Breastfeeding in Oman?

[sarahmck]

X-posted in breastfeeding.

DH and I are considering a trip to Oman. I've read that I'll need to wear long sleeves and trousers there. I'm wondering about nursing in public. My 20-month old is very used to having her boobs where she wants them and when she wants them. We're discreet, but there's usually a square inch or so of skin showing, and she does occasionally push my shirt back off my breast so it's mostly exposed for a couple of seconds before I push my shirt back.

I'm guessing that this would be a problem in Oman. Is that true? If so, how do you handle this issue when traveling there?

[sarahmck]

:bump:

[Thursday Girl]

i mean this might not be much help but when my neighbor lived in saudi arabia he said the woman would be totally veiled and breatsfeeding, you know boob out. There (i don't know about Oman) breasts are for food not some sexual, marketing tool.

courtney

[sarahmck]

That's both interesting and surprising, and is in contrast with the few responses that I got in my cross-post over in breastfeeding. There they said that it was an absolute no-no. And my understanding is that they're way more strict about the dress code in Saudi Arabia. So your neighbor says that women had their boobs out in public, mixed-gender places?

[Thursday Girl]

i will ask him about it. It came up in conversation when i was telling him how it's the norm to see bottlefeeding her and that i get dirty looks breastfeeding and he told me how in saudi arabia the woman are fully veiled and breastfeeding like it's nothing. but i will talk to him when i can and ask.

courtney

[MommyDOK]

My mom lives in Oman (as an ex-pat). I can ask her about bf. She is in Muscat.

She did say the westerners can all wear "conservative" style clothes. She wears long skirts and shirts to just past her elbow. If she goes to the beach, she wears capris, although there are some women in shorts.

There are some very large hotels in Muscat----that are very western. A Hyatt and the other name escapes me. I wonder if you plan on staying in a hotel that caters to foreigners? They may be more amenable.

I'll email her and let you know. She can also ask the Omanis she works with.

I'm soooo jealous you are going there. I would love to visit! THere was just a show on PBS global trekkers all about Kuwait, Dubai and Oman. It was fascinating.

[sarahmck]

I'll email her and let you know. She can also ask the Omanis she works with.

I'm soooo jealous you are going there. I would love to visit! THere was just a show on PBS global trekkers all about Kuwait, Dubai and Oman. It was fascinating.

Thank you! I would really appreciate that. In Muscat, we'll be staying in a big western hotel. I'm not very concerned about the hotels, as it seems that I'll be able to act a bit more western while in those than at other times. I'm mostly concerned with appropriate behavior on the street. Any information she can give me about acceptable clothing and breastfeeding behavior would be extremely helpful. Specifically, are short-sleeved shirts okay for either men or women? Is breastfeeding while fully covered (with a blanket or something, not that DD would go for that) acceptable or is just the idea of what's going on under the blanket something that means that I have to be in a women-only area. Are sandals okay? Capri trousers?

We'll also be traveling around much of the rest of Oman, so if any of your mother's advice applies only to the city, it would be great to know that.

That Globe Trekker program played a role in our decision to go to Oman. At first we were considering just a shorter trip to Dubai (there are good flight deals from here), but Dubai looked a bit too much like just a shopper's paradise for us to be happy having a holiday exclusively there. The segment on Oman was much more our speed, so we decided to do both!

We're leaving on Tuesday, so anything you can tell me before then will be hugely appreciated.

Thank you!

[MommyDOK]

I haven't heard back from my mom yet, but I do know that sandals are fine. She brought lots of pairs w/ her when she went (she had visited several times before her move there).

I think men can wear short sleeve shirts. My mom has told me that she wears capris on the beach, so I know that's ok, but I don't know the rest of the areas.


She said the Omanis are very friendly---more so then people in Dubai. Yes, Dubai is very shopping-oriented.

I loved the bathing suit the host wore at the water park in Dubai---something my grandam wore in the 20's.

[MommyDOK]

what I just heard from my Mom:
Tell her there are no "rules" in Oman about dress as in Saudi Arabia. Many Western and Indian men wear short sleeves and I do while walking on the beach or going to the supermarket on weekends but not to work. Generally, I wear blouses with 3/4 length sleeves, which are comfortable and cool. Also I wear skirts below the knee - sort of mid-calf length, which are also comfortable. Long pants are fine and I wear capris on the beach and on weekends to the souk ( market). Muscat is a very Western city with many ex-pats who came to work in the oil industry as well as many Indians and Pakistanis. In the smaller towns where there are essentially no Westerners, the children will stare at a woman with her hair showing - probably never saw a woman's hair except their mother - but people are alwlays friendly and those who speak English will start a conversation. I have not actually seen anyone breastfeeding in public, except maybe on the beach where a family was having a picnic. I would suggest being discreet and stay covered. Tell her she has the right impression of Dubai. It is a big city with gorgeous skyscrapers and mainly tourists, as you never see an Emirati. I call it Las Vegas done tastefully!! People from Oman go to Dubai to shop as the big malls are spectacular with every store that you have ever heard of and very upscale. There is not much else going on once you've had a boat ride on the Creek and seen the Persian Gulf. The history is that before oil was discovered Dubai and Abu Dabi were just small villages getting their income from pearl diving and the sea so there is little history. Oman, by contrast, has a long history of sailing and its ports were part of the spice trade so there are old forts and castles to explore as well as a long beautiful coast, mountains and the desert.

[MommyDOK]

another email from my mom:

I forgot to mention that everyone wears sandals all the time except Western men as sandals look strange with trousers. I have only worn shoes in the evening when I was going to a cafe on the beach where the wind blows and it is cool. I just asked my secretary about breastfeeding and she said it is acceptable in public, but women do cover themselves. She told me that breastfeeing is the norm in Oman. Tell the woman to relax and enjoy this country and its people.

[sarahmck]

I'm so pleased to have the information from your mom. It sounds like it's just slightly more relaxed than I was expecting, which is great. I was a bit concerned that some of the things that I had packed weren't going to get any use, but it sounds like we'll be able to wear pretty much what we like.

Thank you, and please thank your mom for me.

Sarah

[MommyDOK]

So how was the trip? I'm curious.....