Breastfeeding in Southern Italy

[pommedechocolat]

I feel like I should know this as I lived in Campania for 4 years in my twenties but anything baby (including vocal!) seems to have totally past me by. I was all about the work and play :)

Going back there for a week with the dds soon and dd2 is still bf (6 months, on three meals and 4 bfs in the day - and 3 at night(!)).

How is the general attitude to bf? As there always seemed to be naked or partially naked breasts on telly shouldnt be terrible and as I have no Italian man/father to answer to over my 'honour' I should be ok???

All I remember is my exs mum telling me about how this women from down the road had wet nursed her sons....

I personally breastfed DS in a cafe in Pisa during the 2006 World Cup Final. No one cared. Also on a train to Florence, in a square in Florence and various other locations. He's also had a nappy change next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Italians adore all babies and children. We returned when he was 16 months and he made a hell of a mess in a restaurant in Venice which DH and I tried desperately to clean up with napkins. Again, the staff just smiled and cooed at him. He also escaped from us and ran amock in a church, screaming and stamping to hear the echo. The warden just said how lovely he was! In Pisa airport we got free milk in the cafe and were ushered to the front of the queue at the till. Be prepared to be feted everywhere you go, for the kids to be spoiled with treats and to be able to relax far more than in the UK.

It is considered perfectly normal and no-one would bat an eyelid. It is presumed babies are breastfed and breastfeeding often continues well into toddlerhood.

Formula on the other hand is monstrously expensive and has to be bought from mega hypermarkets or pharmacies.

I was coy with dd (despite Italian dp and all his family wtf-ing at me) but honestly, looked more of an eejit trying to hide myself.

hello pomme I have just returned from the south of Italy where my OH's sister was openly bfing her 3 month old in company as if it was the most natural thing in the world (which of course it is!)