AIBU to think KLM's breastfeeding 'policy' is absurd?

[Celebelly]

'Breastfeeding is permitted at KLM flights. However, to ensure that all our passengers of all backgrounds feel comfortable on board, we may request a mother to cover herself while breastfeeding, should other passengers be offended by this.'

This was posted on their official Twitter today.

'Permitted'. Thank god it's 'permitted' to feed your child.

AIBU to think this is ridiculous?

Monkey Trap, hmnn not sure the maths works on that one. It works out at just under 5 hours a day averaged for a year.

Even if thafs the case for a newborn, a year old child isn't going to feed for that long! I'm not sure how you'd ever get to 5hrs being the averaged amount over a year.

At a generous estimate my young baby (3m) feeds for 2 - 2.5hrs a day max. Some days it's more like 1.5, with 10m feeds every 3hrs or so.

I know some babies feed a lot initially, but even so I can't see how that statistic can possible be right, unless they are just taking feeding times for the first week and assuming it stays like that for a year.

Breastfed both mine.

I always made an effort to cover up. I didn’t get stressed if i wasn’t able to or anything.

But I always attempted to whilst in public. So much is natural - farting, burping, itchy groin, smelly pits after a work out of no deodorant.

So again - I attempt to conceal a fart/burp, use deodorant and only discretely itch my groin if the need ever arises!

And I applied he same approach to breastfeeding

Christ please stop comparing farting etc to breastfeeding. Just because these things all use body parts doesn’t mean they are the same.

Feeding a child is not the same as shitting yourself in your seat or urinating as pp so delightfully said

If you think it is you need to educate yourself

'So again - I attempt to conceal a fart/burp, use deodorant and only discretely itch my groin if the need ever arises!

And I applied he same approach to breastfeeding'

Oh I see this discussion improved (!)

You don’t like it compared because it doesn’t fit with your argument.

I regularly tried to cover up because I knew it would make some feel uncomfortable. And for the sake of slinging a cloth over me - shrug

Had my baby hates being covered, I would not have covered

But seeing as he / she were chilled about it, it simply wasn’t a big deal.

If I forgot the cloth, I fed precisely as normal.

It shouldn’t even be an issue. Babies need feeding.

I'm not arguing that breastfeeding is the same as farting, burping, sweating and scratching your groin.

I don't like it compared because it's utterly ridiculous to compare these things.

Given the amount of responses to the OP is there not enough evidence to prove that there are people who find breast feeding embarrassing?
I take my views on the subject from the militant demands that breast feeding must be allowed no matter where.
My views were also influenced by a breast feeding mother doing so in the most public place possible.
No person should expect to over rule other people's views

What is the most public place possible? I'm intrigued.

'No person should expect to over rule other people's views'

That works both ways you know.

The most public space ever was the central part of the town square. People working nearby go there to sit out having lunch.

I can absolutely guarantee that I will never sit in public exposing any usually covered area of my body. I don't want to see any other body part in a public place.

The point is that breast feeding should be done discretely and not as an exhibition in a public area. Breast feed if that is your choice but don't think everyone wants to see you do it

No you’re not being ridiculous. It’s an absurd, outdated and frankly shameful policy. If a crying baby/toddler/child needs fed, it should be fed! If that means breastfeeding then so be it. It’s perfectly natural and should be accepted. Nothing wrong or “Pervy” about it. See more of women’s boobs everywhere else, than you do when a baby is being fed! Also, the fact the attendant asked her to cover up, when she said her child didn’t like that, was rude and mean spirited. I think they need to re write their policy, train staff properly and also sort out their customer services. Who’s responses are poor. Silly KLM don’t f#*k with a mums freedom!

I take my views on the subject from the militant demands that breast feeding must be allowed no matter where.

Of course it should be allowed no matter where. Babies need sustenance to survive - maybe you should pop back to primary school and take some science lessons there

Breast feed if that is your choice but don't think everyone wants to see you do it

For the billionth time - WE ARE NOT BREASTFEEDING/REVEALING BOOBS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. We are breastfeeding for the benefit of the baby. If the baby is hungry in a public place they should be fed.

I didn’t get stressed if i wasn’t able to or anything

You didn’t get stressed maybe! But I or others might feel stressed because of people like those on this thread with such horrible opinions if you dare to be uncovered. Apparently if for some reason I can’t cover up, everyone thinks I am being some sort of attention whore. Or that it’s akin to me shitting my pants...

How is me breastfeeding as unpleasant to another person as me letting rip a horrible fart? How?!?!

Breast feed if that is your choice but don't think everyone wants to see you do it

Then they don’t need to look...

So much is natural - farting, burping, itchy groin, smelly pits after a work out of no deodorant.

Oh ffs

I genuinly am struggling why 'cover up' is seen as easier than 'just don't look'.

Maybe I am the only person on earth not instinctly programmed to stare at a breastfeeding woman, unable to tear their eyes away from such a sight? Forced to see the unthinkable because they are physically incapable of flicking their eyeballs in another direction...

Or perhaps the truth is 'cover up' needs to be done by someone else so is the easiest option of all for the 'onlooker'.

I'm flying KLM tomorrow with my 3 month old baby, and I'll feed him proudly, whenever he wants, without a friggin cover on.

Is this legal?

The most public space ever was the central part of the town square. People working nearby go there to sit out having lunch.

Just like the baby was sitting out there having its lunch! I thought it was going to be in the middle of the pitch at Wembley stadium during the FA cup final or something. I've breastfed on a park bench, supermarket, cafes, restaurants, picnic benches on a farm, the library... I'd breastfeed in the town square quite happily if I needed to.

I'm giggling now as the other day a group of us with babies were out for lunch and at one point we were all breastfeeding them at the same time I'm sure that would have horribly offended some people, but I'd dare them to come over and say anything to the four of us

The point is that breast feeding should be done discretely and not as an exhibition in a public area. Breast feed if that is your choice but don't think everyone wants to see you do it

Are ppl really this self centred that they think everyone is doing stuff for their attention benefit? The mind boggles

Mothers feed their babies to nourish them. It’s really very simple. Showing off their boobs is not the aim.

Also, why are people even looking at someone's breast area in the first place?
I've heard people say before 'My husband/father/son wouldn't know where to look.' Does he routinely look at other women's tits when speaking to them? How about he look them in the eye like a decent human being, eh?