child,,, but when I am out and about with out my son.. that is my time to be myself and free to talk about conversation I can't do in front of my child. Don't get me wrong...  I think breast feeding is a beautiful thing.. but you can do it in private. I also think it is a kind gesture when appropriate to ask people around you if they mind you breast feeding in front of them.. Let them have the right to chose to see it or not.