Breast-Feeding Doll

[Labyrinth]

I plan to try to breastfeed when our little one gets here, but breastfeeding in public is WAY above my personal comfort level. I have no problem with others doing it in public, but I do agree it should be done discreetly.

As for the doll, I think it's silly personally. But I also prefer dolls and stuffed animals that don't do anything (loved cabbage patch kids too). If a child chose to breastfeed a doll I wouldn't have a problem with it, it just seems a little silly to make a doll exclusively for that purpose.

 

[Crowsfeet]

I personally don't feel as though anyone should ever be afraid to breastfeed in public.. I feel as though for folks who are "disgusted" by this situation, perhaps their thought process goes a little like this?:

mother breastfeeding.. breasts.. sex.. sex in public!? Subconsciously, anyway.

Anything 'sexual' needs to be detached from that situation, period. In some parts of the states, people are so, so prudent to the point where it spreads shame.. I'm ashamed to be near that person/situation in front of other people.. I'm ashamed to show myself/my body in public. Why can't people appreciate the situation for what it is.. ? There's even a baby in it, for goodness sakes.. and regardless of how many breasts might be bared, when there's a baby involved, any hint of sexuality should be out of the picture.

Just as well, why should any mother be forced to deny her child its natural cycle of feeding?(rhetoric!) At that age, I do feel as though it could possibly be detrimental to the child, just as well the mother.

Meh, maybe I'm just a closet European(..or African, or Human Being, I'm not sure), but that's my take on it, at least. Obviously not meant to attack or antagonize anyone. Interesting topic!

 

[Crowsfeet]

Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean everything works perfectly. So I do think it is important not to make it so important to your daughters that they HAVE to breastfeed. They should be able to make their own decision and never feel like they HAVE to breastfeed.

^This, too.

 

[Dizzy]

So I can watch a calf suckle, puppies suckle, but not a human?

I remember playing with my toys when I was little and had mummy dog and her puppy and mummy dog did feed her puppies.

What is the difference?

Society is funny.

You have to remember that most european countries are much more open with their bodies and sex and NATURAL processes.

I can't see the harm in it.

 

[Dizzy]

I'm not against women breastfeeding their babies... I just wish more people would keep in mind that not everyone has breastfed their children and not everyone is okay with any degree of nakedness in public. If you have to feed your baby... that's expected, just be discreet and cover up if you can.
l

But that is YOUR issue, not the mothers... We can't all change our behaviour for fear of offending someone, we'd never leave the house if we had to do that.

Your perception and uncomfortableness could be influcing how other people choose to live? I don't think that's really fair myself.

You want to try going to France etc. You have to get used to bodies. They're on show a LOT

It doesn't bother me one bit, I practically sunbathe topless myself (and I am not even remotely small!), I just covered my nipples for modesty because I was with my dad and brother, but in reality, I may as well have been topless.

It's really not an issue.... I'm happy to stand in my pants in front of my dad and iron my jeans for example (and I am 28 lol).

It's YOUR mind creating the issues (your being general people who worry about nudity).

 

[Juicy]

I personally don't feel as though anyone should ever be afraid to breastfeed in public.. I feel as though for folks who are "disgusted" by this situation, perhaps their thought process goes a little like this?:

mother breastfeeding.. breasts.. sex.. sex in public!? Subconsciously, anyway.

Anything 'sexual' needs to be detached from that situation, period. In some parts of the states, people are so, so prudent to the point where it spreads shame.. I'm ashamed to be near that person/situation in front of other people.. I'm ashamed to show myself/my body in public. Why can't people appreciate the situation for what it is.. ? There's even a baby in it, for goodness sakes.. and regardless of how many breasts might be bared, when there's a baby involved, any hint of sexuality should be out of the picture.

Just as well, why should any mother be forced to deny her child its natural cycle of feeding?(rhetoric!) At that age, I do feel as though it could possibly be detrimental to the child, just as well the mother.

Meh, maybe I'm just a closet European(..or African, or Human Being, I'm not sure), but that's my take on it, at least. Obviously not meant to attack or antagonize anyone. Interesting topic!

Ditto I mean its not a girl flashing her breast on Girls Gone Wild. Its a mother NURSING her child.

 

[Dakotah]

Now I'm super excited about going to Europe.

On a serious note, I see absolutely nothing wrong with women breastfeeding their child in public, its nature.
I agree with Dizzy, Adrienne, and the other who posted as they did.
I to, plan to breastfeed my child/ren.

 

[babymomma]

hey, Other woman dont have anything I havent got or seen.. I dont see a big deal... We're all people.. Im sure even younger boys have seen breasts before. And woman.. Well.. HELLOO?! We have them too.. Its a breast. I dont make a big deal out of seeing a breast at the beach anymore then I would seeing somebody ankle at the beach. My mind isnt warped enough to think its sexual I guess *shrug*..

 

[Dizzy]

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing a willy at the beach.

Half the fun of visiting France

But boobs? Meh.... Got my own to look at.

 

[Dakotah]

hey, Other woman dont have anything I havent got or seen.. I dont see a big deal... We're all people.. Im sure even younger boys have seen breasts before. And woman.. Well.. HELLOO?! We have them too.. Its a breast. I dont make a big deal out of seeing a breast at the beach anymore then I would seeing somebody ankle at the beach. My mind isnt warped enough to think its sexual I guess *shrug*..

Ditto.

 

[nancy2394]

I don't have a problem with women breastfeeding their child in public... maybe I didn't get my point across well enough. I personally am okay with it, but i have been in situations where it has made me a bit uncomfortable. I realize it's not a "sexual" thing... but I don't want to look at a breast while I am eating dinner...lol

Our bodies are natural, but we don't go around naked because there is the whole modesty thing and what would be considered socially acceptable. I think it's absurd to make a breastfeeding mom feel as though she can not breast feed her child when the child is hungry. But I do feel she should make an attempt to be discreet about it. That way... the child is getting fed, and people aren't being forced into an uncomfortable situation.

Maybe if I lived in Europe I may see it differently, but I live in america and in america... you don't walk around topless. I suppose you could try, but I'd bet you'd be explaining yourself to a judge after you were arrested for indecent exposure in public..lol

 

[Dizzy]

You wouldn't wanna walk around topless here, you'd get leared at and cold.

The UK isn't like France/Spain etc.

Sadly

 

[nancy2394]

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing a willy at the beach.

Half the fun of visiting France

But boobs? Meh.... Got my own to look at.

willy?? LMAO.. that is hilarious. I knew about topless sunbathing in europe.. but you guys get to have willies out in the breeze too?? Oddly enough, it wouldn't bother me at the beach to see nakedness.. it's at the dinner table where I have the issue..lol Unless it's my hubby and me in the privacy of our own home

 

[Dizzy]

willy?? LMAO.. that is hilarious. I knew about topless sunbathing in europe.. but you guys get to have willies out in the breeze too?? Oddly enough, it wouldn't bother me at the beach to see nakedness.. it's at the dinner table where I have the issue..lol Unless it's my hubby and me in the privacy of our own home

Depends where you go.

Funnily I live near a nudist beach here. Well it's a normal beach that was historically known for nudity, and even though there are massive signs saying so, you still get the nudists

I love spotting them. More power to them I say!!!!!!!!! Wish I had the balls to do it more. Or at all. I always ponder a nudist holiday.. I could well be a naturist I think!

 

[drmom777]

Right here in the US, at Sandy Hook National Seashore, there is a nudist beach. We go there on a regular basis. We are not nudists, and wear our bathing suits, but are not bothered by nudity and that beach is always less crowded, because people are scared to use it. Clothing is optional.

 

[sillysally]

So I can watch a calf suckle, puppies suckle, but not a human?

I remember playing with my toys when I was little and had mummy dog and her puppy and mummy dog did feed her puppies.

What is the difference?

We have nipple-phobia in the US. A woman can walk around in a bikini at the beach or public pool showing almost her entire breast and that's fine, but if a woman is breast feeding in public a nipple might accidentally see the light of day *gasp of horror* :yikes:

DH's mom had 8 kids, breast fed every one of them, and did it in public without a blanket or anything if necessary. Her feeling was that she was feeding her child and if people didn't like it they didn't have to look.

Personally I'd much rather have a woman breastfeed the kid than listen to it scream.

 

[mjb]

There supposedly is a section of South Beach in Miami that is nude, but when we accompanied my husband there on a business trip, we never saw it. I'm sure the Miami people on Chaz would know if this is indeed true or if we were fed a tourist tall tale.

 

[Pam111]

Personally I'd much rather have a woman breastfeed the kid than listen to it scream.

That's what's funny, too. If my baby starts crying in public (especially a restaurant), I get nasty looks. But people don't want to see breastfeeding at a restaurant. They just expect you to stay home all the time, I guess. I don't feel like I have to stay home just because I have an infant (it's not like I'm taking him to fine dining places or movies or anything).

 

[MyHorseMyRules]

I don't have a problem with women breastfeeding their child in public... maybe I didn't get my point across well enough. I personally am okay with it, but i have been in situations where it has made me a bit uncomfortable. I realize it's not a "sexual" thing... but I don't want to look at a breast while I am eating dinner...lol

Our bodies are natural, but we don't go around naked because there is the whole modesty thing and what would be considered socially acceptable. I think it's absurd to make a breastfeeding mom feel as though she can not breast feed her child when the child is hungry. But I do feel she should make an attempt to be discreet about it. That way... the child is getting fed, and people aren't being forced into an uncomfortable situation.

Maybe if I lived in Europe I may see it differently, but I live in america and in america... you don't walk around topless. I suppose you could try, but I'd bet you'd be explaining yourself to a judge after you were arrested for indecent exposure in public..lol

Thank you. This is exactly what I was trying (and apparently failing) to say.

 

[corgi_love]

That's what's funny, too. If my baby starts crying in public (especially a restaurant), I get nasty looks. But people don't want to see breastfeeding at a restaurant. They just expect you to stay home all the time, I guess. I don't feel like I have to stay home just because I have an infant (it's not like I'm taking him to fine dining places or movies or anything).

I don't think anyone here is asking you to stay home and never leave. Nancy's saying if you're going to breastfeed, do it discreetly because frankly, not many want to see you boobie hanging out, especially while eating dinner. I have to agree with this. I don't have a problem with breastfeeding in public, however I'd rather not see your bare breast. If you're going to do it, it's not absurd for us to ask you to be modest about it. That's why it's illegal to walk around topless, or to walk around pantless. It's indecency, we don't want to see it.