genuinely curious?

[iwastooearlytobeayummymummy]

I am an old fogey with children aged 12 and over, and back in the day breast fed wherever and whenever the need arose, such as in cafes, on the train, at the park, in the pub garden and even at my daughter's parents' evening.

I usually used the 'pull the top up and drape a muslin over method' and do not recall any feelings of discomfort or approbation from passers by.

Have things changed so much that BFing in public attracts unwarranted attention?

I'm off to bed now, but would really like to know if BFing in public has become a social 'no, no!'

I really hope not, and hope all you mums with babes have a good night

b feeding in west yorkshire is a no no we have feeding cafes and all that nonsence but when i was feeding my daughter we went to the park with my eldest child i sat to feed and the looks i got was unreal i would never feed in public from then on. shame really

I BF DS1 in 2000, and DS3 in 2007, never had any issues feeding them anywhere.

Not for me. Let em look I say, but hardly anyone does. But if you turn away when latching and keep the breast hidden while feeding I wouldn't have thought many people even notice.

I do it wherever, whenever and have never got so much as a glance (been BFing since early 2007 now). We live in Essex but have done it everywhere. Recently in King Arthur's Labyrinthe and on top of Snowdon. I dont use a muslin but do arrange my top so as not to show too much flesh.

I'm in Kent and will feed wherever he gets hungry. Have never had any comments other than positive ones, and I'm sure most folks don't even realise what I'm up to (even DH when he's sat right next to me!)
I usually tuck him underneath my top (the baby, not DH! ), and don't bother with a muslin unless he has to go in from the top.

I have fed 4 dcs in public places from 1999 to 2008 and appart from once (abroad) no one ever made unpleasant remarks..

I see mothers breast feeding when out and about-I did it wherever they were hungry-I don't think that anything has changed.

I'm in south east london and feed whenever and whereever. DD is 3 months and so far I've had no comments (apart from my mum's but thats a different matter :)). TBH I think everyone is too caught up in their own business to worry about or even notice how I'm feeding my baby.

I bf dd2 whenever and wherever in N Ireland where the bf rates are the lowest in the UK. Despite this I've never had any comments or even pointed stares. A lot of the anti-bf in public stuff is created by the media for want of a story IMHO.

I bf outside the house on pretty much a daily basis. I fed him in the sling walking down glastonbury high st, but that might not count as It's full of hippies. Anyhow, we are on the south coast. I did get a positive comment from the waiter in an Italian restaurant on Sunday and a huge grin from an old lady on Costa yesterday.
I always try to be modest and discreet with it, give people no reason to be offended. Muslin is s handy tool, and I use a nursing cover in busy, crowded areas to stop ds from constantly coming off to flirt with passers by.

I think we hear about the times that BF in public attracts attention becasue it's the exception rather than the rule.

I find it hard feeding in public at the moment though as my 9 m.o. DS is going through a very distractible stage. He can be miserable because he's hungry, but every time I try to feed him in public he writhes around exposing me completely, and screams his head off as if I'm trying to murder him. I'm sure that doesn't do anything to improve the image of bf!

I am also in west yorks and have had no negative experiences at all inspite of frequently feeding ds where ever we are. diddymiddys I'm very {hsad] that that was your experience and that it put you off.

Mollys I think you are in large part right though I have heard on here of people having negative experiences (on here not rl) and these are rightly discussed, though it can distract from the fact that lots of us are quietly getting on with bf where ever with no negative experiences at all.

I bf when I'm out & I just get on with it. Nobody sees as people are busy with what they're doing. If anyone did complain I would completely ignore them

I have 3 DC - 7, 4 and 6 months and I found this time much more women feeding in public without bothering with muslins or anything else to cover up thatn the first time.

I have a 6 year old and a 6 day old, and I used to bf anywhere. I never got any adverse comments, and didn't bother covering up. I'm hoping that this time will bw as positive!

I think it depends what sort of neighbourhood you're in tbh. If lots of people bf and there are a lot of families then mostly people don't think it's unusual. Where I am I have never had any negative comments, and I don't know if people stare or not because I don't tend to look around to check - I just get on with my conversation / eating / staring out of the window on the train etc.

Having said that, my LO is 7.5 months now so I'm guessing it will get to the point where people are surprised quite soon... luckily she's small so I might get away with it a bit longer!

I am also in west yorks and have bf my 6 week old everywhere with nothing but nice comments :)

I bf all over Europe on a massive trip, no comments ever at any time except nice ones. Eastern European border guards particularly thrilled.

Thanks for all your responses, and glad that they're nearly all positive.

hope you're enjoying your babies, i'm a bit that mine are far too big to fit onto my lap for a cuddle!

(doesn't stop me trying though, even tho' 3 of the 4 are taller than me

i'm in kent and recently lived in sussex, I only got positive comments from women and men are too scared to look even though I cover him with a blanket in public |or ask me if he is asleep, then when I tell them he is feeding look embarrassed and run away!!!)