Do you breastfeed in public?

[headintheclouds7]

I've heard lots of stories about mums breastfeeding in public and getting funny looks or being told to leave which has led me to feel slightly anxious when breastfeeding in public, even though it's the most natural thing in the world. Just wondered if anyone else feels the same or does it not bother you?

Yes I do. Only ever had kind interactions so far.

Now I am comfortable I would probably issue a few expletives at them. If I had a negative experience initially then I think that would have been quite damaging.

I BF my son until he was 1 (he's now 3), the only comments I ever had were positive. I don't recall ever being stared at. I just got on with it.
Once you've mastered getting the baby on/off and are picking up feedings cues there's really no.issue. you get more attention when your baby is screaming the house down and you are trying to sort a bottle.

Yes. My son is 31 now. I didn't care if people looked, my son needed feeding so that's what I did.

At start with Baby no. 1, I used to set myself up ready to breastfeed. Cushions ready. Glass of water within reach, remote control. By baby no 2 , you’re answering the door to the postman. Never had anything but kind remarks, but I wore discreet tops, and if I felt situation required it (eg lots of blokes around) I’d also drape a muslin over shoulder.

I couldn't care less, first 2 baby's I was so on edge as I was early 20s and felt super judged on everything an didn't even breast feed but come number 3, I think I lost all dignity, knew I was a good mum an felt so comfortable I just couldn't care what people thought . Was the best thing I ever did !!!!! And made life 101x easier ! Xx

I breastfed my first in public whenever needed for a good year with absolutely 0 issue. I do remember some apprehension on my part the first few times, but that was all down to me. Fully intend to breastfeed my second with no reservations

I fed for 26 months, anywhere necessary. I never had any negative comments or looks but plenty of nice ones.

Both my DC were breastfed in public when required (they're now 8 & 4). Never had any negative comments or looks that I noticed. In fact a few people commented on how nice it was to see a baby being fed that way, or I got offered water or a chair etc.

I've bf 3 children and never had negative comments. Twice I had a comments from older woman but one said oh it's so lovely that you're feeding your baby to one (she was 6 months at the time 😅) and one had her granddaughter with her and said I'm so sorry she's stating her mum is having a baby soon so she's a bit baby mad.

All the people I know the only person I'm connected to that got a negative comment was my husbands friends wife (who I don't actually know) so it's pretty rare.

Breastfed baby anywhere and everywhere, never had any negative comments that I can remember! Like others only comments came from my own parents now my daughter is over a year and a half they aren't that comfortable

I breastfed my eldest for nearly a year and a half and did it loads in public. My youngest is nearly 6 months and I feed her everywhere. I fed her on a bench in town this afternoon.

The very rare rude / weird comment but 99% of the time no issues. In fact some people are lovely and do stuff like bring me a drink of water.

What stories have you heard and who from? I've never heard of anyone in real life actually get negative comments or looks, and I've BF two children and never experienced it either. I feel like it's one of those things where people say "oh I heard so&so got told to do it in private" - but nobody knows who so&so is

Same!!!! I actually had a number of incidents where people commented how lovely it was. No negativity

Oh wait you reminded me, the only comments I had were from my mother in law 😤 it was all ‘have you started her on the bottle yet?’ ‘Are you sure she’s getting enough when you can’t see it?’ ‘She always seems hungry’. Because she cried for another feed 2 hours after the last at 6 weeks old.

I think she had some breastfeeding hang ups though, she attempted it with both her kids but ‘couldn’t keep up’ and once commented that she would’ve liked to have been able to do it.

I've always fed in public and have never received any negative feedback. Initially used a shawl/cover thing whilst I was working it out but quickly realised it was more faff than worth/advertising it.

Currently EBF 5 month old twins so I'm pretty much always feeding, often in public 🤣 I've received lots of positive comments this time, I think because people are surprised I'm doing EBF with twins.

One up, one down with tops and feeding in a sling are gamechangers.

Oh and further to my last comment MIL also thought I was over feeding DD on breastmilk as well as simultaneously starving her because ‘her legs are like an elephant’s, far too chubby’

I think this made the news because it is an exception, not the rule. By and large I think you will find most places accommodating!

Do it!
The more people do it, the more it will become 'normal'

Yes, I bf both of my two children and fed them both in public. Over the years I fed in cafes, pubs, churches, on planes and trains. The most unique location for a feed was probably a cactus nursery 😂 I never had any rude comments and was not aware of any funny looks. I did have some approving looks, especially from older people 💚

Nobody cares. Genuinely. Just feed.

I did, never had any negative feedback. No one batted an eyelid tbh.

Never had any negative feedback, fed one for a year and another 8 months. I had two older guys comment positively. One was my aunties dad, and he kept reaching out and touching my sons head whilst he was feeding, and staring at him and then looking at me and saying how beautiful he was. But didnt feel creepy- like he hadn't really noticed my boob was out and my son was feeding. But then I found out he had dementia so that all made sense. The other was my dh grandfather, I had fed in front of him for an entire holiday and he caught me alone one day and said I've seen you feeding young dc3, well that is to say I havnt seen but I've noticed that is to say I know you're feeding him yourself (this word tripping went on for quite some time) and then he said I just want you to know I think it's fantastic. My dw fed all our children and my dd fed all hers and I think it's a wonderful that you're doing.

Of course or you'd never leave the house

I am an old hand though so no, not worried about it any more. I've never had a negative comment not once ever in 7+ years of breastfeeding. I once had a double take when I was feeding DS1 who was probably about two (so can understand the double take) but he didn't say anything.

Lots and lots of smiles and positive comments. People are usually just happy to see a baby and aren't thinking anything about how it is fed. It's going to be one of two options after all.

I did once see a woman being asked to stop breastfeeding and go somewhere else and I'm afraid my reaction was to defend her and have a go at the shop worker and quote the law I don't think she wanted me to intervene either as she seemed to just want to get out of there but I couldn't help it! I was just so angry!

Hi OP, just wanted to chime in and say that I've been BFing my youngest for 18 months now and not had any negativity...

and then this summer we took a LOOOONG flight to Asia to a Muslim country to visit family, using an airline that is Muslim enough to not offer alcohol on the flights (!) I was really nervous because my son is big and active and wriggly now, so if I ever could be discreet I can't now - he would rip any cover off him and me!

So he was, at various points on this flight, pretty miserable and wanting some boob comfort. I have no doubt that my breasts could be easily seen by many Muslim passengers on our flight who might have found that offensive. At the time I was knackered and past caring but instead of getting any complaints we just got kindness - a guy in front un-reclined his chair without us asking so that DS had a bit more room on my lap, and the air stewards bought me loads of water unasked...

I can't promise you won't get a rogue mean comment, but you might be as likely to get that mean comment for just walking down the street - it's just a person being mean, which can happen anywhere for any reason. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised that most people are kind and supportive - and glad that the baby has stopped crying! :)