New survey on the RFC site: Breastfeeding in restaurants

Chatty wrote on Tue, 29 May 2007 16:03:29 +0200:

CC> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

CC> Vote now!
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CC> Chatty Cathy

It was not a common practice when we had small kids and I admit
I was a little surprised when my sister breast-fed my young
niece on a visit to my house. On the other hand, done without
fuss and excessive display, I can't see why people should object
and I've certainly seen it done just like that in the last 10
years or so by people like the wife of my daughter's wealthy
boss. I really can't understand the fuss some people make; have
they never been to a French (or other North European) beach?

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Chatty Cathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Vote now!

I don't know why breast feeding in public kind of bugs me because I'm a very
accepting person. I can completely understand why a woman would need to do
so. I can completely relate that the child is hungry and needs to eat. The
woman shouldn't feel ashamed to feed her child.........but.........I just
don't want to see it. If you can cover up with a blanket and not make it
darn obvious, have at it, but when a woman's breast is fully exposed on a
bus or in a restaurant, I have a different opinion.

Most men don't look at a breast as a method of feeding; a breast is a
sex-toy. Maybe I'm more turned off by that than breast feeding?!?!? It's
just a [censored]!

kili <------- down to one [censored], unless you count her husband, then she still
has two

James Silverton said:

Chatty wrote on Tue, 29 May 2007 16:03:29 +0200:

CC> http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

CC> Vote now!
CC> -- CC> Cheers
CC> Chatty Cathy

It was not a common practice when we had small kids and I admit I was a
little surprised when my sister breast-fed my young niece on a visit to
my house. On the other hand, done without fuss and excessive display, I
can't see why people should object and I've certainly seen it done just
like that in the last 10 years or so by people like the wife of my
daughter's wealthy boss. I really can't understand the fuss some people
make; have they never been to a French (or other North European) beach?

In South Africa breastfeeding has always been the "norm" - long before
the "experts" announced that it was the best thing for the baby. Mothers
breastfeed their babies wherever they are; some are more discrete than
others, but nobody bats an eyelid... It's good for baby, easier than
carting around bottles and formula - and the milk doesn't have to be
"warmed up" 😉
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

James Silverton said:

It was not a common practice when we had small kids and I admit
I was a little surprised when my sister breast-fed my young
niece on a visit to my house. On the other hand, done without
fuss and excessive display, I can't see why people should object
and I've certainly seen it done just like that in the last 10
years or so by people like the wife of my daughter's wealthy
boss. I really can't understand the fuss some people make; have
they never been to a French (or other North European) beach?

It is just part of our weird social hang-ups. We have been socialized to
thing of breasts as sexual things. They have to be covered up so people
don't see them, but at the same time women where undergarments to prop them
up and make them more noticeable, use support gimmicks to increase
cleavage. They want the right to be able to expose them and go topless in
public, but men can't look at them too long, and don't dare touch one that
is exposed because what would be a simple assault at most if it were an arm
that was touched because sexual assault when it is a breast that is
touched.

It is all a matter of social attitudes, and a lot of people hold the
prudish attitude that the natural act of a mother nursing a baby is
something dirty that should not be in the public eye.

AFAIAC, breast feeding in a family restaurant should be perfectly
acceptable, but when it comes to "fine dining", the big sin is taking a
baby into a place like that where they will be likely to disrupt other
diners.

Dave Smith said:

James Silverton said:

It was not a common practice when we had small kids and I admit
I was a little surprised when my sister breast-fed my young
niece on a visit to my house. On the other hand, done without
fuss and excessive display, I can't see why people should object
and I've certainly seen it done just like that in the last 10
years or so by people like the wife of my daughter's wealthy
boss. I really can't understand the fuss some people make; have
they never been to a French (or other North European) beach?

It is just part of our weird social hang-ups. We have been
socialized to thing of breasts as sexual things. They have to be
covered up so people don't see them, but at the same time women where
undergarments to prop them up and make them more noticeable, use
support gimmicks to increase cleavage. They want the right to be
able to expose them and go topless in public, but men can't look at
them too long, and don't dare touch one that is exposed because what
would be a simple assault at most if it were an arm that was touched
because sexual assault when it is a breast that is touched.

It is all a matter of social attitudes, and a lot of people hold the
prudish attitude that the natural act of a mother nursing a baby is
something dirty that should not be in the public eye.

AFAIAC, breast feeding in a family restaurant should be perfectly
acceptable, but when it comes to "fine dining", the big sin is taking
a baby into a place like that where they will be likely to disrupt
other diners.

I 100% agree with you, Dave. I think that's my most...........what's the
word I'm looking for ......objectional (?) thing about openly
breastfeeding. Breasts *are* considered sexual items, which, of course,
they're not - they perform a valid function. And I also agree with you on
your second point. If you want to go to a *fine* dining establishment, I
don't think children should be allowed. Get a sitter and a breast pump for
gosh sakes! What patron wants to pay well over $100 for a meal to hear a
crying child? Don't most people go to a fabulous restaurant to get away
from it all? It's like a mini-vacation to go out and have an elaborate meal
with a special person.

I don't know, flame me if you wish, but that's just how I feel. If you have
your child with you in a Golden Corral, please, breast feed away, but not
demonstratively. Cover yourself with a blanket and get it done. In a fine
dining restaurant, please leave the baby at home.

Do I sound [censored]? (Ack!)

kili

Chatty Cathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Vote now!

Woo hoo! Where's my hat?!

As for breastfeeding in restaurants: I don't care how "natural" or
"normal" it is to feed a baby. Keep your [censored] inside your blouse at the
table, please. It's normal to change a baby's diapers, too, but one
hopes young Mother wouldn't do that in the dining room either.

Many establishments provide private quarters where breastfeeding can be
carried out. Take your baby there.

kilikini said:

I don't know why breast feeding in public kind of bugs me because I'm a very
accepting person. I can completely understand why a woman would need to do
so. I can completely relate that the child is hungry and needs to eat. The
woman shouldn't feel ashamed to feed her child.........but.........I just
don't want to see it. If you can cover up with a blanket and not make it
darn obvious, have at it, but when a woman's breast is fully exposed on a
bus or in a restaurant, I have a different opinion.

To me, it depends on the restaurant situation. At one end, in a McDonalds, I
have no problem with it at all. At the other extreme, at a swanky restaurant, it
would really bother me. In between is kind of a gray area. I guess the line for
me might be if the other patrons were expecting a quiet or romantic dinner. In
those cases, I'd say don't do it. But in those situations, do small kids even
belong there?

I suppose if we let this breast feeding in restaurants thing spread, the next
thing we will have is people changing diapers on the tables! ;-) Somehow I get
the feeling that already happens at McDonalds.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

"kilikini" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave Smith said:

AFAIAC, breast feeding in a family restaurant should be perfectly
acceptable, but when it comes to "fine dining", the big sin is taking
a baby into a place like that where they will be likely to disrupt
other diners.

I 100% agree with you, Dave. I think that's my most...........what's the
word I'm looking for ......objectional (?) thing about openly
breastfeeding. Breasts *are* considered sexual items, which, of course,
they're not - they perform a valid function. And I also agree with you on
your second point. If you want to go to a *fine* dining establishment, I
don't think children should be allowed. Get a sitter and a breast pump
for
gosh sakes! What patron wants to pay well over $100 for a meal to hear a
crying child? Don't most people go to a fabulous restaurant to get away
from it all? It's like a mini-vacation to go out and have an elaborate
meal
with a special person.

I don't know, flame me if you wish, but that's just how I feel. If you
have
your child with you in a Golden Corral, please, breast feed away, but not
demonstratively. Cover yourself with a blanket and get it done. In a
fine
dining restaurant, please leave the baby at home.

ITA!

I've never taken a baby to a *fine* dining establishment, not only because I
wouldn't want to disrupt other diners (with fussing, etc.--babies can be
unpredictable, even when they're not hungry), but because *I* wouldn't enjoy
the experience. DH and I reserve that type of restaurant for our "date
nights", when it's just the two of us. Why anyone would want to take a baby
to such a tony place is beyond me.

But, yeah, at a more casual place, bring the baby and feed the baby if
he/she's hungry (discreetly, of course).

Quoted message said:

Do I sound [censored]? (Ack!)

Nope. You sound perfectly reasonable to me.

Mary

kilikini wrote on Tue, 29 May 2007 10:51:58 -0400:

k> Dave Smith wrote:
??>> James Silverton wrote:
??>>
??>>> It was not a common practice when we had small kids and I
??>>> admit I was a little surprised when my sister breast-fed
??>>> my young niece on a visit to my house. On the other hand,
??>>> done without fuss and excessive display, I can't see why
??>>> people should object and I've certainly seen it done just
??>>> like that in the last 10 years or so by people like the
??>>> wife of my daughter's wealthy boss. I really can't
??>>> understand the fuss some people make; have they never
??>>> been to a French (or other North European) beach?
??>>
??>> It is just part of our weird social hang-ups. We have
??>> been socialized to thing of breasts as sexual things. They
??>> have to be covered up so people don't see them, but at the

What's all this "our" and "we"? Did you miss the second part of
my post concering European beaches? Not everyone lives in the
more backward parts of the world :-)

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

"kilikini" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave Smith said:

James Silverton said:

It was not a common practice when we had small kids and I admit
I was a little surprised when my sister breast-fed my young
niece on a visit to my house. On the other hand, done without
fuss and excessive display, I can't see why people should object
and I've certainly seen it done just like that in the last 10
years or so by people like the wife of my daughter's wealthy
boss. I really can't understand the fuss some people make; have
they never been to a French (or other North European) beach?

It is just part of our weird social hang-ups. We have been
socialized to thing of breasts as sexual things. They have to be
covered up so people don't see them, but at the same time women where
undergarments to prop them up and make them more noticeable, use
support gimmicks to increase cleavage. They want the right to be
able to expose them and go topless in public, but men can't look at
them too long, and don't dare touch one that is exposed because what
would be a simple assault at most if it were an arm that was touched
because sexual assault when it is a breast that is touched.

It is all a matter of social attitudes, and a lot of people hold the
prudish attitude that the natural act of a mother nursing a baby is
something dirty that should not be in the public eye.

AFAIAC, breast feeding in a family restaurant should be perfectly
acceptable, but when it comes to "fine dining", the big sin is taking
a baby into a place like that where they will be likely to disrupt
other diners.

I 100% agree with you, Dave. I think that's my most...........what's the
word I'm looking for ......objectional (?) thing about openly
breastfeeding. Breasts *are* considered sexual items, which, of course,
they're not - they perform a valid function. And I also agree with you on
your second point. If you want to go to a *fine* dining establishment, I
don't think children should be allowed. Get a sitter and a breast pump
for
gosh sakes! What patron wants to pay well over $100 for a meal to hear a
crying child? Don't most people go to a fabulous restaurant to get away
from it all? It's like a mini-vacation to go out and have an elaborate
meal
with a special person.

I don't know, flame me if you wish, but that's just how I feel. If you
have
your child with you in a Golden Corral, please, breast feed away, but not
demonstratively. Cover yourself with a blanket and get it done. In a
fine
dining restaurant, please leave the baby at home.

Do I sound [censored]? (Ack!)

kili

My kid never cried in a restaurant, and we took him to all kinds. My best
theory is that it's sometimes obvious that a baby's got a regular mood &
sleep schedule, but some people are too dense to notice. So, they take their
kids to places where they're guaranteed to be overstimulated, and voila -
crying baby. We also talked to him constantly, as opposed to what some
people do - stick the kid in a high chair and ignore him/her. Babies may not
know what we're saying, but they know when they're being ignored.

"wff_ng_7" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:eeX6i.65534$UD2.62983@trnddc05...

Quoted message said:

kilikini said:

I don't know why breast feeding in public kind of bugs me because I'm a
very
accepting person. I can completely understand why a woman would need to
do
so. I can completely relate that the child is hungry and needs to eat.
The
woman shouldn't feel ashamed to feed her child.........but.........I just
don't want to see it. If you can cover up with a blanket and not make it
darn obvious, have at it, but when a woman's breast is fully exposed on a
bus or in a restaurant, I have a different opinion.

To me, it depends on the restaurant situation. At one end, in a McDonalds,
I have no problem with it at all. At the other extreme, at a swanky
restaurant, it would really bother me. In between is kind of a gray area.
I guess the line for me might be if the other patrons were expecting a
quiet or romantic dinner. In those cases, I'd say don't do it. But in
those situations, do small kids even belong there?

I suppose if we let this breast feeding in restaurants thing spread, the
next thing we will have is people changing diapers on the tables! ;-)
Somehow I get the feeling that already happens at McDonalds.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

If you equate breast feeding with diaper changes.....what an opportunity for
commentary. I'll just stop.

"MareCat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"kilikini" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave Smith said:

AFAIAC, breast feeding in a family restaurant should be perfectly
acceptable, but when it comes to "fine dining", the big sin is taking
a baby into a place like that where they will be likely to disrupt
other diners.

I 100% agree with you, Dave. I think that's my most...........what's the
word I'm looking for ......objectional (?) thing about openly
breastfeeding. Breasts *are* considered sexual items, which, of course,
they're not - they perform a valid function. And I also agree with you
on
your second point. If you want to go to a *fine* dining establishment, I
don't think children should be allowed. Get a sitter and a breast pump
for
gosh sakes! What patron wants to pay well over $100 for a meal to hear a
crying child? Don't most people go to a fabulous restaurant to get away
from it all? It's like a mini-vacation to go out and have an elaborate
meal
with a special person.

I don't know, flame me if you wish, but that's just how I feel. If you
have
your child with you in a Golden Corral, please, breast feed away, but not
demonstratively. Cover yourself with a blanket and get it done. In a
fine
dining restaurant, please leave the baby at home.

ITA!

I've never taken a baby to a *fine* dining establishment, not only because
I wouldn't want to disrupt other diners (with fussing, etc.--babies can be
unpredictable, even when they're not hungry), but because *I* wouldn't
enjoy the experience. DH and I reserve that type of restaurant for our
"date nights", when it's just the two of us. Why anyone would want to take
a baby to such a tony place is beyond me.

What the hell kinds of babies do some people have? Jeez! If the baby's got a
reason to cry in a nice restaurant, then it probably had that reason before
it got there. Figure out the reason.

"kilikini" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave Smith said:

James Silverton said:

It was not a common practice when we had small kids and I admit
I was a little surprised when my sister breast-fed my young
niece on a visit to my house. On the other hand, done without
fuss and excessive display, I can't see why people should object
and I've certainly seen it done just like that in the last 10
years or so by people like the wife of my daughter's wealthy
boss. I really can't understand the fuss some people make; have
they never been to a French (or other North European) beach?

It is just part of our weird social hang-ups. We have been
socialized to thing of breasts as sexual things.

Socialized? There's a direct phone line from the breasts to a woman's
downtown. You're built that way for a reason, and it obviously works, unless
you've been brutalized by religion or some other perversion.

"Pennyaline" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chatty Cathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Vote now!

Woo hoo! Where's my hat?!

As for breastfeeding in restaurants: I don't care how "natural" or
"normal" it is to feed a baby. Keep your [censored] inside your blouse at the
table, please.

Born again Kristian, eh?

JoeSpareBedroom said:

wff_ng_7 said:

I suppose if we let this breast feeding in restaurants thing spread, the next
thing we will have is people changing diapers on the tables! ;-) Somehow I
get the feeling that already happens at McDonalds.

If you equate breast feeding with diaper changes.....what an opportunity for
commentary. I'll just stop.

They are related... "in one end and out the other"

By the way, I'm not the only one here to mention the diaper changing
possibility.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

"Chatty Cathy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Vote now!
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

As of this writing:
55% said breastfeeding in restaurants is acceptable
55% had never done it

Does this translate to "I think its acceptable for others but I wouldn't do
it myself"?

Felice

"wff_ng_7" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:SsX6i.65535$UD2.46460@trnddc05...

Quoted message said:

JoeSpareBedroom said:

wff_ng_7 said:

I suppose if we let this breast feeding in restaurants thing spread, the
next thing we will have is people changing diapers on the tables! ;-)
Somehow I get the feeling that already happens at McDonalds.

If you equate breast feeding with diaper changes.....what an opportunity
for commentary. I'll just stop.

They are related... "in one end and out the other"

By the way, I'm not the only one here to mention the diaper changing
possibility.

Yeah...I saw the others. The solution is to avoid eating in places that
attract people who think the Jerry Springer show is high culture. They're
the same slobs who have the cat's litter box next to the dining table, and
think nothing of it.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Felice Friese said:

"Chatty Cathy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Vote now!
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

As of this writing:
55% said breastfeeding in restaurants is acceptable
55% had never done it

Does this translate to "I think its acceptable for others but I wouldn't do
it myself"?

More likely it translates to men, who might accept it even though they
are pretty much incapable of doing it.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Pennyaline said:

Chatty Cathy said:

http://www.recfoodcooking.com/

Vote now!

Woo hoo! Where's my hat?!

As for breastfeeding in restaurants: I don't care how "natural" or
"normal" it is to feed a baby. Keep your [censored] inside your blouse at the
table, please. It's normal to change a baby's diapers, too, but one
hopes young Mother wouldn't do that in the dining room either.

Many establishments provide private quarters where breastfeeding can be
carried out. Take your baby there.

Probably the bathroom. Who wants to spend their meal in the bathroom?
Breastfeeding takes a long time, time that could be spent eating instead
of letting the food get cold. In the meantime, some of the women who
are eating are hanging out every square inch of their [censored] that they
can, whereas the breastfeeding mom often has nothing showing for 99% of
the time.