Atlanta area city bans breastfeeding toddlers in public - Page 3

[LiLStar]

Just curious, by "over 2" does that mean "2 years, 1 day" or up until the 3rd birthday? I haven't seen anything specifying this. Its abhorrent either way. My ds was walking at 10m @@ sounds like that guy has personal issues.

[accountclosed2]

I do not wish my post to appear on F-book!
Edited by accountclosed2 - 5/23/11 at 5:31pm

[CrazyCatLady]

This is just so appalling.   I have no words really. 

Isn't everyone pretty broke right now with the economy being bad and all?  Who is allowing money to be wasted on passing a law this stupid and pointless?  Like already mentioned, it's so rare to see a breastfeeding toddler anyways.  And can this really trump the state law? 

That guy obviously has issues and knows next to nothing about small children or breastfeeding.  Most toddlers are walking well before the age of two...

[*MamaJen*]

There's a nurse-in scheduled for Monday, May 23 from 10 - 12 outside the Forest Park city hall.

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=214603545231699

[AttunedMama]

Dear lord, does this dude just have a toddler-nursing fetish and wants to bait the mommies right to his office? Creep!

[KristyDi]

I grew up 10 min from Forest Park.  I'll be at the nurse in.

[hildare]

I'm so ashamed to be from Georgia right now.

[philomom]

Edited for Fbook purposes.
Edited by philomom - 5/24/11 at 8:02am

[Kara Campbell]

There is a Nurse In on Monday May 23 from 10 am to noon at Forest Park City Hall. Here's a link to the facebook page with all the details:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=214603545231699

come out and show your support!

[Asiago]

I am sending an email to the Department of Health in Georgia. Here is the info if anyone wishes to also:

http://health.state.ga.us/programs/nutrition/breastfeeding/index.asp

http://health.state.ga.us/regional/directors.asp

[goddessjulia]

I'll be at the nurse-in monday. like I've got time to drive to freakin' forest park because this guy is the second biggest moron in the state (the guy who wrote the bill that would demand medical proof of miscarriage being unintentional takes first place ). so. bleeping. mad!

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen* 

Here's what I sent:

Mr. Parker,
I just noticed a news report stating that the city of Forest Park recently passed an ordinance that prohibits a mother from breastfeeding a child older than two years old in public. However, Georgia state law protects the right of the mother to nurse her baby, regardless of the age of the child. As you of course know, that state law would trump the municipal ordinance. I'd like to request that you check with the Attorney General's Office to make sure that your ordinance is not in conflict with state law. I'm attaching the text of the state law for your convenience.
Best,
---
 

Georgia Code - Health - Title 31, Section 31-1-9

The breast-feeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which should be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health. A mother may breast-feed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be.

Problem is, if that's how the law is worded, the city is not underminning it. A 2 year old is not a baby.

[2xy]

Originally Posted by Irishmommy 

Originally Posted by *MamaJen* 

Here's what I sent:

Mr. Parker,
I just noticed a news report stating that the city of Forest Park recently passed an ordinance that prohibits a mother from breastfeeding a child older than two years old in public. However, Georgia state law protects the right of the mother to nurse her baby, regardless of the age of the child. As you of course know, that state law would trump the municipal ordinance. I'd like to request that you check with the Attorney General's Office to make sure that your ordinance is not in conflict with state law. I'm attaching the text of the state law for your convenience.
Best,
---
 

Georgia Code - Health - Title 31, Section 31-1-9

The breast-feeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which should be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health. A mother may breast-feed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be.

Problem is, if that's how the law is worded, the city is not underminning it. A 2 year old is not a baby.

I was thinking that, myself, so I looked up "baby" in the dictionary. It's defined as "an infant or very young child." Also, "the youngest member of a family."

[NEastMomma]

I saw this on peaceful parenting where his email was also included.  Thought I live in Boston I emailed him as did my sister.  Am going there in a few weeks for a mini vaca and never even thought there might be a problem nursing my almost 2 year old.  I mean, he doesn't have an i.d. yet (insert eye roll)

Of all the things he could be focusing on (violence, guns, drugs, heck  - littering even) he picks breastfeeding.  Dear God. 

Maybe if we all email him?

[AboutPediatrics]

Originally Posted by CallMeMommy 

Um, what?  Georgia state law says a woman can breastfeed anywhere she's legally allowed, there's no age restriction.  Pretty sure cities can't pass laws or ordinances that are in direct violation of state law.

This kind of situation is likely why so many states (28) have specific laws that exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws. Georgia doesn't seem to be one of them though.

It might be a good reason to push for these types of laws in all 50 states, even in the ones that seem to allow public breastfeeding.

http://pediatrics.about.com/b/2011/05/18/city-puts-limits-on-breastfeeding.htm

Vincent Iannelli, MD

[AboutPediatrics]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen* 

This guy managed to get the city manager on the phone: http://www.thisdaddysblog.com/2011/05/new-law-says-breastfeeding-in-public-is.html

Here's what he had to say:

"John Parkers words to me this morning were "We don't want children that can walk around to be breastfeeding in public."

The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't put a limit on how long mom's should breastfeeding, saying in their latest policy statement that 'there is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer,' so why should he?

Interestingly, most of the City of Forest Park City Council members that had to vote on this ordinance are women. I guess it is sexist, but to vote against breastfeeding, I expected at least a majority to be men.

http://forestparkga.org/mayor-city-council.aspx

Vincent Iannelli, MD

[janneyk]

Law officials crack me up sometimes...in a bad way. There are so many of these double standards out there that are just terrible. Hopefully congress can be productive in the future...

[cocoanib]

Wow this is sad. Why are they worried about nursing Moms anyways? I don't understand how this is a problem to begin with.

Are'nt there many other things to be worried about than this?

[pixelmixel]

Share the event on Facebook. What a ridiculous situation.

[annettemarie]

I shared and I just blogged about it.