Breastfeeding in Public

Jefe in the CO wrote:

Pertaining to some other threads, bottle feeding has only been around for about 50 years. In that time autism rates have ballooned, childhood diabetes has likewise skyrocketed, ADHD is running rampant, etc., etc. We as a nation are harming our children.

Don't forget that global warming and fundamentalist terrorism have also spiked in this same time period.

Co-sleeping is a choice. wrote:

Co-sleeping is great. We sleep with our 3 kids, ages 10, 7 & 18 months. Every now and then my 7 year old goes and sleeps in his own room when he wants to. It hasn't been a "nightmare" and it hasn't hurt the "sanity" of his parents.

If you don't believe in co-sleeping, that's fine, don't do it; but to tell other people not to do it is out of line.

It's a personal choice.

The guy just asked how to make the transition. It is remarkably simple to teach your children before they are one year old, that bedtime is safe, comfortable and pleasant. It just takes routine. I personally have nothing against people who choose the family bed. Its just a long term choice that some people get tired of and then suffer when they would like to make a change.

Nice!!! wrote:

Just because it's natural doesn't make it right. It's rude and inconsiderate to be that obvious in public. I have no problem discreetly breast-feeding...but come on.

Why are you looking? It is none of your business! If you can't deal with it, look away and ignore it.

If you can't look away, perhaps the look of two barrels aimed at you would help.

To be fair, we do sleep with a side car but our kids usually share the bed with us (we have a king). But, the risk of a co-sleeping death is minimal. I think they found 515 in a 7 year period and they were mostly because of method failure. There are substantially more crib deaths per year ALSO do to method failure. A good parent can do either with our some fear of killing their kid in the night. For that matter, if you want to be safe simply don't drive because that is the riskiest thing any of us do with our kids.

As well, I don't think it is a fair comparison to say malaria and dirty water are the equivalent of co-sleeping. Most of the world does not choose to contract malaria as they choose to co-sleep.

I also firmly believe that co-sleeping is critical for breast fed babies and attachment parenting in general.

old and grouchy wrote:

If a parent was saying they were forcing it for the kid's own good, but really doing it for their own selfish reasons, that would be "ostensibly".

This is exactly what was meant.

My brother died when he was six months old by sufficating on a blanket when he was co-sleeping. I would advise against it.

For the children wrote:

Jefe in the CO wrote:

Pertaining to some other threads, bottle feeding has only been around for about 50 years. In that time autism rates have ballooned, childhood diabetes has likewise skyrocketed, ADHD is running rampant, etc., etc. We as a nation are harming our children.

Don't forget that global warming and fundamentalist terrorism have also spiked in this same time period.

And the number of pirates has declined dramatically, too. There's a graph somewhere. Concurrent trends, yes. harder to prove cause and effect, although the link between bottle feeding and childhood obesity is becoming pretty well established.

I think we should focus our energy on the worst social ills such as rape, stealing from the elderly, child abuse, abortion, and murder. Let's get our priorities straight and forget about some lady's boob being exposed to feed her infant in public. Big deal.

A lot of people mis-understood my post. I'll try and be more clear this time.

I never said that breastfeeding in public was wrong. Not once. I just said that women should recognize that exposing their breasts in public, even for something natural and innocent, COULD be offensive to others. Just like farting COULD be offensive. This doesn't mean that the woman can't breastfeed in public, it also doesn't mean she can't expose her breast while doing so, all I was saying is that as social human beings we are all required to be aware of things that offend others and attempt to minmize these controversial acts when in the vicinity of others.

I'm getting a lot of responses like "if you have a problem with it, then its your problem not the mothers." This argument doesn't make sense. If I went around saying things in public like "that's gay" or using other sexual orientation or gender demeaning frases, I think a lot of people would be very offended. Now lets say I didn't think there was a problem with it. Just because I don't think theres a problem with saying those things doesn't make it ok to say them BECAUSE other people may and most likely will be offended. (Just to note, I am agaisnt saying things like "thats gay").

The "try to deal with it" response just doesn't work. People think differently. We should all respect that. People get offended over different things. We should all respect that. Hopefully this makes things clearer. Again, I never said I am against public breastfeeding, I only said it should be done discretely out of the respect for others.

jungleroy59 wrote:

harder to prove cause and effect, although the link between bottle feeding and childhood obesity is becoming pretty well established.

And since there is no demonstrated cause and effect, mentioning "the link" is the same as saying nothing at all and attempting to make it appear otherwise.

Actually, if you want a real surprise, check out infant mortality rates across countries. Look where the US ranks.

To be fair, we do sleep with a side car but our kids usually share the bed with us (we have a king). But, the risk of a co-sleeping death is minimal. I think they found 515 in a 7 year period and they were mostly because of method failure. There are substantially more crib deaths per year ALSO do to method failure. A good parent can do either with our some fear of killing their kid in the night. For that matter, if you want to be safe simply don't drive because that is the riskiest thing any of us do with our kids.

As well, I don't think it is a fair comparison to say malaria and dirty water are the equivalent of co-sleeping. Most of the world does not choose to contract malaria as they choose to co-sleep.

I also firmly believe that co-sleeping is critical for breast fed babies and attachment parenting in general.

Advocate, you are treading needlessly in dangerous water. HBO did a special with Dr. Baden (medical examiner) on a Canadian woman who smothered 2 of her children (separately of course) when sleeping with them. Your kids seem like they will be molly-coddled by you & your wife. Let them be.

I would have joined in!

Ever try breast milk as an adult? I get it straight from the tit! Admit I know some of you have.

Lazy L wrote:

Actually, if you want a real surprise, check out infant mortality rates across countries. Look where the US ranks.

If you define "infant" as conception to twelve months, I think we are 26th (off the top my head from Bradley classes). I remember being amazed that we were one of the worst in the developed world.

Too many moles.

Never heard of her. I guess you have to get publicity any way you can.

desert rodent wrote:

Advocate, you are treading needlessly in dangerous water. HBO did a special with Dr. Baden (medical examiner) on a Canadian woman who smothered 2 of her children (separately of course) when sleeping with them. Your kids seem like they will be molly-coddled by you & your wife. Let them be.

Anecdotal evidence--as shocking and luring as it may be--does not prove much. Most of the world co-sleeps. Children have been raised on the breast in the family bed for ten thousand or more years. I am sure I have no reason to "let them be."

Holy f***, americans are obsessed with tits and sex. Amazing. Just f***ing amazing.