they should still keep covered. You can breast feed and remain decent about it. I guess I would rather see a mother breast feed her child then a guy walking around with his pants so low his underware and crack of his a-- showing.

I have breastfed in a restaurant and not a single person knew. Not even the people sitting at my table. It can be done very discretely if you throw a blanket over your shoulder ‘to keep the light from shining in your baby’s eyes’.
There is absolutely no reason to flash private parts. I once confronted a lady who did because she made me feel very uncomfortable and her response was that it’s ‘natural and beautiful’.
Well, so is sex and I don’t do that in public either.

I have breastfed in a restaurant and not a single person knew. Not even the people sitting at my table. It can be done very discretely if you throw a blanket over your shoulder ‘to keep the light from shining in your baby’s eyes’.
There is absolutely no reason to flash private parts. I once confronted a lady who did because she made me feel very uncomfortable and her response was that it’s ‘natural and beautiful’.
Well, so is sex and I don’t do that in public either.

If the woman who is actually showing her breast isn't bothered, neither am I.

I am more bothered by women and girls who wear those ridiculously low riding pants and their cracks are on display and cupcake bulge sticks out. Do they have any self respect? Are they asking men to, "come ice my cupcake?"

My view on this is that yes, breastfeeding is natural and all that, but I don't think it's right that a woman can whip out her breasts with a baby because at any other time it would be considered rude. I dunno, maybe it's because I think people's private parts should be kept private, for only their partner to see, so I wouldn't do it personally. I could never do it in front of my family either, especially my dad or brother, it would just feel so wrong, uncomfortable for me and others in the vicinity. And you're right, sex is natural but people would definitely have a problem with a public display!!
When I see it I just think, why can't you put it in a bottle before you come out or do it more discreetly so we don't have to feel so uncomfortable and avert our eyes!

Hey now...sometimes, a muffin-top cannot be helped!

Anyways, if a woman has it covered by a blanket or such, I'm cool. However, if her breast is flopped out...I'm going to be uneasy. I kind of see it as that episode of The Office when that lady is breastpumping at work...its's just, odd and weird and uncomfortable for me.

My mom breastfed in public with a blanket. No one seemed to have a problem.

LOL Good one.. Me too Birchie!!! I think it is ulgy! Makes their bodies look deformed..

I breastfed my daughter in public and always used a shawl for privacy. I think it's respectful to others without resorting to hiding in another room like you're doing something disgusting.

Breastfeeding IS natural and beautiful. That doesn't mean that everybody wants to see it, and they have the right NOT to be subjected to seeing a woman's exposed body out in plain view. They also have the right not to have their children exposed to it. Simply expecting them not to look is pretty biased - would you say that to someone who was offended by a man walking around with his penis exposed?

I love how breasts have been demonized (sarcasm). Well, maybe not demonized (some would argue they're almost sacred and should be covered). All they are are just globs of fat with a brown nub of flesh on the end. I do not equate penises and vaginas with breasts. Seeing a woman's boob in public doesn't bother me (and I'm not saying this because I'm a guy... I'm gay so I'm not attracted to them). I do, however, believe that there is a time and a place. I don't want to see nipples while I'm eating my food in a restaurant. I don't want to see nipples while I'm trying to buy food at the grocery store. I don't want to see nipples while I'm in line for a movie. Just as there's rules for keeping covered in certain contexts, the same goes for breast feeding. If a woman is in a park breastfeeding in the shade without a cover, though... who cares.

PS: completely unrelated, but what about man boobs, are they acceptable in public?

I happily breastfeed in public, still do it now if Mika wants it and she's coming up to 13 months and quite a big girl! I'm as discreet as possible only because i don't know who's around and could be looking at me, there could be some kind of pervert looking for all i know. Breastfeeding my daughter is one of the things that has made me most proud of myself and i'm going to do it when and where she needs it. I hav had somebody criticize me before wen Mika was a newborn when i was covered with a shawl and all you could see was a Mika shaped bulge because apparently i would 'scare and confuse' this woman's children.....ok then!

I see absolutely no problem with breastfeeding in public as long as you cover yourself.
I remember going into the mothers rooms at the mall and feeding my son when he was little.
I think the people who walked in on me were more embarrassed than I could ever be. I also always brought a large blanket with me to cover him.

I didnt see this post before I started my post over in the parenting forum.

I am personally suprised at how some people dont mind just whipping out a boob doesnt bother them.

http://ehealthforum.com/health/breast-fead ing-in-public-t146973-a1.html

That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard. ON NOES!!! A lady with a shawl draped over her shoulder!!!!

I agree. What a dumb woman.

Dannzibelle, that is the best you can do and I (speaking for society, apparently) appreciate your willingness to cover up. Not that my voice means anything, but it ticks me off when you were trying to think of others and still got yelled at!

i actually just laughed at her and said that i breastfeed in front of my sister's young children with no problems and that if feeding a child the way nature intended will scare your children then i am terribly sorry but you can move

I say yes. As long as some discretion is used I see no reason why not. The baby is hungry too...

What's the alternative? Keep women at home? Have your meal in the potty? Yeeeack!

I used a nursing cover when I'd nurse my daughter in public. It fit over my head loosely (kind of like a thin cotton poncho, I guess) and covered completely. The neck was loose and allowed me to look down and watch my child (and allow her to look up and watch me). From an outside view, all you could see was a bulge underneath and maybe her feet sticking out the side.

I found it to be an awesome compromise. It was light-weight, which was great because I gave birth in August in Louisiana, the material breathed well, and I wasn't forced to hide away like I was doing something disgusting. And I didn't leave myself exposed to possibly offend others who weren't expecting or wanting to see my body.

As she got older and didn't need to nurse as frequently, we'd give her a sippy cup in restaurants. If I was visiting a friend or relative and she needed to nurse, I'd quietly excuse myself and take her into another room. And at home, of course, I'd whip out a boob whenever she'd need one, because my husband and I were both 100% comfortable with it.

I think the key is finding what works for you and being willing to take others' feelings into consideration and compromise.

I'm surprised by the modesty in all the replies. I expected most to be along the lines that breastfeeding is natural, why not breastfeed in public etc. but most say that women should be discreet about it. I'm not saying not to breastfeed in public obviously, but it's possible to keep covered.