So I tandemed in the dairy section of Wal-mart!

[ladybugchild77]

It was totally busy and both kids were hungry. All of the benches were taken so I sat down on the edge of the case and nursed both kids. Oh my goodness - the LOOKS I got. Not only to be doing "that" but to be doing it to a 2yo AND a 3mo at the same time. I just wanted to come somewhere where I could laugh about the stares...ha ha ha ha...And there was one woman who told me it was "disgusting" to see me nursing a toddler. I was fed up by this point (NIP here is taboo - much more so with a toddler) so I told her it was disgustin ghow people feel it necessary to make comments about how I choose to feed my children. At least both kids are fed and happy!

[NamastePlatypus]

Originally Posted by ladybugchild77

It was totally busy and both kids were hungry. All of the benches were taken so I sat down on the edge of the case and nursed both kids. Oh my goodness - the LOOKS I got. Not only to be doing "that" but to be doing it to a 2yo AND a 3mo at the same time. I just wanted to come somewhere where I could laugh about the stares...ha ha ha ha...And there was one woman who told me it was "disgusting" to see me nursing a toddler. I was fed up by this point (NIP here is taboo - much more so with a toddler) so I told her it was disgustin ghow people feel it necessary to make comments about how I choose to feed my children. At least both kids are fed and happy!

You are awesome!!! If not the a better place than the dairy isle!! Did you tell her how disgusting it is to see infants given a powder from a can made in a lab and then to have it proped up in the bucket seat:Puke:

Good on you!!! I am soooo nursing in the dairy isle from now on!

[mommyofboys3]

kudos to you!!!!! i think it is so funny when people stare and obvioulsly judge you for something they probably have no clue about...truth be told they probably gave their children bottles...i have learned that the people that breastfeed or have breastfed themselves seem more comfortable with it and tend to smile while the others stare and give dirty looks...oh well your babies your body and their health..right?! kudos to you...

i was nursing my ds one time at the food court in the mall and an older man told me that was an invasion of his privacy...OK i just laughed and kept feeding him...people just dont get it...DONT LOOK IF YOU DONT LIKE IT...

[Sarahfina]

Good for you, thats awsome. People need to see more of that! I suppose if you had pulled a carton of milk of the shelf and poured it into your babies mouths people might have been more accepting...arg...slowly, our breastmilk will rule the world again, and perhaps there will even be a day when it is featured on the shelves of the dairy isle...

[Mrs.CEH3]

Bizarre. No one ever said word one to me when I BF in public. What is with people?

I would, however, like to point out that agreeing with this statement:

"so I told her it was disgustin ghow people feel it necessary to make comments about how I choose to feed my children"

and then saying this:

"Did you tell her how disgusting it is to see infants given a powder from a can made in a lab and then to have it proped up in the bucket seat"

are inconsistent. The first thing you need to know how to do if you want to win an argument is to be able to defend your position without leaving yourself open for attack.

If we are to win the war on FF, we must be vigilant.

[momuveight2B]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience!!! Wonderful that you could meet the needs of your children I mean. I try to use the benches at WalMart but I have never seen more than three in a store and usually at opposite ends. The stores are so mega huge these days that it can be hard to return to the car or a more discreet area to nurse and a mama shouldn't have to and a babe should not have to wait. A two year old is still very young and can't be expected to wait when they can see boob right in front of their face with baby sibling latched on.

[gwynthfair]

[ladybugchild77]

Originally Posted by Mrs.CEH3

Bizarre. No one ever said word one to me when I BF in public. What is with people?

I would, however, like to point out that agreeing with this statement:

"so I told her it was disgustin ghow people feel it necessary to make comments about how I choose to feed my children"

and then saying this:

"Did you tell her how disgusting it is to see infants given a powder from a can made in a lab and then to have it proped up in the bucket seat"

are inconsistent. The first thing you need to know how to do if you want to win an argument is to be able to defend your position without leaving yourself open for attack.

If we are to win the war on FF, we must be vigilant.

I agree and normally I don't say anything but smile and usually they will look away or smile back. I had just had a fight with my MIL about not weaning my oldest so I was on edge and ready to tell off anyone...I did not mention formula, however, that wa sin another post...Maybe I am misunderstanding your reply? I am pretty sleep-deprived!:

[BCFD]

Maybe she just thought a 2 year old was too old and should have been eating grapes or goldfish if they were hungry? I dunno? Why would she even look at you? Why would she care? Weird people.

[ladybugchild77]

Yes, atodller CAN be taught to wait if that is what the Mama chooses to teach her and normally she does; however it was sub-zero outside so I didn't want to leave just yet plus like I said she is getting molars and was in pain. Plus she has a cold. The easiest way to take care of those things is to simply say "yes" to a request to nurse and have her be a happy camper in less than five minutes. It is not really a "snack" in my opinion though others may disagree. She was nursing then for comfort and that is OK with me. Like I said in my previous post, most people were unaware of what I was doing with her until he little sister poppoed off and looked around. I totally wish I could nurse the little one in a sling but I am too "well-endowed" to put it nicely and have never managed to do so - threfore I simply sit down and do it wherever I need to. As far as the passive-aggressive behaviour: I know that I have become that way more since I have gotten such a negative response to BF. I have gotten these kinds of comments since I have been nursing dd#1 - the first time someone told me they didn't like to see it she was like 1 month old. After 2 years if them I just got fed up.I think Mamas feel that way because they are tired of society's attitudes toward BF; not necessarily that they are trying to be defiant to see how many people they can offend...of course I am a Sociology grad student so perhaps it is the sociologist in me spouting socialization stuff...please feel free to add stuff or correct me if I am wrong, Mamas!

[SashaBear]

We weaned at 18.5 months but my son would not wait for anything when he was a nursing toddler. If we were in Walmart and he wanted to nurse he would scream until we got to the shoe department for a place to sit down. He wanted nursies and he wanted them now.

When a kid really wants to nurse there is no way to distract them.

[boheime]

When my dd was about 10 months old, our family was in JoAnn's. We were in the back getting large peices of fabric cut for backdrops for our family to use in photographs. The lady was new and was taking a long time. We assured her that it was fine; we understood she was learning. She had to have a manager come help her. We were entertaining our children during this, as it had been a while, and they were getting antsy. At some point, my 10 month old asked to nurse. So, I discreetly turned away, latched her on (in a sling mind you so I didn't have to hold all of her weight), and continued speaking with my husband and son.

The manager made a rude comment to the other woman, purposefully loud enough so that we would hear, about our daughter being too big to do THAT. It really upset me and I wrote a letter to them. I never received a response, but shortly after that there was a new manager in place.

Now, I don't eat in that store and I don't hand my kids snacks in that store. Until a month or so ago (my dd is almost 2 1/2 and isn't asking as much in public unless she sees other babies/children nursing), I nursed her there every single time we went in that store. Why? Because she would ask. She needed that comfort. Who knows if she remembers that experience, but she felt the need for comfort nursing every time we were there. I won't deny her that.

[NaturalMindedMomma]

I think that when a mother chooses to breastfeed her child whether it is a newborn or a toddler, no one should be saying anything.

If people are uncomfortable then that is THEIR problem. Why are we making it the childs or the moms problem? Where do we draw the line? I personally would not want to nurse a 3 year old, but would NEVER make someone feel bad for doing so. That child has the right to nurse just as anyone elses.

Quite honestly people who gripe and complain about nip are the same people who would complain about a hungry child crying in public. To me they are looking for things to complain about...

I think people should get over themselves and what THEY believe as being gospel. No one has any right to be offended by a mother bfing. Just as no one has the right to be offended by a child with a sippie cup, bottle, banana, or snack.

If you are nursing your child to comfort them, I wonder would people put up a stink if you were hugging your child? Why is breastfeeding any different? It is a valid way that many moms soothe their children. Not for you or I to decide if it is right or wrong! Truth is, they have the right to do it. Opposing thinkers have a right to get a huge helping of shut the heck up! (at least until they can find a quarter and call someone who cares)

[Mrs.CEH3]

Originally Posted by ladybugchild77

Maybe I am misunderstanding your reply? I am pretty sleep-deprived!:

I understand about that!

Yes, sorry I wasn't clear. I was just commenting on Namaste's agreeing with your statement and then turning around and doing the same thing herself.

[simonboy'smommy]

everybody seems to think 2 year olds are soooo old and way too old to nurse! They are still very much babies. If people would think about nursing from the toddler's perspective and what it has meant to them since birth nursing them isn't weird at all.

It's not like you didn't try to find a place to sit. I probably would have done the same thing. I wouldn't sit on the floor yuck. The dairy section was perfect! Ha!

[Neth Naneth]

Originally Posted by gwynthfair

I agree with gwynthfair,

Good for you.

[melikahiwa]

Good for you and your bravery!

[mommykmm]

Originally Posted by ladybugchild77

Yes, atodller CAN be taught to wait if that is what the Mama chooses to teach her and normally she does; however it was sub-zero outside so I didn't want to leave just yet plus like I said she is getting molars and was in pain. Plus she has a cold. The easiest way to take care of those things is to simply say "yes" to a request to nurse and have her be a happy camper in less than five minutes. It is not really a "snack" in my opinion though others may disagree. She was nursing then for comfort and that is OK with me.

I agree. You did what you had to do to meet the needs of your children in the least disruptive and unobtrusive manner (aside from using the bench if the guy you had asked to give you his seat hadn't been so inconsiderate ). I'd have done the same thing. If you'd have been sitting there feeding the baby a bottle with the toddler drinking something out of a sippy cup no one would have said a thing and that's just not right, imo. You certainly wouldn't refuse to hug or kiss your toddler for comfort in the middle of your shopping trip. I think it's perfectly appropriate to nurse as well. But, then again, I do have a 3 1/2 yo nursling -- and I don't live in Arkansas, which, according to the newly published ACOG breastfeeding statement I just read, is a state with one of the lowest bf rates.

[mntnmom]

If breastfeeding was a sexual thing I would agree with the lady...but HELLO, we're mammals!
I just think it's so funny that you were in the dairy aisle.
HUMAN milk for HUMAN babies.

[Equuskia]

Originally Posted by NaturalMindedMomma

Opposing thinkers have a right to get a huge helping of shut the heck up! (at least until they can find a quarter and call someone who cares)

laughup :

Ok, I got that out of my system! That was mad funny!

I got a molar that hurts. I'm a big girl and can take it. I can't imagine a little toddler with 2 or four molars coming out, and being told to wait to nurse. I think even I would have a meltdown if the dentist told me to wait a few days to take care of my molar! My girl is 15 months, and she looks big, she walks and jabbers like noone's business. But I take her in my arms to nurse, and she's just a big (BIG!) baby to me. I couldn't deny her the teta just because someone in the store might have a hangup. THat's life. My mama always told me that people will critize you anyways, so you might as well do what is right for YOU. If what's right for you is sitting in the dairy aisle because gentlemen seem to be lacking in society today, then here's a big for ya! Other countries don't have problems with NIP, let's see if we can get the US out of the dark ages!