Where have YOU breastfed your baby?
Nursing moms know that when the baby's hungry, it's time to breastfeed - even if you're at the supermarket, in the mall, driving home from work, on the beach. Tell us about some of the unlikely places you've ended up nursing your baby.
Where have YOU breastfed your baby?
Sari Harrar
Filed Under: Nutrition | Parental Health
A synchronized breastfeeding worldwide event in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 2007. (AP Photo / Petros Karadjias)
Nursing moms know that when the baby's hungry, it's time to breastfeed — even if you're at the supermarket, in the mall, driving home from work, on the beach.
Tell us about some of the unlikely places you've ended up nursing your baby. Mine include a Jiffy Lube waiting room, on the beach, on the patio of an Italian restaurant, at a turnpike rest stop, on airplanes, at the library, and parked behind a store on my way home from work. And about 13 times on an endless family trip from Pennsylvania to Maine (I drew the line at nursing in a moving car, so we pulled over constantly.)
What about you? Just add your unlikely breastfeeding location or anecdote in the comments below. We'll collect the best for an upcoming blog entry.
Comments (17)
Everywhere, discreetly, including at church, at work, in restaurants, but never in the bathroom. I don't eat in the bathroom, why should my kids? Love Neddyflanders' comment!— Jane Von Bergen- I have breastfed my three-month-old at my older children's schools, at McMenamin's in Mount Airy, at Frankford Hall in Fishtown, at the Toyota dealership in Ardmore. I discreetly breastfed my son when he is hungry, no matter where that might be. I always look for a discreet place, but I do not intentionally hide. I hide anti-breastfeeding-in-public conversations highly offensive and insensitive. What is the big deal? Babies have to eat. Is it our culture's sexualization of the female breast that causes some people to have such a visceral reaction to the image of child breastfeeding? Should mothers and breastfeeding babies be prisoners in their homes until the baby stops breastfeeding all together? Breastfeeding is a choice, a very healthy one, that mothers are encouraged to make. Furthermore, mothers are asked to sustain the breastfeeding relationship for as long as possible to help best protect baby's health.— kszumanski
- Anyone who has had a baby knows that when the baby is hungry, the mom breastfeeds them. Its not like the boob is exposed for everyone to see, there is a baby mouth on it, eating. Again, this is another stupid issue. Breastfeeding is better for the baby and the mom, it is proven facts. If you think it is disgusting, turn your head and eyes elsewhere. People complaining about a woman feeding their baby are morons.— dcn
- I use breastfeed while driving and texting. Other then that when I'm on a bungie jump.— neddyflanders
- I have no problems with it as long as it is done in good taste. Some women tend to their childs need and it is no big deal. Some choose to make a public spectical of the practice. I think it is the later type of mother that make people uncomfortable when they choose to breast feed the child.— Wildman Bill
- I agree - this is a private matter. If you are unable to breastfeed in private, then pump and bottle your milk. So there is no public. There are more other "natural" things we can do in public but don't.— janice0462
- I wish that tse beast feeders qwold be rquired to carry barf bags for those who are sickened by this exhibition.— crystalrainbowspirit1
- Thankfully I live in a country where there seem to be no backwards people like Tony A, Bruce or Liberty Bell. I recently moved to Norway with my wife, and here there are no "unusual" places to feed your baby -- it is fine to feed your baby anywhere! Men understand that if a baby gets hungry and is crying, it is not possible to wait to get home, as Tony A so intelligently suggested. These guys on this comment board never once thought about the well being of the infant, who doesn't understand the idea of waiting a long time to get home or find what Liberty Bell finds to be suitably private. Grow up guys, you aren't in junior high school anymore!— curtis
- It's perfectly natural. So is defecating, but people generally do that in private.— stefek23
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- I breastfed my toddler in a parade, and also while performing a contradance on stage for a New York State celebration in Kingston (1975 or 1976). There was a photograph of the dance performance on the front page of a local newspaper. While the other dancers knew I was breastfeeding, one looking at the picture probably wouldn't have known. I got very adept at switching sides during a dance!— nleeguitar
- The ones that have beautiful Baywatch Mammers never seem to feed publicly. It's always the ones pictured above.— kjuggs77
- It people are going to breastfeed in public then you can't get mad when I watch and also do something just as natural.— TheyCallMeBruce
- Gross. Do that in the privacy of your own home, no one wants to see that.— Tony A.
- I was sitting at a table outside the Earl of Sandwich at Disney World's Pleasure Island with a blanket over myself. A man sat next to me and started asking if I enjoyed breastfeeding and did it make me uncomfortable to do it outside. I just remember thinking to myself, "I'm only uncomfortable with complete strangers asking me if I enjoy it." Other places include while dining at OUTBACK restaurant with family, I refused to go out to the car. Oh, and on an AMTRAK train to Orlando, my son was only 2 weeks old and I felt like there were eyes on me all the time while I was breastfeeding.— BeckyN
- Well, I briefly nursed my baby daughter on the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, until I was asked to move. It was not the nursing, it was just that no one is allowed to sit on the steps for any reason! I would have stayed awhile and nursed her twin sister too if I had been allowed. When there are hungry twins, you sit down wherever you can and nurse! My girls are now 16, and very healthy and bright, thanks in part to the sacrifices made to breastfeed them.— Melanie M.R.
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