Breastfeeding in public

[Sunflower1985]

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?

[everydayaschoolday]

You're not noticing others doing it because actually bf is actually quite discreet. They're are loads of mums out there doing it, so for those who choose to bf, keep doing it! I did it for my 2 and was out in public loads. Now my babies are a bit older, 5 and 2, I miss it terribly and always look back with fond affection. Not inappropriate at all. So, so lovely.

[Laquila]

I breastfeed my 6-wk old regularly in public, in cafes, on benches etc, but am totally in awe of people who can do it whilst walking!! TBH he slides off so often that I don't think I'd be able to do it in a sling either.

[MistressofPemberley]

My fave is bf-ing in a restaurant / pub with a glass of wine / pint of bitter on the go!
Bless my DM; she is I think proud of me but often makes a big deal of covering me up (trying to make a screen by holding a scarf, or moving menus etc). I think the more fuss you make the less discrete you are. And as I tell her, if anyone can see anything it's because they are looking too hard, and if seeing my big ole boob is the highlight of their day, well I feel deeply sorry for them!

[BeCool]

I fed my 2 everywhere and anywhere for a total of 32 months. You may or may not have noticed me - I wasn't ever concerned with actively being "discrete" but it's just feeding a baby. Hardly an in your face activity IMO.

I could feed in a sling when they were small but not tiny. My favourite public no hands BF moment was looking around Hampton Court Palace. I don't think Henry VIII would have batted an eyelid.

I used an Ergo Carrier (I think that is what it was called).

[soupmaker]

I've fed DD2 all over the place. Restaurants, including a very posh one, cafés, benches, museums, art galleries and standing at a football pitch side. Was chatting away to a dad who didn't even notice! I see BFers everywhere.

[LamaDrama]

Yesterday outside Homebase, but I was sat in the drivers seat of my car, seat reclined.

A lovely looking man looked straight in the window

I always feed & change baby in the car inbetween shops where possible, i can relax & listen to the radio.

Mind you, I was sat on a rock on the beach last month doing it, & it was full of people walking past. needs must!

[motherinferior]

I've been known to fish DD2 out of her buggy and wander around a shop breastfeeding

[mrsmartin1984]

I think people just don't notice. Women who formula feed have to make up the bottle, get everything out of there bag, shake it up and then feed them. You can't be discreet about feeding when there is a big piece of plastic sticking out of a baby's mouth. With breast feeding you have to really have to look to notice. And if you just walked past it would just look like your cuddling your baby.

[BeCool]

Other funny places I have BF:
Queens Club watching Nadal play.
On plane & in many queues.
On massage table.
Supermarket/high street/general shopping.
Buckingham Palace.
Tube/Bus/Etc

[LouiseD29]

I bf in Pizza Express on Friday night. The waitress came running over and I was really nervous she was going to say something about it, but all she said was, "did you want ice cream or cream with your cheesecake?" DD 9 weeks and have bf in loads of places and not one funny look or comment. V relieved so far.

[Spidermama]

I too breasted on the tube, on a bench in Trafalgar Square, at the side of the swimming pool - whenever, wherever I needed too. I fed 4 babies well past their first birthdays and was only once subjected to a judgemental comment, which she soon regretted.
It's the most natural thing in the world and anyone who feels uncomfortable can look away.

[CosmicMouse]

We bf all over too :-) Another Olympics (and paralympic) feeder! Plus cafes, zoos, school playground, many a walk.

I pretty much exclusively use a sling. I've big boobs so found it harder when she was smaller, but from about 10mo could merrily feed on the go. Either in a woven wrap, or a structured carrier like a Connecta or Manduca. Drop them down to the right level, boob out over the top, latch baby on. I find they snuggle right down into it, so don't have much on show. Although woven wraps are great for draping if you feel a bit exposed and/or chilly.

[chimchar]

apologies for the DM link, but I saw this earlier....

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2468971/Stacie-Turner-Photographer-captures-natural-beauty-breastfeeding-attempts-break-taboo-persists-nursing-babies-public.html

I fed my kids anywhere and everywhere, never had any trouble at all. I always smile when I see a bf mum. gives me fond memories of when my kids were small and lovely and didn't answer back!

[Spidermama]

There are some refreshingly ordinary pictures there.

[MyNameIsAnAnagram]

I bf all over the place too, people often just don't notice. I bf ds1 (6m at the time) at the top table of a wedding. I was sat next to the grooms brother and he had no idea, though do was asleep and I was cuddling him.

[chimchar]

Yes spider.
I love the last one, with the tantrum and boob left hanging out. Been there. Done that.

[ILoveCwtches]

I've never managed it whilst walking as dd is very wriggly, but I've tried to feed as and when and found it very liberating to just be able to get on with it.

Due to the lovely sunny Summer we've just had, I found my favourite place to feed was sitting on the grass under the nearest tree, in the shade. It was always very relaxing.

It was less relaxing balanced on a pointy rock, on the Taff Trail (about 2 feet from the River), with cyclists and dog walkers whizzing past. Needs must, though!

[chimchar]

Hey cwtches. Guessing from your name and the Taff trail ref, that me and you might be neighbours! You in Cardiff?

[ILoveCwtches]

chimchar yep, I'm in Cardiff! The bit of the Taff Trail I mentioned was in Ponty, though!

Gave it away a bit, didn't I!

[Scarlettsstars]

I bf'd dd now 3 in all kinds of places and never batted an eyelid. For some reason I find bfing DS - now 4 months - outside the house or in company rather horrible and try to avoid it. I'm off to London for a weekend in a few weeks and truly dreading having to do it. Can't understand why my attitude has shifted

[SatinSandals]

I don't think people notice, I'm sure that I wouldn't now I am long past that stage. I fed everywhere and anywhere and never had a negative comment.

[SatinSandals]

I don't think people notice, I'm sure that I wouldn't now I am long past that stage. I fed everywhere and anywhere and never had a negative comment.

[ScientistwithoutWhiteCoat]

People don't notice, or don't say anything. I find blokes in cafes are sometmes so desperate to prove they don't have a problem with their customers breastfeeding they end up compulsively offering glasses of water every minute, but otherwise never had any problem. Well there was dd's first feed outside the house, 8 days old and in the cinema. I had problems latching her on in the dark and ended up squirting a small girl across the aisle, in her ear. Her mum told her off for making a fuss and I felt a bit bad but wasn't in a state to do anything (ds age nearly 4 was desperate to see a certain film and I figured I might get a snooze...)

Never managed bfing standing up or walking though, and need to stick my elbow out. Find a cafe with lots of comfy sofas - that's where breastfeeders congregate, if at all!

Actually I managed to bf standing up once, while throwing up with a stomach bug, but that was more because I couldn't figure out how to move ds without getting him showered, but he was quite sheltered under my breasts...

[MikeReepySpooksard]

I bf'd everywhere and anywhere too. You probably have seen people doing it and it didn't even register. x

[VikingLady]

I bf walking around - DD is 19m and pulls my top down and helps herself if I carry her on my hip. Very few people seem to really notice.

Also fed at a wake, during weddings and christenings, meetings, on buses, park benches, a beach, and in a checkout queue.