This pretty much sums up my views on the matter: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...ublic_b_2814004.html

Well this is certainly a heated debate ....shame it couldn't have been a grown up debate .....on both sides of the argument For my part I have no problem with women breastfeeding in public , but I can understand why some people may find it embarrasing. 

If people find it embarrassing, surely they should be the ones to leave the situation - rather than make a mum the person who needs to be hidden away?

I don't think a mum should be hidden away Kaffs....but by the same token why should the person that feels embarrassed be forced to leave .....especially if they were there ( wherever it is) first . Personally I think discreetly looking away and carrying on is the way to go . If mums want to breastfeed in public that's fair enough ....but expecting everyone to feel the same about it is very naive IMO 

I just don't understand what is so revolting/disgusting/offensive about a mum breast feeding her baby is, that it needs to be done discretely or in a corner.

The issue really isn't with the act of breastfeeding, it's with the people who have  a problem with it, that's why they should leave if they are offended by it.

That sounds just a tad dictatorial JB  I don't think you can legislate for people's likes , or dislikes ....at least not at this level . 

I am a benign dictator.

It's not dictatorial though, they have a choice, which is grow up and stop being so narrow minded, or leave...

I think that's the point Baz, we need attitudinal change and for people to be reminded what the purpose of breasts actually are.  It really is a cultural thing and isn't an issue in so many other countries, yet here and in some other more 'Westernised' countries, breast feeding mothers have been shamed for feeding their babies and made to feel embarrassed, sent off to toilets to do so, expected to cover up their babies heads (i.e. their breasts!) etc.  All at a time where 'breast is best' and the advantages of breast feeding have been made very, very clear.  Interestingly, whilst in Istanbul recently and out on a boat trip, I noticed a mother in a full burka breast feeding her baby very openly.... and nobody batted an eyelid

I'm not expecting them to feel the same about it  - but if the person was snorting coke, or having sex on a table... then I'd expect them to be the ones to be removed from the situation.     A person who's happy enough to feed her baby in public isn't breaking any law or 'being indecent' so why should she be made to feel like the leper.   Nor am I saying they should be forced to leave -  I left a table in a pub on Friday night because there was an irritating oik talking at the top of his voice at the next table... he wasn't 'wrong' but I didn't like it, so I used my prerogative to remove myself from the situation, I didn't expect him to curtail his enjoyment.     Kinda like using the off button on the telly innit?

Yes, but I'm not sure you get attitudinal change by forcing  the issue Super .....at least not about things as personal as this . ....it has to come gradually IMO . Like I say I have no problem at all with it , but some people do .....and I don't think thEY should be demonised for it .

I'm still waiting for some one, anyone  to tell me what is so  unsettling about breastfeeding, that it needs to be done discreetly.

In all the discussions I have ever had on the topic, no one has been able to explain it to me.

Yes , but doesn't that depend who had control of the remote in the first place Seriously , I know , for example , that if my husband and I were sitting in a restaurant and a woman sat down beside us  and started breastfeeding it wouldn't bother me in the least , but my husband would find it very embarrasing .....that doesn't make him a bad person .....it just makes him a 73 year old man who has never had biological children of his own. 

I just think it is sad that mums who are feeding a young baby on a regular basis have to think twice if they need to go out or indeed need a break from  the house but, have to take baby with them, for fear of narrow minded conditioned people looking at them as is they are pariahs should the baby need a feed while out..

I'm all for educating people or taking a hard line and chucking the nay sayers/narrow minded busy bodies out of a place whether they were there first or not,  instead of picking on the mother doing an extremely natural thing.. that's the only way to educate people that there is nothing wrong with it.. make the uncomfortable ones feel picked on and stick them in a corner with a blanket over them not the mums.. the more that happens the more it will get the message out there that it is not something to be hidden but rejoiced at.. 

I say this as someone who was unfortunate enough not to have had children but rejoice in my fellow human beings who did have them yet get stick  .. it's not like every breastfeeding mother goes out in public every time their kid wants a feed but, they should not be made to feel uncomfortable when they DO need or want to go out..

Maybe eateries should have  notices on the door, probably a positive one like ' we allow breast feeding mothers in here.

A negative one wouldn't work ' we don't allow mothers to breastfeed in here'

Then if you feel in danger of having to catch a glimpse of a breastfeeding mother, you know not to go in.

And I thnk that attitude ( middle paragraph)  is equally counterproductive Olly .....

I think that is a very sensible solution JB ....

See that comes across as if they are purposely going out to do it. .what's the alternative? You have an infant that needs regular 2 hr feeds, so mum has to stay in the house until the kid goes on solids?

It is the ones that feel uncomfortable who are the naive and narrow minded ones.. and like Jackson I've yet to see anyone explain exactly why they are uncomfortable including Renton.. are they scared they may have a sudden unwanted rising in the pant area or summat?

As for women that feel uncomfortable, that is a severe personal issue that they have and needs sorting pretty damn quickly..

Same here, Supes.

I spent four years breastfeeding and, luckily, never met a moron - whether of the prude, or lewd, variety.

I fed on demand and, therefore, did it wherever and whenever needed.

I do still remember that feeling of nervousness, when I fed my first, as you are always aware that a moron could object and give you a hard time. When I heard that the mother, in this case, burst into tears when confronted, I understood completely how mortifying that must have been.

We know you are out there and like to occasionally flop your opinions out, ostentatiously, but we'd rather you just sat in a corner, or the loo, mumbling to yourself, if you must bring your opinions out in public.

I won't go quotetastic... but Baz... i think we ALL have control of our own remotes...

I think a debate is long overdue and therefore should be forced, people really should be educated about this and encouraged to examine why they think as they do. To liken it for e.g. to breaking wind in public is, imo, completely unacceptable and those kind of attitudes need challenging. Not a fan of anyone being demonised, but if it has to be one or the other then I'll opt for the ones with the negative attitudes rather than all of those mothers who are made to feel bad about feeding their babies/expected to hide away to accommodate those attitudes

Yeah it probably is Baz but it is no different to what the 'oooh I don't like that in public' person expects to happen to a mother.. so I say shame the naysayers now. Teach them to get the stick out of their arse's and be more accepting of a natural action. . Sometimes a stick is needed not a carrot..

I am purposely not couching any of my expressions in this debate because of the narrow minded folk, I am talking in basics cos that is what it is.. a basic function

You may not come here very often, Blizz, but, damn! you make it worth it when you do!     

Sorry 'bout that Kaffs, I've been banned from that pub now.

Now there's an idea Olly

Couldn't agree more Kaffs, if people don't like it and are offended by it, () or, perhaps worse, can't see breasts as other than 'sexual' () then they should be the ones who leave the situation rather than the mothers being made to feel bad/ objectified

I actually do think they should now.. .this debate has gone on for a good few yrs now and is always rearing its ugly head yet nothing changes. .if taking it easy and gradually dealing with or educating the narrow minded people is not working then it really is time to stamp down hard on them so yes, now it's time to demonise and name and shame them.. 

Good.. could you not tell that your mate was trying to impress his gf and you sitting there in your work gear talking about cars was not helping.....

As for women that feel uncomfortable, that is a severe personal issue that they have and needs sorting pretty damn quickly..

For me Olly, I think that they feel uncomfortable because they have been made to feel embarrassed by the kind of attitudes we have been discussing.......which are clearly still v much in evidence

Can I just say that Baz you could help a little bit as your mentioned your hubby would find it uncomfortable by teaching him to stick it out so he gets to the point he doesn't even notice anymore. .make him work thru his feelings of uncomfortablness.. Not having a dig here but it's up to us to educate people and what better place to start than at home

I guess in accepting that what may not embarrass one person ( whatever that is )  but may embarras another ...I'm in the minority here .....but when its deemed that anyone who feels like that about breastfeeding in public must be narrow minded , a prude, or worse still lewd , then I think that it is time for me to leave the thread to the moral majority . 

Originally Posted by Mount Olympus *Olly*:

As for women that feel uncomfortable, that is a severe personal issue that they have and needs sorting pretty damn quickly..

For me Olly, I think that they feel uncomfortable because they have been made to feel embarrassed by the kind of attitudes we have been discussing.......which are clearly still v much in evidence

Yup I agree Supes and what a shame that is in this day and age

Mammals have been around for 200 million years, now.

Surely people should be used to it by now?  

Thanks Olly ...but I happen to believe that it's his  choice what he feels embarrassed about ......as it is mine , yours , or anyone else's 

you shouldn't need to feel the need to leave Baz, you said yourself you aren't bothered about it, so join the majority and help educate those that are so it is no longer an embarrassing issue for them any more.

Said with all good intentions not any digs at all

I recall the first time I saw a woman breastfeeding many moons ago... I was transfixed, not from embarrassment but from wonder at what a beautiful thing it was and maybe even a tad jellus that  I'd probably never get a chance to do that myself

Not being offended and not being uncomfortable are not human rights.

Life  can be an unsavoury and  grubby struggle some days, we may get offended and we may feel uncomfortable, but we get over it.

It's not permanent ,we egt up the next day and soldier on.

I  thought it was now  illegal to "ban" breastfeeding in public etc?is it not?

Embarrassment like that stems from something deep rooted not from choice... but hey, we'll have to agree to disagree. 

I just thought maybe he could be helped to not be embarrassed any more by gentle exposure [no pun intended]  so it becomes the norm 

I don't know, but Claridge's didn't ban the  mother from breastfeeding, they sent the waiter over  to ask her to be discreet.

Baz, I don't think embarrassment is a choice, more than often it's usually something that is a product of our socialisation