Breastfeeding in public

[Forgivenandsetfree]

Inspired by a comment I have seen on Facebook.
I breastfed until 22 months, towards the end I didn't feed in public because of course she was eating by then but when she was small I did. Luckily I never had an issue and was treated well in my local Macdonalds and Costa, but the comment said most people have issues with Bf in public, aibu to think this isn't true?
YABU- I faced issues/I don't like it.
YNBU- I don't/ didn't have a problem.

Yanbu I whip mine out all the time and couldn't care less! I've even bf in church and nobody has ever batted an eye and I live in a very rural traditional place

My kids were both over 2 when I finished breastfeeding and the only person who moaned about it was my mum. I had some lovely comments in public.

In fact I was feeding my baby at a wedding in a very posh hotel and the maitre d offered to cut my dinner up for me

I breastfed two DC for 14 months each in all sorts of places. I had one person offer to give me more room, a couple of offers of water, one comment the lines of how nice it was to see and that's it. Not a single negative comment or look.

The only time I have ever noticed someone else feeding in public is when they were faffing about with one of those aprons or a shawl which I think really draw attention. I have never noticed someone else feeding. It's mostly totally unobtrusive.

I only had one negative comment whilst sat on bench outside. It really pissed me off
Most comments were really nice supportive ones

I have breastfed in public and have had no issues except with family. Mum just doesn’t get breastfeeding and wanted me to stop ages ago-DS is only 6 months and she feels he’s too old. I imagine in a town full of people like her breastfeeding could be difficult.

YANBU. But although I think these instances are rare, they still have a great impact as all negative experiences do - a hundred people could walk past and not be fussed about you bf but it only takes one unkind look or comment to make someone feel insecure. That’s the case in many aspects of life though.

I breastfed my third till he was 14 months but I don’t think I breast fed him outside of the house once we’d started weaning.

Never had a negative comment - the only negative comment was from a woman who made a bee line to tell me her daughter breastfed her twins. At the time I was bottling my twins - with expressed breast milk - as I didn’t feel comfortable tandem feeding in public. You can tandem feed discreetly!

No never challeneged or stopped. FEd everywhere.

I’ve breastfed three children in public, still breastfeeding my youngest and I’ve never had a single negative experience

Even 25 years ago I never had any negativity. I think perhaps it’s about the mother feeling uncomfortable rather than anything else.

I never had any reactions feeding in public, positive or negative. I think most people don't really care, and half the time don't notice.

Wondering if the 5% who don't like it will comment or if they'll just silently vote that they don't like it.

No one ever batted an eyelid and I fed my DD everywhere: library, cafe, supermarket, park bench, middle of the woods! No one ever even gave it a second glance.

@Waffles80 Eyeroll. Couldn’t you have scrolled past this onto one of the approx 50 billion other threads instead of coming here just to moan?

Still BF at 23 months but haven’t BF in public for almost a year as I’m a bit embarrassed to. Which makes me sad. I think if he was unwell or really in need I would though.

Never had a negative comment though, have had a few comments from family etc.

This made me smile. My sister breastfed her daughter for about 17 months and one day at my parents she said oh dd needs a feed. My dad said I'll leave the room. My sister said okay but I've been feeding her in front of you since she was born. He'd never noticed. I think as long as you don't need everything flying loose it's fine.
I really hope I can breastfeed this time round and it's nice to read that it's becoming more acceptable.

Breastfeeding in normal and natural at any time and in any place.

END OF DISCUSSION

I breast fed but in private, not a criticism on others, but things were a bit different 30 odd years ago. Totally doesnt bother me when its babies.
Hands up though, I dont like seeing a 3 year old getting his mums boob out sitting on a table in costa, also seen it in a restaurant a few times too and seen it more times than I can count with a 3 to 4 year old sat in a supermarket trolley with mums boob in their mouth. No child that age NEEDS it desperately at that age, I believe it is for show at that age in public.

My youngest is 18 months and I feed her everywhere, only ever had nice comments, apart from once when she was tiny and I was feeding her during my older daughters school play and one of the other kids said hahaha your mums got her boobs out, didn’t bother my daughter one bit she just rolled her eyes and all her mates ripped the kid to shreds then all cams crowding over in the interval to tell me, the poor mum was mortified and apologised about 100 times even though I made it clear I wasn’t one bit bothered. Never happened again.

So it seems the majority don't have an issue or at least haven't had an issue x

Fed everywhere Inc on buses and the underground, only ever had 2 comments, both positive "lovely to see" etc types.

No child that age NEEDS it desperately at that age, I believe it is for show at that age in public.

Do you have a problem with children of that age drinking milk/water/juice in public? Is that for show too?

I never experienced any negativity at all and I never avoided bf in public. But generally speaking after about 6 months, mine was pretty distracted being out and loved eating food, so I only really bf at home as wouldn’t really feed in the middle part of the day when we were out. However, when I did all fine, we did it on planes, in wine bars in Spain, on the beach, etc.

Actually the only negativity I’ve witnessed (which was quite cruel) was a bf mum attacking mums who ff.