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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Breastfeeding in public

71 replies

Sunflower1985 · 19/10/2013 20:45

On my rocky road to establish bf'ing I'm feeding my ds on demand, regardless of where I am. Today, for example, saw me walking around Tescos with him under my jumper leisurely sucking away.

Thing is, I can't recall ever seeing anyone do this. So just checking, am I being wildly inappropriate? Where are all the bf'ers?

OP posts:

LonelyGoatherd · 19/10/2013 20:49

They're around, don't worry! Crack on and do what you need to to feed your baby. I'm just weaning 11mo DS off, and quite miss flashing in the supermarket .

NachoAddict · 19/10/2013 20:50

I never noticed anyone else breastfeeding before either, I hope they were all just being discreet and I didn't notice, surely they are out there.

I feed anywhere and everywhere too but less so now he os 15 months.

gloucestergirl · 19/10/2013 20:51

I didn't go so far as walking while bfing (but only because I didn't think of it...it sounds very practical!), but I'd do it pretty much where ever. Now I have stopped bfing, I don't see any other women doing it, but they must be. Maybe is it so normal now, that it is partly invisible, or am I just an unobservant idiot?

Carry on doing it if you're happy and DS is. Sod everyone else - they probably don't even see you anyway .

Bunnychan · 19/10/2013 20:53

I personally think that the more confident you are bfing, the more discreet you are. We're all out there somewhere! I'm sure :-)

WeAreSix · 19/10/2013 20:54

I've got a photo of me feeding DD3 at the Tower of London. Except it just looks like I'm holding her, you wouldn't know I was feeding her.

Breastfeeders are out there :)

MumOfTheMoos · 19/10/2013 20:56

I bf my DS at the Olympics during the women's archery final , on the tube at Brixton, on the train during rush hour, in Carluccio's, in Starbucks at Paddington Station, in Berkley Square, on Hampstead Heath, in the John Lewis cafe at Canary Wharf, on random park benches all over the place - all over the place!

I wasn't massively good at bf whilst standing or walking so kudos to you!

I once sat next to a lady bf all the way home on the London overground!

Well done
,

ProtectiveMother · 19/10/2013 21:10

I breastfed my daughter in a baby sling while walking through a park before. Noone noticed!

SunnyL · 19/10/2013 21:13

I bf DD on wednesday walking around Blair Athol Castle. With a bit of subtle clothes rearranging no one would ever know.

Its like pregnant women. I never saw one until I was pregnant and then they were EVERYWHERE!

KippyVonKipperson · 19/10/2013 21:14

I'm in awe of those of you who can bf walking along, that is a great skill!

FadBook · 19/10/2013 21:21

Agree with Bunny the more confident you are, the more discreet you are.

I had a 10 minute conversation with an elderly gentleman whilst feeding 6 week old dd and he hadn't a clue. It was his friend who told him and he was all apologetic and said he thought I was cuddling her. In the same room an 83 year old lady came over to me an said how lovely it was to see a 'young' person feeding in public and so discretely (not discretely enough for them not to notice though!)

I've fed everywhere - trains, planes and automobiles at 70mph (I wasn't driving and she was in the car seat!) Never had one negative comment. Most people don't give a shit. They'd be more bothered by a screaming baby than a baby being breastfed - feeding in public is hyped up to create a divide when in reality, no one is that bothered as long as baby is fed and happy (of course there's the occasional knob head who dislikes either women getting boobs out, or women feeding in public).

Midori1999 · 20/10/2013 00:08

Breast feeders are everywhere, although I tend to see/notice none for weeks and then suddenly see lots all at once. They must always be about though, I just don't always notice. Maybe we're just not nosey enough?

I've breastfed DD anywhere and everywhere, including walking round the supermarket (once with my MIL, who didn't notice as she said DD must be due a feed soon shortly after) at the airport in and out of a sling, on a plane, walking round the zoo in a sling, in coffee shops, supermarket cages, changing rooms, shopping centres etc etc. up until DD was almost 2. I did wonder whether it was ok to feed her in Walmart in Mexico, got a 'look' from a couple of staff, but I never bothered to be very discreet and am an HH cup, so maybe that's why as a local lady was breastfeeding her baby stood by the tills, so it must have been ok.

Plan to do exactly the same with DS. (Although sadly not in Mexico...)

Cavort · 20/10/2013 05:27

I walked around a busy shopping centre BFing DD when she was a few weeks old and still taking ages to feed. It was nearly closing time so I didn't have time to sit down to feed. I don't think anyone really noticed, not that I cared if they did. She's 15 weeks now, much faster at feeding and it's much easier to predict when she'll be hungry, but I still feed her out and about wherever we are.

badguider · 20/10/2013 05:54

Amazed that so many people can walk around bf-ing. My arms would fall off without some support. And with a sling - how do you get your clothes out the way? Or do you wear the sling next to your skin?

In answer to your Q - I am usually bf-ing in the nearest Starbucks

Driz · 20/10/2013 06:11

I fed wherever. However I didn't ever feed in a supermarket, because my babies were very quick feeders and I am a lazy arse. I would have let my husband go to tesco while I sat and ate cake. But needs must, if you have a sucky or needy baby, I guess there will be times that you have to feed in tescos .

Sunnysummer · 20/10/2013 06:24

In the early days I fed DS walking around, though I doubt many people noticed as he was always in the sling. Would possibly have tried while carrying him, but he's always been such a nosy little boy that his tendency to bob on and off would have left me flashing unsuspecting shoppers rather a lot!

Chocolatestain · 20/10/2013 06:33

When DS was tiny I breastfed him on my lap throughout a family Xmas meal in a local pub (he used to take ages). He didn't even pull off when my three-year-old nephew knocked an ornamental chamber pot off the ceiling as he was being passed over to go to the loo and it crashed onto the table, smashing half the plates. I carried on feeding standing up and chatting to an elderly couple at the next table while the waitresses dealt with the carnage. I don't think they even noticed.
Bizarrely the only place I've ever felt a bit uncomfortable bfing in public was Taunton Deane services. I think they must have had a coach load of grumpy old gits in.

Original poster

Sunflower1985 · 20/10/2013 06:59

This is all very encouraging, thank you.
As for bf'ing walking - yes - very tired arms as he will take as long as he pleases

OP posts:

Missmodular · 20/10/2013 07:09

I bf'd dd2 when she was 2 weeks old while walking around Ikea with my inlaws - after that I had no qualms about bfing anywhere

RubyGoat · 20/10/2013 07:20

Although I didn't generally walk around BFing DD, I did often BF her in public. She was just just too big/heavy/wriggly to carry at the same time as walking! But, she did decide she wanted a feed 10 minutes before the Olympic Flame came past - so I think I may be on quite a lot of photos/footage with a baby attached.

NaiceAm · 20/10/2013 07:53

I bfed my first in the middle of the stand at the men's Paralympic athletics final - was a bit of a worry every time there was an awards ceremony as we were just behind the flag poles.

My daughter had a tendency to lift up my breastfeeding shawl so I am pretty sure I flashed at 100s of millions of people around the globe!

More importantly my daughter got fed and stayed quiet at the important bits

ilikeFISH · 20/10/2013 08:19

I´ve never bf when walking but then I can´t walk.

I have feed DD during a catholic funeral, at the front when the priest insisted I sat not off at the side where I wanted to sit, just incase i needed help!??

I fed DTD and DTS at a cafe when they where about 36 hours old and I was NOT discrete, as I was rather ill and still trying to get the hang of it. No one complained or said anything other than the old lady who came over and said Let me take "that one" whilst you try and feed the other one, and order me a piece of cake and a cup of coffee and sat chatting to me about how well I was doing. NOTE I was failing apart, very ill and was really struggling but she made me feel so much BETTER!

Fed sat in cafe´s never had anything but either people not realising or offer help. Let me move that, get that, pass you that, had several old gentleman pat DD heads whilst I was feeding.

Actually only person that made me feel uncomfortable was DH, but thats a different post.

GO for it OP, your doing really well and there will be LOADS of other BF mums about in the oddest places!

Congrates on your DS

Bumpiemalumpie · 20/10/2013 11:13

I am in awe of this thread, I have often wondered about it. I am PG with my first DC and wonder, which slings is everyone using to bf in?

Up the natural woman!!

ilikeFISH · 20/10/2013 14:12

I used a wrap sling there are dozens about, tons of choice.

I´m sure some will give you better advice than me, unless you use a wheelchair or crutches and live a hot country ín which case I´m an expert

marthabear · 20/10/2013 14:21

yes, keep doing what you are doing. I fed anywhere and anytime too. On the bus. On the commuter boat, walking down the street with bags of shopping!

ZiaMaria · 20/10/2013 14:29

I did it everywhere. Highlight was at a restaurant non-handed (dd resting on a cushion while I got on with eating.

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