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?

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

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!

L

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.

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

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.

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

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