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?

For the third time I will ask if it’s acceptable for me to ask formula feeding mothers to cover the bottles they are using as I personally find it unnatural and offensive.

Or is that not acceptable because in your personal and utterly SUBJECTIVE opinion, it’s not as justifiable?!

Yes, lauremarlow obviously you have to stay at home in case your cover slips or is pulled off and, god forbid, someone thinks you are an...EXHIBITIONIST!!!!! Showing your wares for your own personal amusement and nothing to do with your baby. Obviously we must pander to older generations with outdated views, or uneducated teenage boys who feel embarrassed about literally anything anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️ Silly meeeeeee for not wanting to feel judged for feeding my child.

I agree the wording is a little off but I do think it’s down to Dutch-English translation.

I’m fascinated by swingof things position that a bf mum needs to check with the person beside them before bf. I’ve flown with both my ebf babies at 5 months (so much easier than when weaning starts/they start moving from where you put them). Bf is exceedingly handy for take off and landing as in addition to feeding the child, it stops ears popping and can send child to sleep. So are you suggesting I ask your 16 yo or your father, they’re perfectly entitled to say no, and my baby then spends the next who knows how long screaming, hungry and possibly in pain? How in gods name is that in anyway reasonable, or fair on my baby - or other passengers! Or is your solution that I just shouldn’t travel?

Breast feeding breast are not the best looking breasts ever are. I don't think I would show my breasts at their best never mind when they are less than pretty.
Why would that not make women cover up better.

Because they are not doing it for other people’s benefit. They are doing it for the benefit of their baby.

I cannot get my head around how egocentric some people are. A woman is breastfeeding and it must be aimed at them. Hot tip. The breastfeeding mother isn’t thinking about whether the breast she’s feeding from is attractive to you.

@NEtoN10

That first picture youve shared is obviously someone at home. No women feed in public like that!

I did. all the time. I wasn't going to get myself up in double layers, or whip up my top and show off my post-partum stretchmarked belly and c-section scar, just because other people can't handle the sight of a boob. Nor was I going to spend £££ on 'breastfeeding tops' I would only wear when breastfeeding (which could have only been for a few weeks, as it turned out 2.5 years but hey ho) for the same nonsense reason.

I got my breast out of my clothes to feed my child. When bottle feeding mothers are trying to hide their bottles in their armpits for shame, I'll start covering up

my 16yo boy would be horrifieD

Why wouldn’t you leap at the opportunity to teach your 16yo not to grow up to be a dick?

For goodness sake bf women out there. This is isn’t a new trend. I am all for bf babies and to see a little baby being fed is a lovely site. But this can be done with discretion. No one wants to particularlysee a 1 year old plus, who by the way eats proper food by then , suckling on a large boob hanging out. It is offensive.

After this thread I fed my baby in a restaurant last night. Nobody batted an eyelid. Baby was being fussy because it was a bit late for him (it was feed or cry). A lovely teenager waiter served me and just carried on like normal. I hope to raise my baby to be like that.

@Somersetlady

All i am saying is that i think feeding discreetly is respectful to those around you. Understanding that (rightly or wrongly) to some cultures or older generations they may genuinely feel uncomfortable.

It's wrongly. Just to clarify that for you

@Lillibee4

For goodness sake bf women out there. This is isn’t a new trend. I am all for bf babies and to see a little baby being fed is a lovely site. But this can be done with discretion. No one wants to particularlysee a 1 year old plus, who by the way eats proper food by then , suckling on a large boob hanging out. It is offensive.

#sorrynotsorry

by the way, breastmilk is as 'proper' a food as cow's milk. Indeed for human beings, it is far more nutritionally 'proper'.

Phuquocdreams

Very good point! What if you ASK someone and they say no for goodness sake?!

I’m 100 x more nervous about feeding on the plane tomorrow! Well done wankers!

@crispysausagerolls Many many many women on this thread have said they have had no issues feeding on planes. Keep this in your thoughts.

I did well over 20 flights, mostly alone and after the second DS with a toddler in tow, both long and short haul with never a problem, never feeling uncomfortable. The airline staff were great on all the airlines i flew with. I think you said upthread you are also travelling with someone who will be on the middle seat next to you so that in itself removes any chance of not having some privacy.

No one wants to particularlysee a 1 year old plus, who by the way eats proper food by then , suckling on a large boob hanging out. It is offensive

Educate yourself.

But this can be done with discretion

Do you know what happens when ppl like you bleat on about discretion?

Some poor woman out there starts fretting if she’s being discrete enough. She might have large breasts, a baby who struggles to latch, a fast let down. She’s doing her best in the circs but she worries it’s not good enough for ppl like you. She doesn’t want judgement or to be told she’s an ‘exhibitionist’.

So she stays at home. To the detriment of her own mental health. Maybe she stops feeding altogether, to the detriment of her baby.

I fucking hate the D word, I wish I could ban it. It has no place in nurturing a bfing culture. By using it, you are part of the problem.

@crispysausagerolls forget the ‘asking permission’ comment.

I have never asked anyone if they mind if i feed my baby and never would!

suckling on a large boob hanging out

And omg your language. That’s what’s offensive. Misogyny a gogo.

Please educate yourself. The word you are looking for is feeding. The one year old is feeding,

No one wants to particularlysee a 1 year old plus, who by the way eats proper food by then , suckling on a large boob hanging out. It is offensive.

It's great to see older babies and toddlers BFing, exactly as nature intended. BM is the most appropriate and proper food available to them.

The boob is the same one they have always used so no issues there.

Most sensible people would find it totally inoffensive and those who don't wish to watch can look at the other myriad details of the environment around them.

It's really not an issue unless you want to make it one.

I am all for bf babies and to see a little baby being fed is a lovely site

For clarity, this is not true. You’re not.

Everything you say afterwards in your post and the language you use clearly signals you are not all for bfing.

HTH

@LaurieMarlow

Or she reaches for formula and feels she’s let her baby down. Whilst people simultaneously remind her breast is best.

Women have so much to contend with at the most vulnerable times in their lives.

I had severe tearing and struggled to sit down, had very little control over bodily functions. Who knew I was also supposed to ask the person sat next to me if it was ok if I fed my baby?!

Earlier this year I was on one of those steam train trips in popular holiday place.

Family group with DC looking out of window. Loads of lambs, some of whom were feeding. Kids were clearly fascinated and engaged, chatting away. It wasn't " offensive" so why on earth should in be any different for us?

I am all for bf babies and to see a little baby being fed is a lovely site

But you don’t want to be able to see?!

Here’s an idea, anyone offended can have a bag to put over their head do they aren’t subjected to the “embarrassment” of being FORCED to watch a baby being fed.

I second this. Why smother the poor baby with a drapery scarf when you can make the offended wankers get a sweaty head instead? It's as if a man's worry about getting a semi is more important than a baby's right to natural sustenance. Not that bf is sexy in any way but I can't think of any other reason to object so vehemently or feel uncomfortable.

@Celebelly

What is the offensive part of the breast, anyway? It can't be the bulk of it as women can show plenty of cleavage and that's perfectly fine, so it must be the nipple, right? But hold on - there's a baby on the nipple so that won't be visible bar perhaps a second or two. And the baby's head will be blocking most of the boob. So what's actually offensive? What can you actually see when someone has their boob out and a baby on?

It's... whispers ... the side-boob! That naughty, sexy, naughty side-boob that should be properly covered up!

Is anyone else reading some of these 'discreet' comments imagining Carrie's mother getting the vapours over her 'dirty pillows' being out?

i had severe tearing and struggled to sit down, had very little control over bodily functions. Who knew I was also supposed to ask the person sat next to me if it was ok if I fed my baby?

It is fucking ridiculous.

The idea that you, in those circumstances,, should be showing consideration for them is just mind blowing really. Other people should be falling over themselves to help you.

It tells you everything you need to know about entrenched misogyny in our society.