Father says wife was hassled about breastfeeding at Six Flags America

RatherGoodBear said:
I think there are some cultural components to this. In many places throughout the world, there are no alternatives to breastfeeding. And most of the women who are breastfeeding 4-year olds are probably not doing so in very public places like amusement parks or malls.

Is the village square not a "public" place? It's not like they go off to the comfort hut to feed their little one so that the rest of the topless villagers aren't made uncomfortable.

Ensign Smith said:
By whose objective metric? Yours?

Dammit Mike, you know we use the Imperial system over here. The metric system is for the primitives. ;)

wahoo skipper said:
"Over there" is not as good as "here"? Spoken like someone who has never been "over there". There is a lot to be said about the European lifestyle and their sheer joy of life, not too mention, their priorities.

I think what Jonathan was saying was that in many American's eyes, 'over there' is not as good as 'here', hence his 'unfortunately many Americans would disagree with you' comment.

As far as the issue at hand, I definitely think that it's weird to see a child past 2 in a country like ours breastfeeding, not because of some taboo or stigma, but at some point you have to let them start growing out of it. Regardless of research, I don't know anyone personally that has either breastfed their child that long, or anyone who as a child breastfed that long.

I do think that breastfeeding is important, and it doesn't bother me when a woman does it in public. Because of laws and socially acceptable standards, I think that there should be some discretion on the mother's part, but that shouldn't stop her from doing it wherever she feels comfortable.

Nothing should have been said to this person, and I agree that HR should be training people about these things.

Tekwardo said:
Regardless of research, I don't know anyone personally that has either breastfed their child that long, or anyone who as a child breastfed that long.

Exactly. Why are we so weird about it? Especially when it's entirely natural and instinctual to breastfeed longer.

I pretty sure somewhere deep inside, I think it's weird that we drink the milk of other species, but put a stigma on drinking human milk past an arbitrary age.

But that's just me, I'm sure.

With all of that said, we didn't breastfeed our kids at all and we go through a ridiculous amount of milk around here.

I've never been able to figure out how the words "breast feeding" and "offensive" ever got placed in the same sentence together. Its like getting offended for the sake of getting offended.

The science argues that the longer you do it the better. Believe me, there was a lot of angst in my family when we couldn't do it for Simon in the long run. Formula just can't offer the same thing.

Carrie M. said:
There are other things that are just as beautiful, natural, and amazing that I'm not allowed to do on a public park bench, though. Just saying. :)

Exactly. And some of those activities probably involve boobies too!

On the serious side, that is the struggle that we face here. There are many activities that are natural and instinctive and must occur for a human to live. But society says that we cannot urinate in public. Not trying to sound like a jerk but what makes breastfeeding OK but not urinating?

I imagine part of it has to do with breasts being so sexually linked in America. Most men here have a breast fetish, which isn't the case around the world (to the point that it's not even really considered a "fetish" here).

If urine came out our ears, while it would still smell bad and pose some sort of public health issue, urinating in public probably wouldn't be nearly as frowned upon as it is now, since it wouldn't involve exposing a sex organ.

Uh, I don't want to step in someone's urine. Even if breastfeeding were dirty or in some way disgusting, I can't step in it.

Well that's why you just put your finger in one ear and point the other toward the side of a building, or a tree trunk.

Shades said:

Exactly. And some of those activities probably involve boobies too!

On the serious side, that is the struggle that we face here. There are many activities that are natural and instinctive and must occur for a human to live. But society says that we cannot urinate in public. Not trying to sound like a jerk but what makes breastfeeding OK but not urinating?

I don't think you can make a case for urination directly benefiting another human being's growth and health.

Is that why exposing a breast for feeding a child is 'beautiful' but doing the same for horny guys in a bar is 'slutty'?

(Not really trying to be an ass here; I do understand the difference, just trying to explore the psychology behind it.)

I appreciate the good responses. I just struggle with this issue. I've seen breastfeeding in public and am fine with it, but the times I have seen it the woman was not making a show of it. Just her, her baby, and a small blanket. That works for me.

Have you seen many moms making a show of breastfeeding (in public or otherwise)?

I don't think I've ever seen anyone purposely making a show of it (Not saying that it doesn't happen, I just haven't see it), but I dont' particularly care to see a complete bare breast with a child of any age sucking on it. That's my own personal uneasiness abou it, and I think that in public a light blanket or covering would make me feel better, but I guess it's up to the mom, baby, and applicable laws.

Lord Gonchar said:

I think it's weird that we drink the milk of other species, but put a stigma on drinking human milk past an arbitrary age.

Usually that quote is coming out of my mouth. I remember after one of my friends had a kid, they wanted to switch to the bottle immediately because they thought breastfeeding was nasty. You have seen a cow. You have seen a goat. You have seen a breast. Which one is more appealing?

If it bothers you, don't look. I don't particularly care to see human faces with all kinds of rings, rods, bolts, etc. sticking out of lips, eyebrows, ears, etc. But they are there.

I think in the vast majority of cases, moms are covering up with blankets or something else when nursing in public. And I know a lot of nursing moms who never have nursed in public because they never felt comfortable doing it. Not sure we really have a big problem here in terms of moms who make a show of nursing in public.

And it is funny to see the number of folks who think that breastfeeding is gross but drinking milk from hormone induced cows is not.

Juggalotus said:

Ensign Smith said:
By whose objective metric? Yours?

Dammit Mike, you know we use the Imperial system over here. The metric system is for the primitives. ;)

LOL, Jugga. That must be why I couldn't find a 'quarter pounder with cheese' on the menu at the Amsterdam McDonalds....

Lord Gonchar said:

With all of that said, we didn't breastfeed our kids at all and we go through a ridiculous amount of milk around here.

We?

Gonch, you continue to amaze us with your many talents.

I always knew he was Special. Maybe we should be Beaver and the Boob instead?

I knew that would get a reaction. I actually hesitated when typing that, but you know what? We decided not to.

And being the at-home dad, that means I didn't have to fill bottle with breastmilk and feed the kids.

We didn't breastfeed our kids. :)