Need Help with BF/NIP Laws

[micah_mae_]

I looked up the law in Maryland and this is what it says :
"permits a woman to breastfeed her child in any
public or private place under specified circumstances and prohibits restrictions on
breastfeeding."

What the heck does that mean?

[shllywlly]

I have it as:
"permits a woman to breastfeed her infant in any public or private place and prohibits anyone from restricting or limiting this right"

I think it's bee updated also to include "irregardless of whether the nipple is showing or not"

Maryland has one of the better state laws with regards to breastfeeding.

[micah_mae_]

So do I have "whenever/wherever" protection? Do I have to cover up?

[Chandar]

No you do not have to cover up.

[shllywlly]

You shouldn't have to cover up regardless of where you are or what state you are in. Now whether a business or person has a right to say anything to you and you have means of rebuttal is a different story. There is no state with any law that requires a mom to cover up. There are only states with laws that protect mothers who choose to not cover up. Does that make sense?

[stephm2002]

where would I find Ohio's NIP laws?

[white_queen_22]

Originally Posted by stephm2002

where would I find Ohio's NIP laws?

The LaLecheLeague website usually has a state-by-state summary of legislations.

Angela <><

[shllywlly]

This is a great site and the one I always use:
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/breast50.htm

Here is Ohio's:

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3781.55 (2005) provides that a mother is entitled to breastfeed her baby in any location of a place of public accommodation wherein the mother otherwise is permitted

[stephm2002]

thanks! you ladies rock!

[mamajake]

I find http://llli.org/Law/LawBills.html more user friendly than the NCSL site, though it isn't always up to date. Maryland is:

§ 20-801. Breast-feeding of children.

(a) In general.- A mother may breast-feed her child in any public or private location in which the mother and child are authorized to be.

(b) Restriction of right prohibited.- A person may not restrict or limit the right of a mother to breast-feed her child.