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thread: Breastfeeding in public - woohoo

  1. #1
    Registered User

    May 2008
    where the V8's roar
    1,855

    Breastfeeding in public - woohoo

    On holidays I have been really happy to see mum's feeding their bubs in public, some covered up and some not yay for all the mum's out their normalising breastfeeding

  2. #2

    Apr 2009
    Melbourne
    1,069

    *Lke*

    I never thought I would have trouble BFing in public, but for me it certainly has become easier over time. Now I barely bat an eyelid when DS needs a feed and we're in public. I'm so relaxed about it now that I can do it anywhere, any time, even whilst walking and shopping.

  3. #3

    Oct 2008
    2,880

    I haven't mastered doing it while walking - DD weighs a ton - but have no issue feeding in public!

    Awesome though!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    I try to make eye contact and smile at Mums bfing and if I get a chance tell them that I think it's great that they're bfing their babies in public. I remember what is was like when I was bfing in public and the positive comments were enough to ease my nervousness. Plus, I know plenty of Mums also get negative comments, so I'd like to balance that.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Add TeniBear on Facebook Follow TeniBear On Twitter

    Oct 2009
    Lalor, VIC
    5,051

    I saw a lady yesterday feeding her bub while walking through Myer! And the bub looked over a year old, too, so well done to that mum for having the arm strength to even attempt it She was quite a small woman


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  6. #6
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jan 2006
    11,633

    Wow, I'm impressed at feeding and walking around - I salute you lady in Myers!

  7. #7

    Oct 2008
    2,880

    Wow, I'm impressed at feeding and walking around - I salute you lady in Myers!
    Haha, totally!!

    Jeez, I have trouble keeping DD on my knee at the moment when I'm sitting down - the wriggler!!

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Add Shades on Facebook

    May 2008
    Capalaba, QLD
    1,243

    I've found that my Ergo can actually be adjusted to wear over DS, lying crosswise when he's feeding, so I can feed and walk and it just helps support the hand under his head/around his shoulders, and still have my other hand free. It's indispensable on big days out!
    (I'm on my phone so can't easily link to photos but I think there's one of us doing this when he was younger - still works though - it's number 51 in the album on FB that my sig links to)( Not even sure if my sig is showing when I post from my phone?)

  9. #9

    Jul 2009
    Out North, Vic
    8,538

    My stepmum used to pop my lil bro in the carrier and feed while she walked, i could never get the hang of it but she unclipped one side, let him slip down and off they went.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Feb 2010
    Travelling
    666

    That's great. I always wished I could've got the hang of doing it in the ergo, but no such luck.

    Apart from early on I've been ok about bf in public, but recently I've had my nerves shot by dome funny looks, and a couple of negative comments - one girl told me that once they're old enough to ask for it they're too old to have it, and another said 'how old is your daughter' with a big emphasis on the old.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    May 2009
    SEQLD
    2,308

    one girl told me that once they're old enough to ask for it they're too old to have it, and another said 'how old is your daughter' with a big emphasis on the old.
    SO rude! Sorry you had to listen to that

    You know what, I've been thinking about the whole feeding in public recently and other peoples responses to it. Why do they think it's their right to comment anyway? What happened to if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything? I mean if they disagree with what someone is wearing would they go over and say, "Oh your too fat to be wearing that," or "You shouldn't smoke, its bad for your health"..I mean really, how is it any of their bloody business?

    If it offends someone so much why not look the other way and continue walking!

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    awesome!

    I used to feed DS in our sling. I walked around with him on the boob at nearly 2 sometimes. Or he'd see a chair (you know, in a shop for sale) & decide thats it, time to sit & feed, lol. I was lucky, never had a negative comment. Even when he was older. Made it so much easier to feel comfortable quicker with DD

  13. #13

    May 2008
    Melbourne, Vic
    8,631

    That's great. I always wished I could've got the hang of doing it in the ergo, but no such luck.

    Apart from early on I've been ok about bf in public, but recently I've had my nerves shot by dome funny looks, and a couple of negative comments - one girl told me that once they're old enough to ask for it they're too old to have it, and another said 'how old is your daughter' with a big emphasis on the old.
    That's terrible!!!!

    I have heard lots of people say that - if they are old enough to ask for it, they are too old. Never heard it said to a mother *while* bf an older child though!!!

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Feb 2010
    Travelling
    666

    Yep, I didn't actually know how to respond. She said it in a pleasant voice with a smile on her face, which kind of made it even harder.

  15. #15

    Apr 2009
    Melbourne
    1,069

    Hmm, my DS might not yet be able to speak English, but he's known how to "ask" for booby since he was born.

    I haven't yet had any negative comments whilst I've been BFing in public but I'm dying for someone to try. They won't forget me in a hurry, especially when they can't drive themselves home cause their car keys are shoved...well, you get the picture.

  16. #16
    Registered User
    Add UntoldAngel on Facebook

    Nov 2009
    Between concrete walls
    1,885

    Yeah I have no problem bf in public, my DH has more of a problem I think, he is always trying to cover me up.
    I can walk and feed, but DS is a lightweight, and as Persephone1 said, he knows how to ask for boob even though he can't talk!!

    In relation to the whole, once he's old enough to ask for it he shouldn't get it, I get the same with teeth - once they have one you won't feed. Well I AM!!

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    Yep, I didn't actually know how to respond. She said it in a pleasant voice with a smile on her face, which kind of made it even harder.
    I was ready for this one, but didn't get it. Babies ask to be bf from birth, that's what crying is. So just because they're asking in a way we can understand doesn't make them too old. I taught my DD to pat me on my chest from about 6 mths when she wanted a bf. I would ask 'boobie' and pat my chest and she'd copy at first and soon she'd just pat me on the chest whenever she wanted it. And she sure wasn't too old to be bf when she could do that!

    It's only in our current Western culture that you hear that (and I'm embarrassed to admit that I felt this way before DD. So just by letting people know you're still bfing can have a big impact, even if you don't realise it. It's what helped changed my mind, seeing others still bfing their toddlers and children).

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Mar 2008
    North Northcote
    8,065

    Hmm, my DS might not yet be able to speak English, but he's known how to "ask" for booby since he was born.
    EXACTLY!

    i *think* i may have shocked a few old biddies at the Myer cafe in the city today but hey, she wanted boob and who was i to deny it lol?!

    i remember with DD1 not even realising that there were people in the world that found BF in public offensive. it was bliss! but then as she got older and you start to get that look (most of you know the one bahahaha) that i realised that there were some very strange attitudes. and i am ashamed to say that it has rattled my confidence this time. NOT that it stops me, but it does make me a bit tense, especially if i am on my own browsing through shops...

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