Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Roadtrip, you're a real horny guy aren't you? Down boy...>> Less so now than when I was 19... Now I'm a good guy who’s been married for 26 years.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Wow, this topic brings back a lot of mamories...err I mean memories. Of course you should cover up if it is nipple out...err I mean nippy out. You don't want the child to catch a cold. Should they cover up or shouldn't they. It is kind of a tit for tat argument wouldn't you say? I mean, I don't want to sound like a boob but it comes down to each individual's own choice. We can milk this topic until it is dry but I'm not sure what good that would do. Suddenly I'm hungry. Hooters sounds good for some reason. They have great.........wings! Oh and on the topic of how long to breast feed...my wife stopped after the biting commenced.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <If they're old enough to ask for it, it's time to stop.> Good advice. [blecch!]
Originally Posted By Jafar30 <<I'm a big proponent of breastfeeding, but I think it was inappropriate for a mom to sit down next to a man and not be more discreet>> That's the thing it's not like I was her husband or boyfriend. I'm this complete stranger to this woman.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 For what it's worth, I think she could have/should have been a little bit more modest. Who knows what her deal was. Perhaps she's just truly comfortable with the whole thing? Maybe a radical naturalist of sorts? Or, on the other side, desperate, usually covers up, and a little embarrassed? I don't think it's a big deal, just as I don't think it was inappropriate to move away. <<Here's another question I have about the process in general. Is six months too old for a child to breast feed?>> How old is too old to breast feed? Thank you, Jafar! FINALLY! An LP topic that will make the Great DCA Posting Wars seem like a quiet conversation.
Originally Posted By Kimrue Did you SEE her breast? Now, let me ask you this..if a gorgeous young 20-something sat down next to you with an embarrassing amount of cleavage showing , would you have gotten up and walked into the store???? Probably not, if she was single, you may have even asked for her number... Hmm, interesting thought to ponder. Why does society think it's not only ok but appropriate for young girls to walk around in bikini tops or cleavage hanging out of their shirts...hec, it's down right sexy, right? but GOD FORBID a mommy nurses her baby sitting next to you...how disgusting that you had to witness one of the most beautiful bonding moments between a mother and a child. I wonder if you are so modest when "people watching."
Originally Posted By Ursula I've got breastages and I would have been uncomfortable in that situation. How old is too old? I don't know, but this lady I worked with was planning on breastfeeding until the child was five or six. It was just odd, having her pump at work, store the milk in the community fridge, and when the child would visit at age 3, would go straight for a snack. Natural? Perhaps. Odd and making everyone else uncomfortable? Yes.
Originally Posted By Kimrue <<Hostile much?>> If you are referring to me, no not hostile just mind boggled. What is the issue with BREASTS? I just don't get it. They're pretty if in a super tight sweater spilling out the top but "dirty" if used to feed a child. Sad. As far as being too old....this is my thought, if you would not give the child a bottle anymore, I don't see why you would continue to nurse. Of course a child SHOULD naturally "age out" of nursing, but I don't see a problem with nursing a toddler in the privacy of your own home. A 6 month old baby still needs to nurse for nutrition. Which makes it ok to do in public. A toddler nurses mostly for comfort.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Aye yi yi. I think she should have covered up. If she's perfectly comfortable with her body that's terrific but that doesn't mean everyone else is. In someways I think it put Jafar in a no win situation. If he sat there and took a look, it's human nature, he'd be a considered a perv. By walking away he's considered uptight and now being blamed for being sexist. Aye yi yi! In all honesty, I probably would have got up too.
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter Hoo boy. This is probably pointless, as so many people have already made their minds up on this topic, but I feel compelled to try to explain anyway. Toad, (and everyone else who feels that public breastfeeding is disgusting), it is comparing apples to oranges to try to draw an analogy between breastfeeding and elimination or sexual intercourse. We're talking about eating here, folks. Should some people, who happen to be breastfed, have to eat their meals in a public restroom? No. Think about this for a minute. Who honestly expects people to eat in a bathroom? And as others have already mentioned, public restrooms rarely have chairs in them. It is disgusting and just plain wrong to suggest that nursing mothers should sit on a public toilet to feed their baby. As for how long it's "appropriate" to breastfeed, that is, of course, very much a cultural and personal decision. But please know that the current advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics is to breastfeed for at least the first year of the child's life. I breastfed both of my children. That included the occasional public meal. I always threw a light blanket or burp cloth over the baby's head while they were nursing in public. My own personal feeling is that it is polite to cover up. But that is just me. I do not think every nursing mother should feel compelled to keep a blanket over the child the entire time she's nursing. I am sick to death of people's outrage and whining about how disgusting it is to breastfeed in public when those very same people so often have no problem at all with naked breasts as a sexual object. No, I am not directing that last comment at anyone here specifically. This is just a general rant about a topic I have strong opinions on.
Originally Posted By Kimrue <<How old is too old to breast feed?>> Now, pediatricians don't recommend introducing "solids" (cereal) to infants UNTIL they are 6 months old. Which means, if a mother is breastfeeding her 6 month old, that is probably the only food the child is getting. If they are eating cereal it is probably minimal. Much different then way back when when parents were shaking cereal up in bottles at 2 months old!
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter Oh, and Jafar, I think you were absolutely within your rights to get up and leave. I can perfectly understand and sympathize that it makes some people uncomfortable to sit by a nursing stranger. It just makes me sad and angry that we, as a society, still think of breastfeeding as "dirty."
Originally Posted By Jafar30 Just so everyone knows. If I was at someone's house for a barbecue or party and woman started breast feeding I would excuse myself even there. <<Did you SEE her breast?>> You could see enough of it. <<Now, let me ask you this..if a gorgeous young 20-something sat down next to you with an embarrassing amount of cleavage showing , would you have gotten up and walked into the store???? Probably not, if she was single, you may have even asked for her number>> No because gorgeous 20-something's don't sit down next to me.
Originally Posted By Kimrue Jafar, you just sound shy. If that's the case then by all means do what you have to do to make yourself feel comfortable. I assure you all she wanted to do was feed her baby and probably felt bad for making you feel uncomfortable.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I don't think it's dirty or wrong to breastfeed in public, I just think it's more appropriate to cover up. If the mom decides not to, it's my choice to move if I'm uncomfortable. However, it wouldn't shock me to see a breast or breastfeeding. It's about what I'm more comfortable with, not the mom or baby.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Breastfeeding is great, natural, terrific. I have no problem with it, I'm all for it. But I do know from attending classes that some groups who support breastfeeding tend to get a little crazed and militant about the whole thing. >> If he sat there and took a look, it's human nature, he'd be a considered a perv. By walking away he's considered uptight and now being blamed for being sexist. Aye yi yi!<< Exactly. I don't see anything wrong with covering up. Only takes a second, and doesn't impeded her bonding experience or her baby's nutrition in any way.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut here is the issue for me. Yes it is natural and should be done. But also our society and everyone know it, says that it shouldnt be done in public. So now people force it on others who are uncomfortable with it. I also think its a very private bonding moment and should be treated as such. Not just something you do whenever.
Originally Posted By DisneyChica Our local mall upgraded a few years ago to become more "modern" and one of th new things included was a nursing station/family restroom/waiting area". I don't know if other malls have these, and I've never been in one, but my assumption is that it would have accomodations for those that are breast-feeding. Does anybody know?
