can/should/would you breastfeed an upset 1 yr old in a public swimming pool?

[preggerspoppet]

By popping your boob out right there and then?

not that there's anything wrong with feeding a 1 year old in the gallery or cafe or changing room or anywhere else at a swimming pool

Probably
Yes
Probably Not

actually in the pool...

Why not? Why not bf anywhere?

Why shouldn't you use bfing to calm a one year old twiglett?...that's once of the things bfing is designed to do. Bm contains relaxing & calming ingrdients that help sooth a baby, along with the suckling action....

What's wrong with feeding in the pool preggers?

Hmm I was wondering this yesterday actually when I was swimming, but I would probably say no for the same reason I wouldn't eat a sandwich in the pool. I have done it poolside though, with a towel round us (to hide norkage and keep us warm).

it's wrong for any bodily fluids to enter a swimming pool IMHO .. urination, spit, breastmilk, blood etc

and whilst breastfeeding can be an excellent way to comfort a child it is not the only way ... and others should be employed as well ..

I'm upset = food .. not a great equation to set up IMHO.. same reason I don't give my kids chocolates when they're upset but a cuddle and attention

I wouldn't.

I'd feel too exposed... I'd rather be a bit warmer under a towel or something.

I've done it - I have to say I felt a little more self conscious than normal as there are fewer clothes to cover up and I think it was a short feed because of the cold. No problem with it though.

I've also done it in a play place - like in the crawling around bit.

i should think there is a fair amount of sweat spit and wee in the pool. not to mention snot. a bit of breastmilk is hardly going to cause a gigantic curdling.

what happened then preggerspoppet, did someone use their breast?

Not sure I would. I wouldn't in the pool, out of politeness because I wouldn't want to squirt, leak or dribble in the water. (I was quite a squirter, leaker and dribbler even with a year's practice under my belt bra).

BM doesn't just mean food though twiglett...it's about being close to Mum as well...babies know this - that's why they suckle for comfort as well...why do you think dummies (ie subsitute nipples) sell so well?

please don't lecture me about BF .. I've BF plenty thanks .. but I do have views other than the only way to calm a crying baby is to feed it and I'm entitled to them

well....because....

I was wondering why I was being gawped at so much!!!!

It was the baby's first swimming pool experience and at first he was just a bit scared, the toddler is not very confident in water so I always carry him anyway and the ds1 was off having a lovely old time in the big pool on the inflateable.

I realised that I couldn't get out because it was too cold out of the water and I couldn't leave ds1 on his own by going into the changing rooms so I just popped the boob in. less than a minute later the baby was really happy but my goodness did we get some looks!

I hear you about bodily fluids twig but I am pretty good at it now and so don't spill any!

I just wondered what the mn-massive thought about that one!

I admire you for doing it, but equally am unsurprised that people stared. People in the UK are really exceptionally hung-up about public breastfeeding of older children (not that one is that old).

personally to be honest I would BF actually in the pool then I also wouldnt give a bottle while in the pool.

Twiglett - you are assuming that b/feeding is all about food. It isnt. Nothing wrong with giving a b/feed for comfort. It's easy, efficient and intimate.

Why would you need to find other ways when you have a way that is so damned good, healthy and easy?

Why should you have done anything else pp

We wont "lecture" Twiglett, as long as you dont make incorrect statements about b/feeding.

But cant a cuddle suffice ? ..thats also easy, efficient and intimate too ?

Distraction maybe worth a go too?

Why should it have to?

I had a mixture of feelings; awkwardness, as I tried to be as discreet as poss.
slight stress, as I didn't want to have to get us all out again.
pride, as I had the confidence to do it. smugness, as it worked! and baby became calm and we had a lovely time swimming.
happy, because my baby was now happy.
but then really sad that we have such issues in this country with something so natural that not everybody sees this as acceptable.

I got a stinker of a look from 2 women, there with their partners and kids, they wanted me to notice, but it didn't bother me, I'm just surprised they noticed, or cared!

...and saying methods other than breastfeeding "should be employed" to comfort a baby isn't lecturing