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?

I am flying on Friday. I will have the window seat and my husband the middle. I will feed my son when we take off and I will start with a draped muslin but he is 1 year old and very active and will pull it off. Nothing else I can do I am afraid 🤷🏻‍♀️

@TheBouquets, exactly. Posters feel strongly here because the vast majority do breastfeed.

Go on a dementia forum and posters will consider some behaviours acceptable that most posters here would complain to be offensive.

We all have the right to be offended by different things, one doesn't trump over others.

I think the answer to this is more feeding in public, not less. Needs to be more normalised

YES

Yes I'm sure a hungry baby can in principle howl and wait for 15 min while I'm trying to discuss with the crew where a quiet corner on a 747 cattle class is. But why should they? You would really put a randomer's 'sensitivities' above the needs of a baby?

militant demands that breast feeding must be allowed no matter where - where exactly - in places where babies are allowed - shouldn't breastfeeding be allowed?

Surely men can manage to disassociate breasts for sexy times from breasts being used to feed a baby? I can't imagine many men, aside from fetishists, would find a breast with a baby feeding off it to be sexual in any way!

WhAT AboUt If AN aLIen saW and Tried To Latch ON that would be bad wouldn't it

Similarly, what about having a male child aged 8 to 12 with you when you notice a breastfeeding mum.

What about it?

I'm sure most children that age can grasp the concept of BFing

Similarly, what about having a male child aged 8 to 12 with you when you notice a breastfeeding mum

My friend's 10-year-old son happily chatted away to me while I fed my DD and went to get me a drink as 'it must make you thirsty!'. That is a normal response. If a child is embarrassed or disgusted by breastfeeding, then you've failed them as a parent, quite frankly.

one doesn't trump over others

It does though, feeding babies is more important than someone feeling hyacinth-bouquetish

@crispysausagerolls, but you are clearly considering the other passenger by opting to seat in a window seat with your husband in the middle and at least trying a cover. That's very different to a woman seating next to a stranger, exposing herself with no care at all for their feelings and telling them they are twats if they dare say something.

swingofthings

If someone walks past my seat whilst I’m feeding with the cover off, they can’t see I’ve tried can they? So I’m sure I will get plenty of judgmental stares from people like on this thread who think I’m being goady by flopping my breast out 🤔

And according to the law here in Scotland at least, one does trump over others. It's an offence to ask someone breastfeeding to move to somewhere else, leave the premises, or stop feeding.

one doesn't trump over others

Ey?

One is feeding a baby, you know keeping them fed and content.

The other is a grown adult feeling uncomfortable by a baby feeding?

I think the baby’s needs come way before yours

If a child is embarrassed or disgusted by breastfeeding, then you've failed them as a parent, quite frankly
Have read it all now! Come down your pedestal! Breastfeeding is not so special that it should be worshiped by everyone. Disgusting is one thing maybe but teenagers are embarrassed by many things that are very natural. I guess most parents most be failing their kids then!

feeding babies is more important than someone feeling hyacinth-bouquetish
Once again, no one is suggesting not breastfeeding your baby!

Men are allowed to strip off their tops and walk around with their moobs (man boobs) and nipples showing, some men have bigger moobs than some women. Equality should mean just that - our breasts are designed to feed our young, nothing more, nothing less! If men end up with hard ons then that is their problem not ours!

The boy is not my child and I don't think it is my place to educate him on breastfeeding or anything at all about babies.
Can you imagine the post on MN? My (relative) took my DS out and told him all about babies. I doubt that would go down well.

Disgusting is one thing maybe but teenagers are embarrassed by many things that are very natural.

Right, so they’re a bit embarrassed. So what???

Back to that old chestnut - woman! Stop being comfortable and feeding your baby. A TEENAGE BOY has feelings about it!

We covered this on like page 10 or something. But here we go again.

Come down your pedestal

No thanks, it's nice up here not having bizarre hang-ups about breasts being used for their natural purpose.

I can understand a teenager being a bit awkward... but that doesn't mean anyone needs to do anything about it. Teenagers are awkward about all kinds of things. They'll get over it. Children, on the other hand, take their cues from the adults around them. If a child is disgusted by breastfeeding, then they've picked that up from the reactions of those they spend time with.

Swingofthings, I'm pretty sure most teenagers are embarrassed by their mums. Should we sit with a giant fleece over our heads, just in case?

The more women BF in public, the more it will become the norm and the fewer people will use it as an opportunity to be offended. It will take time but the retrograde views expressed on this thread will reduce as progress is made.

There is a lot of assumption. The boy is not my child. There are no younger siblings or other younger children who were breastfed.

@Wills i am not sure where you hang out but where I live/ work/ shop/ do my hobbies there are moobs in sight!? Maybe you’d spot them at the pool alright if you were interested in looking.

That should say NO moobs in site

There are some weird ideas here.

Why would you bring dementia into this?

The mum feeds the baby. However much breast is visible is entirely up to the mum.
All other bystanders, sensitive, fathers, teenagers or 8 year olds look away if they need to.

I’m late to the party but where do I find the sign up sheet for the titfloppers?! I’ve found my people!

Also yes this “policy” is batshit as are the negative attitudes towards breastfeeding on this thread. I don’t know of a single person who has breastfed their child just for kicks, or because they think they might be turning someone on. I mean as great as engorged, veiny boobs are, I’m not at all sure they’re what most people have in mind when you say the word “arousing”. I tend to breastfeed my daughter because SHE WANTS TO FEED, no concern of mine what anyone else thinks of it really is it? And you know what’s waaaaaayyyyy easier than trying to cover up a screaming baby? Turning your head away, shutting your eyes, thinking about something else. These are all great mechanisms that exist in fucking nature to prevent you viewing something you might not like. Use them.

The internet isn’t for everyone folks!