post here if you've never had a problem breastfeeding in public - Page 2

[rightkindofme]

I breastfed my 2 year old in the middle of the Monterey Bay Aquarium while I was 9 months pregnant. I got a few kind of surprised looks and that was the most extreme reaction to all of my nursing in public. To be fair it was kind of funny looking given how big my stomach was. :)

I nursed for more than four years straight including through a pregnancy and tandem nursing for 8 months. People were really nice to me. I don't think anyone even ever told me to cover up. I never owned a nursing cover. I was one of those tacky non-discreet people.

[Jenni1894]

Never any problems here.  

I nursed my baby while walking thru the zoo and pushing the other 2 in a stroller.   I nursed her during curriculm night at my oldests school.   I nursed at my son's baseball games.   I nursed during my oldest daughters IEP meeting.   And one of the ladies was a LLL leader.  She was so happy! 

I've had fellow baseball dads look the other way, or get flustered once they realize that under that cover is a bare boob w/a baby attached to it. 

But mostly I've gotten kudos.  Maybe a few dirty looks.  

Even my dad, when he lived with us and I would nurse at the dinner table never said anything.   Which was always shocking to me. 

[Roxswood]

I've breastfed wherever I happened to be with no cover or blanket for the first 2-3 years with both children. After that it was rare they needed it when in public so it didn't come up so often but I never had a negative experience. Some interesting discussions with family members but nothing from public. 

[One_Girl]

I breastfed in public for two years consistently and rarely after that until dd weaned at 3 and a half. People rarely noticed and I only had one case of someone caring, probably because I was still new at it and a lot was showing as she latched on.

[RStelle]

I have had so many awkward moments where I'm BFing my daughter and some random stranger doesn't realize and comes over and pats her on the head or whatever. I've also had people ask me to put the cover of the Ergo down so they can see DD, I used to say "she's eating" but they didn't get it so i started saying "she's breast feeding" to make it clear after one very casual acquaintance picked DD's blanket up to get a better look at DD without giving me enough time to react.  I usually don't even use a blanket but DD was getting too distracted so I was using it to try to get her to pay attention.      Sorry to be kind of off topic lol.

[pickle18]

Originally Posted by RStelle 

I have had so many awkward moments where I'm BFing my daughter and some random stranger doesn't realize and comes over and pats her on the head or whatever. I've also had people ask me to put the cover of the Ergo down so they can see DD, I used to say "she's eating" but they didn't get it so i started saying "she's breast feeding" to make it clear after one very casual acquaintance picked DD's blanket up to get a better look at DD without giving me enough time to react.  I usually don't even use a blanket but DD was getting too distracted so I was using it to try to get her to pay attention.      Sorry to be kind of off topic lol.

I have nursed DS all over the place in his 21 months, but probably the majority of our NIP experience is in the Ergo.  We've had TONS of times this happened - I used to say he's sleeping, or he's breastfeeding - but the times people looked anyway (or because they didn't understand), I didn't really care.  I kind of giggled on the inside if that insistent someone blushed - but I didn't get a bad comment, just maybe a startled one. 

I did try to cover up when DS was small - ironically, now that he's almost 2 and it's more "unusual," I care much less - I whip a boob out anywhere and everywhere.  My baby's boo boo/hunger/need to nap is sure as hell more important than your lack of understanding! 

[allisonrae]

I was nervous the first time I nursed in public. The first woman I saw came up to me and told me to keep up the good work

[pek64]

I don't know if I sent out "don't bother me" vibes, but I never had anyone approach me while I was breastfeeding. I liked it that way, to be honest.

I was told by my lactation consultant that if you look around, instead of looking at the baby or child, that most folks won't realize what you're doing. It worked for me! Only two people ever gave any indication that they knew I was breastfeeding, but neither approached me. And I nursed in a packed lobby waiting for a table for Sunday brunch, once!

[Chloe'sMama]

I never had a problem either.  I have been nursing 4.5 years and I tandem nursed (in public) for 1 of those.  I almost never covered, but did sometimes.  

[MrsMike]

No problems here. I nursed my son for 3 years. My daughter is 17 months and still going strong. I do not use covers and I have never been able to nurse in a sling. I have nursed everywhere.  I've never been harassed. No one has ever made negative comments to me.
 

[Sol_y_Paz]

No problem here either thankfully as I NIP pretty much anytime I leave the house, DC is 8 months. I wear nursing clothes anytime I leave the house in an attempt to be discreet.  I covered once or twice in the first times but didn't like doing that as I couldn't see the airway and for someone relatively new at BF seeing the baby's face and airway is important.

Edited by Sol_y_Paz - 4/2/13 at 5:03pm

[Floretta]

5 years of nursing so far and no issue with NIP ever. I also don't cover up or hide myself.

[Philothea]

Great thread!

Almost 9 months bfing constantly in public and almost no bad reactions, except when I got to infant storytime at the library. Would you believe that its the other moms who all look at me very intently and everytime I put my head up, it's as though they were all staring at me and then they quickly look away! Ive only gone to this twice so I dont know if any other moms bf but like a pp said: I love breastfeeding in public because its the biggest advocate to change our society's perception and help everyone know its normal!! dd wont let me use a cover btw but I wear an under shirt so that one is covering the top of my breast while the other is covering my stomach... so you really cant see anything unless you try really hard to see like a centimeter of skin! Im sad that in all my 9 months though I have yet to see even ONE other mom BIP!! Sad for me as I would love that comradery(sp?).

[MrsGregory]

We're still nursing justalittlebit at 16 months, I admit I did not nurse in public very frequently, but I never had a problem when I did.  I don't consider in my own home "public", no matter who is there, but I never had a problem with any guests either.  My male relatives are always pretty quick to excuse themselves from "women's business", and if a lady nursing her female child isn't women's business, well then I guess we just don't know what is.  But I doubt they were uncomfortable, we just tend to be separate from each other in those ways.

[mamazee]

I don't recall ever being harassed or ever having anyone say anything negative at all. There was one time I was worried I would as I had a large toddler on a road trip and had to nurse at a restaurant in an area I was afraid would be unhealthy. But no, no one said boo. I did get a shocked and then a bit of a dirty look once at a restaurant when the same child was about 5 months, but no words, and it was easily ignored. I think that's the only negative reaction at all.

[Viola]

I haven't ever been challenged breastfeeding in public.  But with my first, in the beginning it wasn't something I could easily accomplish.  I remember trying to breastfeed while waiting for a table at a restaurant, and I guess by that time I could do it, but I sort of turned toward the back of the bench and had a blanket kind of up and around my baby, although I had to take it down because I couldn't see how to latch her.  But once it was latched it was all good.  I was always worried someone would confront me, but I don't think people really paid attention.  My husband assumed I wanted people to confront me so I could argue with them.  

[weliveintheforest]

7 years of nursing, and no problems in public!  Lots of smiles and nice comments.

[LaughingHyena]

I never had any problems.

One of the first times I remember taking DD out and feeding her was in the mall, I sat on bench and got her settled while DH carried on shopping. Another mum approached with her baby and sat down asking if I minded if she joined us, I had a brief moment of wondering if she was going to say something when she lifted her little one out of his pram and started feeding him.

[blessedwithboys]

No probelms ever!

My 18yo nursed for 24 mos.  Our 1st time NIP was 7 days pp when I went to have my staples removed.  I was awkward, as a new mom, but it was the county HD and every staff member that walked by gave me a big grin.

My 11yo nursed for 60 mos.  Our last time NIP was somewhere after his 3rd bday.  By then, I was like totally making eye contact, daring ppl to step to me!  haha

So, yeah...combined total of 5 yrs NIP and never one negative experience, ever.  Go for it, new mamas!

[lilitchka]

no prblems here in Canada. But had dirty looks when travelling to Canary islands and nursing at the beach. (travelled a lot to around 10 different countries, never had problems)

I nurse in public a lot! Nursed DS1 for 2 and a half years and now nursing ds2 who is 12 mnths old.

One time I was surprised by a comment about NOT nursing!

it was last fall, in an airplane in North Africa. During landing, I was nursing ds2, who was fine. DH was taking care of DS1 (3 y.o at the time).

DS1 had very bad ear pain due to the pressure change (and would refuse a lolly pop, water, fruit etc), and screaming+++

The flight attendant came, and asked me: ''can you please nurse your older son?''

me: ''he weaned, he doesn't nurse anymore''

her: ''that's OK, can you just nurse him for the rest of the flight please?''

me: ''well, I would be happy, but he desn't know how anymore''

she was confused by what I said....

I think she just wanted the screaming to stop, but had little knowledge about breastfeeding mechanics!

I would have never expected to be asked by a stranger to please nurse my 3 y.o!