Breastfeeding in public places

[vitro]

Hi,

I am a Norwegian moving to Melbourne with a 6 mths old baby boy shortly. Just wondering, ..how do people look upon breastfeeding in public places in Australia? In Norway, "everyone" does it - cafees, on a park bench etc. Will it be as easy in Melbourne, or do I have to take any precations?

:rolleyes:

[dannii]

hi vitro,
i dont live in melb but in QLD but i just wanted to say that you do what u gotta do. bubs needs feeding so i would encourage you to do so. especially if thats what your used to.

im a very descreet feeder (or try to be) but if i have to feed when im in public i damn well will! :p
im sure there will always be that old women that will give u the disgusting look, but i think that most people are good about it.

correct me if im wrong, anyone?

anyways hope u like it here :D

[Rainbowbrite]

I'm in NSW & I feed MJ when she wants it, regardless of where I am. Thanks to my sling i've even done it while doing my shopping, discreetly ofcourse :p

If anyone looks at me strange i just smile at them & kiss MJ :D

RB

[andrewsmum]

There is a bit of a issue when it comes to breastfeeding in public. Not everyone is so accommodating of breastfeeding mothers.

I breastfed my kid whenever he wanted it and whereever I was. Sure, you get the stares from everyone (not just the oldies) but you do what you have to do. There are often parenting rooms in shopping centres which has a lounge for breastfeeding, if you wish to use those rooms. I found those rooms hot, boring and uncool.

If you are at a cafe and the waitress asks you to stop breastfeeding or move elsewhere, stand your ground!!!

As the others have said, if you feel a bit self-conscious, just try do it discreetly.

[Funkychicken]

Hi Vitro,

An early welcome to you from us in Australia.

I have never had an issue with breastfeeding in public. I take the idea that if I can show other mums that it is OK to do then we can only become more open to it as a society. If my baby (and I am currently feeding no.3 who is 3 weeks old) needs to be fed then I will feed him whenever, wherever be it in a park, cafe, shopping centre, beach etc... I personally can't stand 'parents rooms' in our shopping centres. They have curtained off cubicles for breastfeeding and to me it seems as though it is something to hide. It also feels like you are feeding your baby in the toilet! I think collectively as breastfeeding mums we need to show our society that breastfeeding is as normal a part of life as it is to eat any food.

In Australia it is illegal to persucute any mother for breastfeeding in public and it is also illegal to refuse service to a breastfeeding mother. Many business owners may try but they have no legal standing. I personally have never been judged for it and am fully supported by those around me. Here in Australia we may be behind European countries as far as openess goes but we are improving and I think Melbourne in particular is quite cosmopolitan.

Come forth and breastfeed anywhere you like when you arrive!

[meshan]

I live in Melbourne and I breastfeed anywhere anytime!!! I try and be discreate but it is hard with a little boy who likes to look around between mouthfuls!! I am happy to say I have never had one negative experience - really no-one seems to care either way.

Honestly you see more on the beach or TV then you ever would when someone was breastfeeding.

[WeThree]

i have bf my 3 children and i never once had a problem, no strange looks (tha i know of) or anything like that, and i always fed my children whenever and wherever they needed it! :)

[Foxymoron]

If I'm having lunch out, chances are my children do too! I've always fed whenever, wherever.
I guess those feeding rooms are good for women who are really shy or have religious issues about being exposed, but they're not my scene.
There are plenty of people who will smile at you, and somedays those who will scowl. We are not as "child friendly" in general as many european countries, but it's slowly changing :)

[Rainbowbrite]

It also feels like you are feeding your baby in the toilet!

Too true! We dont eat in a toilet, why should our bubs :)

RB

[dannii]

Too true! We dont eat in a toilet, why should our bubs :)

RB
yeah i totally agree with that..

[bpato]

Hi

I live in QLD, and B/F DS when and where he needs it.

The other week we were out to luch with DS godmother in an irish pub, and feed him while I wanted for lucnh at the table we were sitting at. Dh was jealous :rolleyes: .

IMO b/f in a natural way of life, and if preople have a problem with it then they should turn the other way.


They have curtained off cubicles for breastfeeding I hate feeding inside these cubicles, and I feel isolated. I would much rather sit in the eatery then in one of those.

Belinda

[Mummabear]

When I was attempting to b/f I always used the cubicles in our local Westfield. To me, our feeding times were something special that we shared with each other and I liked to give him my full attention at those times. Now that I bottle feed I still use those rooms for exactly the same reasons. I don't feel as though I'm in a toilet (I've found the Westfield rooms to be really good), I feel as though we are stepping away from all the madness outside the doors and taking 10 minutes to just be together and have a relaxing lunch.

Having said that I have flat out refused to feed in some other parent rooms as their hygiene was soooooooo appauling. I wouln't go to the toilet in there, let alone feed my baby, breast or bottle.

In answer to the original post - I see women b/f everywhere and I've never noticed anyone taking exception to it. I know I don't, each to their own.

I hope you enjoy Australia :)

[Crazy Monkey]

I live in Melbourne and I breastfeed DS whenever he needs it, where ever we are.. I find the parents rooms can be good, they are usually quieter and DS can have a better feed without the distractions...

[AM]

I've always been extremely open with where i breastfeed, pretty much anywhere, anytime, I never use mothers rooms, and have never had a bad comment or look, I've actually always felt really supported by people.
I'm in QLD by the way.

[FluffyDucks]

I live in Melbourne and I breastfeed DS whenever he needs it, where ever we are.. I find the parents rooms can be good, they are usually quieter and DS can have a better feed without the distractions...

Like Jacks mum I also live in Melb and I too breastfeed wherever and whenever he needs it (funnily enough my boy is named Jack too!). But I do use parents rooms as well as Jack gets easily distracted as he is 6 months now and at times I need to go somewhere quiet so he will eat! :)

Michelle

[LilShenanigans]

I may be the only shy person here :o

I've thought about it, but just can't feed in public. And can't even bring myself to use a mothers room...

Maybe oneday I will, but for DD, we both have to be comfortable otherwise nothing will get done..

[Jaileth]

I'm on the sunshine coast - which is about an hours drive north of Brisbane in Queensland - and I'm sitting here racking my memory. I don't think I've ever seen anyone on the coast breast feed in public!

The state capitals might be a bit different, but I just can't remember seeing anyone up here doing it - so either they were discreet to the max or it just doesn't happen in public up here. Very strange!

[draught]

Shaelia - or you have never noticed because it is not a big deal! I never noticed anyone feeding babies until I had mine and now I see women doing it everywhere (as I do)! It is a bit like prams - I never looked at prams and now I notice every model, make, etc everywhere we go! (I suffer pram envy sometimes:o !)

[Mummabear]

It is a bit like prams - I never looked at prams and now I notice every model, make, etc everywhere we go! (I suffer pram envy sometimes:o !)

PMSL - that's me too!!!! Such a pram-a-holic. Phew, glad I'm not alone on that one :p

[OM]

Breastfeed wherever you want in Australia, no one has the right to frown upon you or question you for doing this anywhere at all. Where I live in Qld we actually have stickers on some places ie cafes, chemists etc that say they welcome breastfeeding mums in their business!