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?

@Somersetlady unfortunately there are a lot of builders in my area who think nothing of stripping off their tops. So yes, during summer there are a lot of moobs around. My point is that whilst someone might tsk at this behaviour and think its slightly 'common' of them, no one will lodge a complaint. Yet when a woman tries to breast feed a baby they're accused, as some have point out, of flopping out their breasts. Its as though breasts are equivalent to willies (only used that word cos can't think of what the multiple of penis might be - penisi? penises?). They're not! Both men and women have the tools to fed babies, and whilst it is v.v. hard for a man to get a good store of milk built up, their 'breasts/moobs" are still capable of producing milk if a baby were to latch on regularly. So, for me, that women are still not allowed to go topless is 'nice' society is a clear sign of ongoing repression. I can hear many MN's huffing and puffing already. But seriously, if its ok for a man to wear just trunks when swimming why can't women??

@swingofthings yes you have failed as a parent if you think that your teenagers embarrassment is more important than a breast feeding a baby! Do as I would and to the teenager DS that the first "job" of a breast is feeding a baby.

PS. I'm off to bed (long day). But will happily continue the debate (if you want to) tomorrow. Just didn't want to suddenly go quiet.

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

No dear, you're just worried about how it looks. Youd prefer your drink in a beaker, Elizabeth.

I’m so pleased to see the majority of responses are in favour of BFing Mums. I feel most comfortable feeding my baby in comfort at home. But his comfort and needs are my absolute priority and I can’t believe anyone would consider their preferences ahead of a babies physical needs. BFing is a skill. Mother and baby need to learn and you can’t do all that under a cover. BFing rates are so low in this country, we should be encouraging women.

Ready to be lynched but there are the “Look at me breastfeeding bearing all of both breasts” types - performance parenting is the sequel to performance breastfeeding. Maybe they are just trying to retain the right to ask passengers to cover themselves if breasts are fully exposed and causing embarrassment for others. I’m sure a reasonable feed with a degree of discretion wouldn’t be an issue.
I’ll duck now...

@TigerTooth, but that's my point! Given that men have just same biological set up (just a lot smaller) than women why isn't it ok for women to walk around bear chested? It gives men hard ons! I know this from experience, but why should we be concerned? Why is that somehow our problem. Why are we portrayed as 'slutty' whilst men can show off their chests all day long? Why is a topless woman consigned to top shelf magazines whilst topless men advertise underwear everywhere??? The issue is with men's reactions, but surely that should be their problem, not ours?!

Sorry (v. tired) - it's meant to read "bare chested" rather than bear chested as I believe most women would seriously prefer not to have a bear at their chests!

Here’s how to cover up whilst breastfeeding, i’m that contrary that i’d Love to do this.....

Ugh round we go again.
Peace out my lovely titfloppers, I’m off to bed as well x

This is a bit off-thread, but just touching on the issue of "exhibitionist breast feeders", has anybody come across the trend of post birth photos with the mother stripped to the waist giving the First Breast Feed?
My FiL certainly jumped a bit ( but tried to recover himself quickly) when shown a picture of his completely topless daughter with small baby's head applied to large breast with other breast co-starring.
That seems exhibitionist breast feeding to me. Nice pictures for the parents but maybe not to everyone's taste perhaps.
It could be just my friends and family, I guess
And, yes, I breastfed both mine but, being a bit inhibited, needed to cover up before letting down.

Perhaps social mores are just changing with time. And, yes, I know that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Living in the West makes these decisions look black or white to us but the world is bigger than the Western World and what is acceptable may not be the case elsewhere.
KLM is a worldwide organisation.

noparticularpattern
Can I high five you, please?

Creambeforejam

Quite right, in many continents such as Africa and parts of Asia, the idea of needing to cover up your breasts would be shocking and offensive.

Quite right, in many continents such as Africa and parts of Asia, the idea of needing to cover up your breasts would be shocking and offensive.

^ brilliant!

Living in the West makes these decisions look black or white to us but the world is bigger than the Western World and what is acceptable may not be the case elsewhere.

Where? Serious question because everywhere I can think of seems to accept, if not legally protect the right to public BF. As I said above, this includes Saudi Arabia whose strict public indecency laws might suggest otherwise. Despite this, public BF is both legal and reported as largely accepted.

@Somersetlady, 1: my 1st born is 12 years old so there wasn't that much around. 2: I have quite large boobs 32H. 3: My baby was.only 4lb when born so his tiny body didn't cover much and 4: Attitudes like some on here made me feel uncomfortable about feeding in public unfortunately. It meant for the first few months of his life I rarely left home unless I really had to. Sadly that's a quite common feeling for a lot of 1st time breastfeeding mum's. Luckily by the time I had my 2nd I really wasn't bothered and fed anywhere. And no I didn't buy any specialist breastfeeding tops the 2nd time around, those things are expensive and why should a woman feeding her baby have to buy 'specialist equipment'? One of the benefits of breastfeeding is that you don't need any equipment

Ridiculous. Anyone who is ‘offended’ should be told to cover themselves up while someone is breastfeeding. That way they won’t accidentally see a booby.

No matter where you're from as part of their global customer base, you'll still have the ability to advert your eyes and the mother will still have the right to breast feed comfortably.

@Creambeforejam, I think you'll probably find most other countries are unbelievably more accepting of public breastfeeding (and extended breastfeeding) than the UK. Maybe that's why the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe!

I mean, it’s a boob ffs! It’s a mound of flesh with a nipple at the end - which you most likely won’t see as that’s where the baby is attached.
Who the hell cares? Nobody ever died from seeing a breast.

Maybe planes should carry blankets like these. Then they can cover the people who are offended so they don't have to have their eyes offended

but I know my father wouldn't be keen, my 16yo boy would be horrified

I hate when people try to hide behind others supposed offence. You don’t speak for them, let them speak for themselves.

If you have a problem with bfing then be honest and own it.

I think this is the perfect compromise; allow breastfeeding (obviously) but cover up...not everyone wants to see this feeding process, however natural. Don't get precious about it, just live and let live ie see both sides.

If I owned an airline I would fill a whole plane with breastfeeding mothers and fly it somewhere tomorrow as a show of solidarity to mums -BA or virgin should do this