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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Sign here if you have NEVER had ANY nasty comments about breastfeeding from strangers

407 replies

fillyjonk · 21/06/2007 09:21

I think a distorted picture may be being painted

I was once given a £1 and a cornish pasty "for me" by the Salvation Army as i sat in a shop doorway surrounded by bags (had been shopping). Aside from this-no.

OP posts:
Amapoleon · 15/12/2008 21:05

No negative comments with either of mine.

treedelivery · 15/12/2008 21:07

Never ever. Had loads of encouraging smiles and interested looks from 'childbearing age' women, and old ladies put £1 in pushchair.

Was kind of gutted never got to launch into pre prepared soaobox speech!

But heartened and encouraged mostly.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 15/12/2008 21:11

None here either, we're nearly 7 months in with ds2.

I had a lovely old couple trying to give ds1 money while he was bf at about 10 days old - don't think they realised he wasn't just having a cuddle!

The other thing that sticks in my mind about feeding ds1 was an overhelpful male BA steward who must have asked about a dozen times if the baby needed any milk warming (we were only flying from Munich to Birmingham!) dispite me saying that we were all sorted for milk thankyou (it was a plane full of business men so i didn't really want to go into any more detail!!!)

neversaydie · 15/12/2008 21:22

Never had a problem, and I fed DS until he was 2. There was a lovely young Indian guy in a mens suit shop in a large shopping centre outside Sheffield who matter-of-factly offered me one of the changing rooms so I could feed DS when still quite tiny, who I remember particularly kindly.

uberalice · 15/12/2008 21:25

Me.

Having said that, I did get a very dirty look once from a woman when I was feeding in a park. Then I noticed that her DS was sitting in his buggy with a bottle of Irn Bru!

spicemonster · 15/12/2008 21:27

No comments at all ever.I fed DS till he was 7 months

neenztwinz · 15/12/2008 22:42

No bad comments, but one woman once said to me (not while I was feeding BTW) 'I don't mind people BFing in public, but could they just give me some notice so i can look away'

Did she want me to stand up in the middle of the room and shout 'I AM GOING TO START BFing NOW!!!' [HMM]?

StealthPolarBear · 16/12/2008 20:25

No, presumably just "UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN!"

slackrunner · 16/12/2008 20:30

Never

pinkspottywellies · 16/12/2008 20:36

I never had negative comments - possibly because I gave out 'bring it on' vibes just daring someone to comment!!

Original poster
Fillyjonk · 16/12/2008 20:37

wow look at this thread go!

Since atarting this thread 18 months ago I have had another baby and STILL no negative comments. I estimate I've been bfding for much of the last 5 years and no negative comments ever

OP posts:
welliemum · 16/12/2008 20:37

never

WinkyWinkola · 16/12/2008 20:39

Never from strangers.

I think they can sense I would cut them down pretty sharply.

It's from people I know that make acid comments. And I'm taken by surprise and am left slack jawed and vulnerable.

I need to change my 'enemy' and focus on re educating the nearest and not-necessarily-dearest

bristols · 16/12/2008 20:39

Never!

WinkyWinkola · 16/12/2008 20:40

But that's not to mean that strangers don't think negative thoughts upon seeing a breastfeeding mother. Being British, I think it's rare you'll get comments from strangers TBH. It doesn't indicate a shift in attitude.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 16/12/2008 20:42

Haven't read whole thread, but I'm another one who has bf 3 babies and never heard any nasty comments- although I've been told it is "lovely" a couple of times

funkadelic · 16/12/2008 20:44

Fed both my boys until they were 1 year, never had anyone comment or felt any negative vibes from anywhere.

Louandben · 16/12/2008 20:52

never anything negative - but on the subject of being shy/hesitant, I was a bit bemused to be given a gift of a "hooter hider" from a well meaning (also breastfeeding) American friend. Don't know if you have seen these but its like a big patterned apron with a ring at the neck so you can cover up and peek down through ring at baby while feeding. Great idea I guess, but personally would be a lot more self conscious in this...LOOK AT ME EVERYONE, I AM BREASTFEEDING (not just a messy eater!) than just hoicking them out!! Also, my DD would be guaranteed to get a windy bottom just when hidden from view, as she did under a pashmina at a wedding I attended when she was 6 weeks old ...during a pause in the best man's speech..he was gratified by how hysterically funny our table seemed to find him tho!

Original poster
Fillyjonk · 16/12/2008 20:57

Original intention of thread

__

A lot of new mothers/mothers to be seemed to be posting to ask if they should breastfeed as they were worried about the reactions from strangers.

I have NEVER had any problems from strangers, never. Cornish pasty incident aside no one has ever even commented on it, though a UN tour guide did once stop an entire tour of the UN building in Geneva so ds could enjoy his lunch.

It seemed that some people were getting the idea that those who breastfeed in public are constantly dodging nasty looks and grumpy comments, and I wanted to counteract that with postive experiences

__

as you were

OP posts:
QueenFeeUntoUsAChildIsBorn · 16/12/2008 21:59

Not at all in the 14/16 months I fed my kids

Chaotica · 16/12/2008 22:08

No problems here either x2 (One very annoying comment from someone in DP's step-family - but I think I looked like I might punch him though - do not mess with someone who has not had enough sleep!)

xcited4xmas · 16/12/2008 22:18

no just one loveley american lady congratulating me in a pizza hut 4 breatfeeding in public!

MamaHobgoblin · 17/12/2008 10:43

Nope. Nine months and counting, and nary a nasty word. A couple of times I think I'm copping a nasty glance, but on two of those occasions, the older woman in question later on smiles her approval broadly or actually comes up and says how lovely it is to see, etc. Have overheard a lot of 'aws' and nice comments, in fact. Most older people like to see it, IME.

Please don't be put off by the possibility that you might attract negative attention. It so rarely happens - it's just talked up by us lot, we like to get hot under the collar about ignorant strangers who don't like bf!

jeee · 17/12/2008 10:50

4 children bf everywhere (church, cafes, castles, side of the pavement....), and never a negative comment. Lots of positive comments though. I was really looking forward to having to stand up for bf too...

TinselBaublesMistletoe · 17/12/2008 14:22

I never realised this thread was old, but I'm glad it's been resurrected.

I was feeding Tink in a pub a few months ago, around about her second birthday I think. Someone walked past tutted, huffed and said "oh god!" Mum put her hand on my arm as I would normally have been up saying something! Other than that I can't say I have had comments. My old pastor was sitting in front of us one day and kept looking over his shoulder because he knew what I was doing (one of those times when you know something is there and can't stop yourself looking I think, but he didn't look happy, ask me how much I care what he thinks )

I hate the Hooter Hider, even the name is foul! Someone posted a picture of themselves into the group "Hey Facebook Breastfeeding Is Not Obscene!" feeding under a Hooter Hider and couldn't understand why people thought it wasn't really in the spirit of the group!