Breastfeeding

[PmoneyandTT]

Breastfeeding is very natural.  Every women makes an individual choice to do it.  It shouldn't offend anyone.  People talk about exposing.. I see women all the time exposing their stomachs, and below their waist's now - with the jeans they sell on the market.. I see women exposing their big breasts in tight shirts - or hardly no shirt at all.. I go to the beach and see thongs - and bikini's that expose every inch of their bodies.. It seems the more flesh you show now days - the better.. Don't give me that crap about breastfeeding.. Eating is part of your survival.  What I see embarrassing is a big fat person at an all you can eat restaurant.. Commonsense "and how did you get fat"?  Frankly - alot of things people do - I would never do.. But I can't complain - or even have the right to tell them other wise.. Need we forget - people are not robots - we make individual choices.. Just because something isn't right for you - doesn't mean it isn't right for someone else..

Anyone that tells a women she is wrong to breastfeed in public - should not be allowed to eat food for 30 days - and see how they re-act.. They will not be ashame while eating like a pig - why because they are hungry... So is that baby - so pull out that breast - cause I don't want to hear it crying..  

 

[Teddy Bear]

"they are hungry... So is that baby - so pull out that breast - cause I don't want to hear it crying..  "



Thanks PmoneyandTT.  That is the bottom line.

 

[CCsugarcane]

I believe breast feeding is a wonderful experience.  I however believe it should not be done in public.  It has nothing to do with being secure with my self or not.  I have two children in which I breast feed.  If I was at my sister's house and it was just me and her and the kids runing around I knew she didn't mind me breast feeding in front of her.  Same with my mom.  However if my dad was around or my sister's husband I would excuse my self to their bedroom or I would have thought ahead and pumped my breast before leaving the house to ensure that if my child got hungry out in public I could take care of them without exposing myself or making others feel uncomfortable.  If for some reason I didn't have a bottle prepaired and I was at a store I would go to the car and sit in the car and breast feed my child.  My sister-in-law is also a breast feeding mother and at first she wasn't sure if I was ok with her breast feeding in front of me.  I told her it was fine and she always did and we never thought about it again.  I think if you think about the people around you before you begin to breast feed, the experiece would be more delightful to you, the baby and those around you.  Its also about respecting your self and your body.  

(Edited by CCsugarcane at 10:43 am on Mar. 14, 2002)

 

[RoseRed]

What about children over the age of one that are still nursing?

I have seen 2 & 3 years olds still nursing and I personally think that is to long.  

 

[Ken King]

Rose Red,

I'm still trying to nurse but the wife has a major problem with doing it in public.

(Edited by Ken King at 11:05 am on Mar. 14, 2002)

 

[vraiblonde]

Rose, you bring up a peeve that I have - older children still breastfeeding.  Or sucking on a bottle.  Or a pacifier.  I hate to dog women whose kids are still doing it because they probably have their reasons, but that's what makes <i>me</i> uncomfortable.  I don't mind seeing some woman whip out a boob to feed the baby - but a toddler is just too much.  Or a 4 year old walking around with a pacifier sticking out of his face.  But, again, I hate to bust on them because what do I know.  The kid will grow up to be a happy, healthy adult so it probably doesn't matter.

Wasn't there some woman years ago who was arrested at the Wal-Mart in Lex Park for breastfeeding in the snack bar?  Someone complained and told her to knock it off, she refused and there was a problem.  Does anyone else remember this?

 

[SxyPrincess]

At 2 & 3 years of age, children should be on solid food.  My daughter was on solid/mooshy food at 4 months and was only given a bottle at nite up until about 11 months when I took away the bottle completely.  

I don't understand the need for parents to still nurse after the child is over a year old.  Seems a little icky for me.

 

[RoseRed]

Ken -

I too think its icky to see a toddler walk up to Mom, pull up her shirt and just latch on, all the while the Mother keeps talking like nothing is going on(I was in this situation- 4yr old child).  It kinda grossed me out.  And just think of the teeth.....ouch!  

I agree about the pacifiers too.  My daughter was never a "pacy" baby so it was never an issue and was also using a sippy cup as soon as she was able to master it.

Vrai - I vaguley remember the Wal-Mart case.  Not sure of the outcome.  

Wasn't there also legislation or something that was trying to be passed (by men) to make it illegal to nurse in public?  

 

[PmoneyandTT]

still doesn't answer the question is it ok for people to wear provocative clothes out in public...  Who decides - who can do this or that..

 

[vraiblonde]

TT, apparently each community gets to decide what they consider "indecent exposure".  What's perfectly acceptable to wear in Malibu will get you arrested in Lexington Park.  I, personally, think it's tacky to flash your flesh in public.  When I see girls with their stuff all hanging out I think, "Slut".  Actually what I really think is "Insecure and showing the only thing they have to offer."  Same with guys.

But, to me, breastfeeding is different than some chickie running around with her boobs hanging out.  One is to feed an infant, the other is to get some stupid guy to want sex with you.  Big difference, I think.

 

[PmoneyandTT]

Arrested.. When and where?  Apparently - lexington park still lives in the stone ages.. The reason I was asking about the clothing issue.. I personally don't care what people wear - or rather they want to breast feed in public.. My personal life is so much more important then to raise an issue - about someone offending me feeding their baby.. It just seems that judging someone that breast feeds in public - is bias to me because the same people that make a big issue about it - either has children that are wearing the britney spears look-alike jeans - the holter tops - or they are wearing the clothes themselves..  I think people complain - because they don't have a life in general - so they find something about another person they don't like and make a big deal about it..

 

[vraiblonde]

So let's hear it from the people who are uncomfortable with public breastfeeding.  Are you equally uncomfortable with Lil Kim, Cher and other celebrities showing their boobs rather blatantly on television?  How about the chickies who run around in public with their goodies hanging out?

 

[Lilly]

I agree that over one year a child is too old to be breast fed -  I have heard that 18 mos is the cut-off time but I think that even this is a stretch.  Once the child can be switched safely to cow's milk -  the breastfeeding should be through.  My son was never a "binky baby" however he was a major "thumb-sucker".  I frequently got comments about his babyish behavior but I ignored them.  It never bothered me - he grew out of it eventually and there was no reason to shed tears in the meantime over a fight I probably wouldn't win anyway!  These types of things don't bother me.  Face it:  No kid will ever leave for college sucking his thumb or pacifier, un-potty trained or carrying around that same old "security blanket" - so why put pressure if thier not ready?
BTW - my kids still took a bottle at night until 2 1/2.  It was the best way to settle them down and get them ready for bed.  I never bothered to take it away from them because damnit it worked!  Is this old to still be taking a bottle??  I thought it was pretty normal . . . . just curious!

 

[RoseRed]

I don't have a problem with a woman breastfeeding in public.

But I do think it looks sleazy when a person runs around half naked.  Leave something to the imagination and don't look so despaarte for attention.

And guys - ditch the Speedos!  



(Edited by RoseRed at 1:47 pm on Mar. 14, 2002)

 

[PmoneyandTT]

another point.. Breastfeeding in public - at least the baby knows how to eat.. I have seen people who really shouldn't eat out in public - table manners are just sickening..  Food falling all out of their mouths.. Talking with their mouths open.. compared to that - babies have alot better manners

 

[Teddy Bear]

Lilly,
The guidelines I had were 'never let your baby know the bottle is portable.'  That way, once he/she starts walking and can't take the bottle with him, he will wean himself from it.  Since one year old usually coincides with the age most babies begin walking AND can tolerate whole milk, it makes sense.  Personally, my own kids never had bottles at all, so I'm just going by what I have read and heard.
A bottle, like a pacifier or even the breast is a source of comfort and I have known kids who need that security well past toddlerhood.  What's the difference if it's a bottle with something nutritious in it or a stuffed dog with a soft ear?  
Now that my kids are teenagers, I have a much more laid-back attitude about those little things that I used to think were important.  I never let my kids even know about pacifiers and I don't regret it, but if I had it to do again, I don't think I would be quite so obsessive about some things.
I really believe in mother's intuition and if you felt it was right to allow the bottle until age 2 1/2, it must have been right for you and your kids.

 

[PmoneyandTT]

I totally understand the difference between bathing suits and everyday clothes. On vacation in Daytona Beach - I wore beach clothes the whole time I was there.. You get use to that setting after 1 or 2 weeks.. Then you come back to your normal lifestyle - that beach mode is still set in.. Or at least it was for me.. I like the beachy apparel..

I look at things this way - unless I have walked in your shoes - I really don't know why you are doing what you are doing.. When I see a women in less revealing clothes and she looks nice - I say to myself - she has a nice body - she can wear that.. Doesn't necessary mean she is a slut.. She likes her body - that happens to look good - so she is wearing what she likes..

Automatically judging someone who wears these types of clothes saying they are sluts - is pre-judging.. Because I have seen and known women that wear nothing but dress suits and long skirts - that have their legs open to every tom dick and hairy.. So I never base clothes on someones sex life..

And for those women who are judging other women - hope you don't have any daughters.. It seems alot of folks on here - want their kids to be in the in crowd.. And what I see kids wear to school - is somewhat provocative..

 

[RoseRed]

Cari - I'm a California girl too and know what you mean.  Used to go to the beach just about every weekend and it was nothing to go to 7-11 or drive thru or make a phone call in the old swimsuit, but if I was back over the hill in the valley (Santa Clara) I would cover up.  

I also have had some strange looks on Solomons.  We go to the beach over by Our Lady and will walk up to get ice cream with just shorts and a swim suit top on.  I would think its obvious I have been on the beach because my hair is a mess, no makeup, sand all over feet and legs.... oh well.

As for dressing in my clothing, I personally don't like to be to flashy and draw to much attention to myself.  I am confident that I can be admired for who I am, not how "naked" my clothing makes me look.

 

[batgirl21]

I have 3 kids, but I chose to bottle feed.  But I am not offended my a mother who choses to breastfeed.  Noone is uncomfortable when a woman pulls out a bottle to feed their child, but are uncomfortable when a woman pulls out their breast to feed their child.  whether you are bottle feeding or breastfeeding you have to feed the child when they are hungry not when its comfortable to the public.  Most of the time you cant tell a mother is breastfeeding unless you are staring, so if you are that uncomfortable with it stop staring or more somewhere else, they deserve that right.

 

[vraiblonde]

Ladies, please.  Why on Earth would you run into the 7-11 in your swimsuit?  Why wouldn't you put on a wrap of some form?  You'd think that people would know what's appropriate when they hit a certain age.  Running around Solomons in a swimsuit and shorts if appropriate because it's that type of environment.  The key is the shorts - it's considered inappropriate to just run around in a bathing suit, unless you're a little kid.

Next you all will be saying that it's okay to run around in your underwear in public.  What's the big deal, right?  Same as a swimsuit...