Retorts for anti-breastfeeding people

[beccala]

Hi all

I've got a 3 month old who I am exclusively breastfeeding. I am quite nervous about feeding her in public, have done it a couple of times but only when DP is with me. I know legally I can do it anywhere etc. And I think rationally that it's probably fairly unlikely that anyone would really say anything to me if I did anyway. But I would feel better if I could think of a short sharp response on the off chance anyone did actually tell me they didn't approve.

So, any suggestions? Anyone got a good response they've used?

[Sparklingbrook]

What are the complainers complaining about? What are they worried about?

[VikingLady]

I've been thinking about this thread as DD now tends to haul my top down and help herself. I reckon over the last two years I've had more negative comments about:

She should/shouldn't be wearing a hat
She needs shoes on
Her coat is wrong
She should eat more/less/different food
She should be talking by now and it's my fault she's not
Nappy choices (disposable/reusable/brand)
Amount of TV watched and content

I expect there is more! And you do get a lot of lovely comments too!

[CailinDana]

L

[CailinDana]

Like others the only vaguely negative comments I've had were from family. With ds (my first) both DM and MIL constantly asked when I would give up feeding. Both PILs also made "funny" comments about how I would have to give up when ds was teething. They were all totally fixated on it. After about 7 months of answering the same question over and over I just started saying "In two weeks" every single time. It took them about 3 months to get the message.
With dd (11 months) MIL haven't said a word. FIL makes his "funny" comments about me stopping when she has teeth despite the fact she already has four. He's a nasty idiot though so I ignore pretty much everything he says.
Out and about no one seems to take any notice of me feeding.

[Catsmamma]

3 dcs here...fed them all over the place. Never had a murmur from anyone.

As others have said, there's very little to see....I always used the "up and under" method, so usually a big cardi and a shirt on, with a vest top underneath...cardi and shirt open and then it's just the vest top to keep up, so baby face doesn't end up stifled

and the cardi keeps the draughts away! :D

[TerrariaMum]

I think most people either don't care or don't notice.

I have never had any negative remarks, but when I was first bfing while out, it did help my personal confidence to have a ready retort in my head. So I understand where you are coming from, OP.

Mine was nicked from Libby Purves: Screaming or feeding? You choose.

Short and easy to remember.

[OneMoreThenNoMore]

I only had slightly negative comments from family members once my dc were over the age of 12 months and I was still feeding them. These people were pro-bfing, but apparently only up to the year mark- after that babies shouldnt be bfing, in their opinions

I was always a bit worried about feeding in public with dc1, as I was convinced that someone would comment. I obviously did feed in public but I was very discreet about it for this reason. I wore a vest under my top to hide my belly, and often used a scarf or muslim to cover up a bit.

I only ever got positive looks/comments from strangers though . And by the time I had fed her for 16 months and started feeding dc2, I didn't really care what other people thought.

I think if I had ever received a negative comment from a stranger, I would have either told them to fuck off or mind their own business, depending on my mood

[Flambards]

I've never had any comments but like you I like to have a comment ready so if anyone was rude enough to make a negative comment I'm going for 'I'm sorry you are so energised about my son's lunch'. Gets the job done