Breastfeeding........

[BrassCowboy]

I was at a wedding when a woman started changing her 3-year old right there in the middle of the reception. Just layed the kid down on a chair and did it.

Needless to say, she was on the other side of the family.

[blas]

I was given a dirty diaper as a tip in the short time I was a waitress.

Some obviously really trashy people decided that after they ate, they'd change their baby's diaper right upon the very table they just ate upon. That other people were expected to eat upon after they left.

[Gilgamesh]

Seriously, who are these people? Stuff like this belongs to toilets unless there is an extremely good reason to do otherwise.

Breastfeeding means a baby is eating, and eating is generally speaking allowed. Changing diapers would be roughly the same as pulling your pants down and taking a crap or piss at a wedding reception/ in a restaurant etc. Maybe these parents would like it - somehow I still doubt it, though.

[Lone Wolf]

Nobody *has* to stare. When I was a child, I was taught that staring was rude.

Some people will just take any excuse to gawk

And what some people don't seem to realize is that those of us who *are* polite enough to not stare, are often making a sustained and conscious effort to do so. I saw a woman breastfeeding on a bus the other day, in a seat directly across from me -- no nursing blanket or any attempt to cover up whatsoever. It would have been impossible not to look at her without a deliberate effort to look somewhere else untill she had finished. I find this to be very tactless and disrespectful of other people's personal space, but according to some people not liking this means *I'm* the one with issues. I have no problem with public breastfeeding except when it's done in an inconsiderate fashion like this.

And btw...what's wrong with using breast pump/bottle kits? That's exactly what they were made for, if I'm not mistaken. Pump milk into the bottles before you go out, then you have it ready whenever. Then there's no need to breastfeed in public.

[spookysonata]

I'd respond in more detail but I'd probably get told to take it to Fratching. I will say that breasts are more portable than bottles

Let's just agree to disagree.

[Lone Wolf]

Good enough for me

And just for the record spooky, my little rant wasn't directed at you personally. You just said something that happened to trigger a peeve of mine on this subject.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Well, breast pumps are not the best solution, really. They are great, don't get me wrong, but if you are trying to breastfeed, a couple things could backfire on you using a pump.

1. It's a huge, huge, HUGE hassle to have to use a breast pump.

2. Breastfeeding babies may reject anything but mom.

3. Babies switched from rubber nipple to natural one may experience "nipple confusion", which can cause a real problem during any type of feeding, bottle or natural. Breastfeeding is not all that easy as you might think, so, the last thing you need is a confused infant on top of everything else.

4. Dragging bottles around is really, really inconvenient.

5. If you are breastfeeding, you are on a schedule. You can't just feed baby or express at your convenience. You could surely feed baby from a bottle, but then you have another problem: engorged breasts. You HAVE to either feed the baby or express. Best case scenario if you ignore this call? Extreme pain and/or a wet shirt. Worst? Your milk dries up. A baby you can feed in a public place. Not so with a breast pump.

I think most women would rather nurse in private. However, if there is no place to go, you have to make do with what you have.

[tollbaby]

I turned around and went the other way. It was weird, why not use the bathroom? There was a restroom not 100 yards away from her! And why does a 5 or 6 year old need changing?

I agree that the mother should have used the bathroom, but there could have been any number of reasons why a 5 or 6 year old needed changing Last time I visited the guy I dated down in Chicago, I was changing his 6 year old autistic son's diaper in my car while out at the park. Some children simply don't master potty training at a "normal" age, and some children simply have continence problems.

As for the breast pump issue.... which would you rather experience on the bus - a nursing mom (however inconsiderate), or a hungry, screaming baby?

I had to express during the day because I went back to work when my son was only 8 weeks old, and my milk dried up. When my baby was with me, I fed him. Period. No reason not to. And to express my reasons why would also be Fratching material, so I'll shut up now and simply say I wish I had had the option to breastfeed my adopted child as well as my natural child

[Gabrielle Proctor]

I was given a dirty diaper as a tip in the short time I was a waitress.

That is vile!!! What the hell is wrong with people?!!

[Sheldonrs]

I don't get why anyone would stare. I've seen several of my friends breast feeding their kids and all i can say is EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Ain't nothin' sadder-lookin' than a tit that's been gnawed on for a few months.

[depechemodefan]

I was given a dirty diaper as a tip in the short time I was a waitress.

Some obviously really trashy people decided that after they ate, they'd change their baby's diaper right upon the very table they just ate upon. That other people were expected to eat upon after they left.

I was at a fast-food restaurant, and this white-trash girl was changing her kid's diaper on the dining table. I would have told the manager, except I figure the witch would dump the diaper on my head. egad.

On Re-opening day at the library I saw this woman with her kid at her chest. I kept on looking, trying to figure out if she was breast feeding her kid or just has the kid resting his head on her chest. I saw bare skin, but I was just clinically trying to figure out what was going on then just gawking. She didn't say anything, I guess she figured out there will be gawking.

I do think the woman who was breast feeding her kid in the drive thru was an imbicile. what if the car behind her accidently hit her? Her kid's head will hit the stering wheel.

[Lone Wolf]

Just so everyone's aware, I just started a discussion thread on this topic over at fratching:

http://www.fratching.com/showthread.php?t=714

[Titi]

I wonder if it is actual staring or perceived staring.

Now I was taught that staring was wrong but if I am looking in someone's direction lost in thought, I don't even see the person or whatever they are doing. But that doesn't stop people from yelling at me to stop staring at them.

One time was on the bus when I was looking out the window so that I could signal when to stop (I had a not normal stop (but still a legit stop) and had driver's pass it when I signaled anyways. (and this was why I was making sure that I signaled well ahead of time and also got up and informed the driver of where I wanted to stop.) and the person across from me got her panties in a snit because I kept staring at her and yelled at me about it.

[RootedPhoenix]

Some people just want to get in a snit. Just because someone has their head aimed in your general direction doesn't mean that you are the target of their eyes.

I have a feeling that it's got a lot more to do with perception, and less to do with reality.

[Cat]

Hello all!! Just though I'd chime in on this, even though I have been outta retail for a few years.


Once, back when I was a barista, I had a woman come in, whip it out (best way to put it, she was nit subtle at all) and nursed. Now, some will say "Don't stare" and "She has to nurse," but she was sitting directly across from my register, about 2 feet away. Ugh....sorry, it was not necessary. Her hubby bought drink, and sat near her. I was about to comment that outside food was not allowed, when thankfully, some mall rat boys came in and rudely stared...the baby was done feeding then.