Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

As a breastfeeding mom of a 6-month old, I encourage women who can, to breastfeed their children and to feed them when their children get hungry! Should it matter that it might take place in a restaurant or at church? I do not believe so. There are plenty of ways to be discreet about it and although it has not always been the easiest thing to do, esp. now that my daughter is a lot more mobile, I still try to be as discreet as possible. Also, to reply to a previous quote about not breastfeeding in public when your child gets teeth, I would just like to mention that my daughter cut her first two teeth the day before she turned 5 months old and my pediatrician (who breast-fed her children) was not yet recommending giving my baby any solids or cereals. Should I have to switch to formula then, just to appease you? If I'm not mistaken the APA? recommends breastfeeding for a year but did you know that the World Health Organization recommends it for 2 years! Now I don't know if my daughter will still be interested in breastfeeding when she's that old but I will always try to do what's best for her whether we are in public or not! 

As for breastfeeding in public, why does it matter, most women that I know who have done it, have done it without notice.  I have only on occassion noticed someone breastfeeding in public, but never gave it a second thought or notice.   

Getting condoms from schools, if you as a parent haven't discussed sex and given your teenagers condoms yourself, then why not let the schools hand them out.  I don't think it is given them permission to have sex, but if the parent was teaching them that a sexual relationship is not something to take lightly  and that they need to be responsible and know the all the risks involved.  At least as a parent, you should give your teens or make available to them the means to protect themselves if they choose to have a relationship of that nature. 

Disciplining others children, I disagree with that.  Although it is annoying when your are shopping or eating to have a child out of control ... it's the parent's job to gain control of the child, if they can't, then they should leave the place and return when another parent is home to take care of them.   

As a mother who is exclusively nursing 4 1/2 month old twins, I say get over it!! After almost 5months I get tired of trying to get hungry, screeming babies to a bathroom or into the car to please everyone else. That being said, I always cover up and am very discreet while BF'ing. I've never nursed them at the same time in public like I do at home, knowing that it would be quite a display. It doesn't have to be a big deal one way or the other. But if it's easier for a mother to pull her shirt off  to feed her child them so be it!  

As for the condoms in schools... I'll wait a few years until my kids are actually in school to weigh in on that one!  

What should be a problem or even illegal is someone bottlefeeding their baby in public, what would you woman that have a problem with it want if there were no bottles or formulas?For the baby to starve, I think its ridiculous that anyone would say its not attractive, it has nothing to do with being attractive, thats what god made your breast for was a bay to nurse off of, not for sex toys. I am only 18 and I nurse my daughter wherever whenever, and yes all you see is the back of babys head, so I dont see how that is disrespectful  of anyone else, I think the people who need to be respected more are the people who are woman enough to feed their children the god made way, its a lot harder than it sounds to go cover up or sit in a bathroom,get a grip and woman up....