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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think perhaps this wasn't the most appropriate way to bf baby in a public place?

464 replies

lollipopz · 27/02/2009 14:29

OK I am usually all for breast feeding have breast fed all 3 of my dcs and if they were hungry in restraunt on train etc I would cover and feed them, however this shocked me.
Was in supermarket last night with 2 dds aged 5 and 7. Dds had nipped off to pick up some juice when dd1 rushed up to me with a bright red face and ushered my to the next aisle. There was a woman standing with her shirt unbuttoned feeding a baby who was sat upright in a trolley so every one that walked by could see exactly what she was doing and also had a clear view of her other boob that was hanging out her bra . Not only that the baby must have been about 7 or 8 months and was straining to reach as she sort of crouched to it's level.
Surely this is not the best way and she could have left her trolley and went into the baby room she didn't have that much stuff in there any way.

OP posts:
skramble · 27/02/2009 15:08

I don't know if inappropriate is the word, but FGS take a seat and feed them properly, they will be crying for more in about 5mins because they can't possibly have a decent feed like this. As for leaving unused boob swinging, she must be pretty brazen or something. There are ways and means of doing things, and this just makes you look like a mad woman .

Mind you I am a bit f a traditionalist and think babies should get a proper relaxed feed and not a random suck every other minute.

hobnob57 · 27/02/2009 15:09

I'm tempted to say that we should catch a grip and start thinking of BF women as people who should be revered in our society - giving the next generation the best start in life - whichever way they choose to do it!

The more people that see it the better I reckon.

Although I wouldn't have been brave enough to do that and would have crawled off to to toilets or cafe to feed the child. Symptomatic of worrying what others think!

Fair doos to her.

mrsjammi · 27/02/2009 15:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Lawks · 27/02/2009 15:10

I have fed a baby going round tescos. I had him lying along my forearm, his bum in my hand. With the other hand I steered the trolly (which contained dd1) and reached for groceries.

Needs must.

Actually this woman sounds more sensible than me because my arm was bloody killing me by the time I got to the juice/crisps aisle.

CaptainKarvol · 27/02/2009 15:11

It just sounds terribly uncumfortable to me. I fed in all sorts of places till Ds was nearly 2, but would have been far more likely to be found sitting cross-legged in a quiet corner with him than leaning over my shopping trolly!

theyoungvisiter · 27/02/2009 15:13

By claireybeemine on Fri 27-Feb-09 15:06:09
I was pushing ds around ikea once and he leant forwards and latched himself on so I can kind of see how it's possible

Crikey woman what were you wearing??!

Or is this some nudist Ikea I have not come across?

BCLass · 27/02/2009 15:14

Don't see the problem - she is feeding her baby, its age is irrelevant.

Why would a little girl be at seeing a womans breasts?? Feeding a baby??

Perhaps she should have fed baby next to the lads mags for an interesting juxtaposition. Hmmmm...might do that myself next time.

I have fed dd in several supermarkets, with and without dh in tow, but have never climbed in the trolley...yet.

Have fed dd in the booze aisle at Waitrose - how Mumsnet is that? Was not wearing Boden though.

LadyOfWaffle · 27/02/2009 15:14

Cor, how did she manage? Lean right over? She prob. didn't notice the other breast if so. Breasts should be treated in the same way you would view a bottle IMO and you wouldn't bat an eyelid at a baby being bottlefed around Tesco. Brave lady! Good for her.

mrsjammi · 27/02/2009 15:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Upwind · 27/02/2009 15:17

{shock} at the woman breastfeeding her brother

YABU, none of your business

BCLass · 27/02/2009 15:19

And forgot to add...YABU

AitchTwoOh · 27/02/2009 15:20

lol. and trippity trappety.

Blu · 27/02/2009 15:23

I do wonder what she was doing in the crisps and juice ailse....hardly a healthy diet and certainly not for a 7 or 8 month baby.

tsk. YANBU.

Original poster
lollipopz · 27/02/2009 15:24

Sorry to have offended any one purpose my op wasn't worded go the best way as isaid i am a breast feeder and know what its like to have a hungry baby what i was trying to say was that maybe it would have been easier for her and baby had she went and sat down and just wondered if any mners had come across this? Not meaning to down the woman i do think it was bloody brave

OP posts:
theyoungvisiter · 27/02/2009 15:25

blu.

Imagine, she was probably steering for the fruitshoots.

Leo9 · 27/02/2009 15:27

I think it's unfair to criticise the OP's daughter and imply she has issues with seeing breasts just because she was taken aback by this. There are places and times where we might expect to be seeing the parts of the body that society deems we cover, and places and times we don't expect to.

Feeding like this is highly disinhibited and it does not make a girl odd, to find this hard to deal with.

Also agree nothing wrong with feeding in supermarket but baby will have a better feed if the woman sits down for five mins, IMVVVHO

Divineintervention · 27/02/2009 15:29

Of course she was being ridiculous feeding a child this way. Breast feeding is not a spectator sport, it is a beautiful and intimate thing between a mother and child.
I have visions of this woman being quite unwashed.....

wotulookinat · 27/02/2009 15:31

snigger

claireybeemine · 27/02/2009 15:32

LOL youngvisitor, a tshirt he is very adept at reaching into my top and lifting my boob out (have v small boobs though and I think that makes it easier for him-they aren't far from my neckline even in a normal non scoop necked top)

Original poster
lollipopz · 27/02/2009 15:33

I am not a troll have posted on other threads although i admit i am 9 months pregnant and slightly irrational at times

OP posts:
PinkTulips · 27/02/2009 15:36

surely would have been easier to lift the child out and hold him to feed him? ds1 was a mammoth baby and i could walk around feeding him easily until he was about 12 months and frequently had to while running around after dd while out and about.

i don't think stuff like this does the image of bfing any favours.... i wonder how many young girls/woman saw her and now think that bf-ing involves displaying yourself like that and are now permanently put of bf-ing as a result

strictmumof3 · 27/02/2009 15:36

YANBU. I bf all 3 of mine but not in a supermarket, while walking around. There is a time and a place...

idobelieveinfairies · 27/02/2009 15:36

I think all of my children would have been a bit shocked to find this going on in the juice/crisps aisle.....it's not something that you see everyday is it, i can see why the op's daughter would have been a bit (!?) about it.

Not something i would have been done to be honest, but each to their own.

idobelieveinfairies · 27/02/2009 15:38

how did that 'been' get in there?

skramble · 27/02/2009 15:38

Thats true about the DD, my DD is 9 and not fazed by bare boobs at all infact she has a bit of a fasination with them, nakedness is not an issue. But at swimming she likes her privicy to change as there is often random boys in the changing room with their mums.

But I think if she saw a mum feeding like this she would be a bit . I have discretly pointed out mums BFing before and made the point that it is lovely and natural and she has agreed and oohed and ahhed a bit about the loely baby. But this is a bit in your face. FWIW I wouldn't bottle feed a baby like this either.