Breastfeeding in public places? Do you think there should be a law for it?

i think they should have breastfeeding stations at malls so that mothers don't have to go into the dirty germ infested bathrooms to nurse. A breastfeeding station could be a small room with tinted windows so people can't see in with a nice couch and some pillows to make nursing comfortable and natural. i was told to leave a mall when i nursed my son in public, and have since been working hard on my plan to get nursing stations put into malls.

Are there really still states that don't have a law in place protecting breastfeeding mothers? So many law suits have been filed on behalf of breastfeeding mothers that I can't imagine why anyone would take the risk of discriminating against one, anymore. And it IS discrimination; that's what breasts are for. And if a guy can walk around in public without a shirt on, nobody's going to tell me that my child can't eat in public because someone *might* see a brief flash of skin. In other countries, people think NOTHING of a woman exposing her breast to feed her child. It's worse than prudishness to get offended over a woman breastfeeding.

I've never been discriminated against by breastfeeding in public, but I do get weird looks from some people. What I do believe is that stores should try to have a small area to accommodate breastfeeding mothers. Some malls and very few stores sometimes have a small room to breastfeed. I say this because I've been to malls where I have to go to the restroom and breastfeed my baby standing up, while people go in and out and they give me weird looks because my stroller is in the way or because of what I'm doing or just because.

Yes i agree. I breastfeed both of my children whenever they needed it, where ever we were, even when out in public. I was always discreet and i doubt very much that ANYONE 'saw' anything. I never had any problems, or heard any remarks about my doing so, but many women do. It is disgraceful that a women can be allowed to be thrown out of a public place just because she is doing the most natural thing in the world, feeding her own baby at the breast. Yes there should be a law to protect breastfeeding women.

There should be laws that ensure people who try to prevent mothers from nursing their hungry children are forced to eat their meals in the bathroom.

Food is a human right, and the fact prudish values have criminalized feeding a baby the best food it can have (in some places) is a huge blot of shame on our culture.

I am the father of two breastfed daughters that ate whenever and wherever they needed to. Fortunately, nobody ever tried to prevent it, for I would have raised Hell.

Of course you should be able to breastfeed anywhere anytime...I got some flack from strangers at the mall once when I was feeding my oldest and couldn't get over their ignorance.

Nalllz: up until recently, not all states had laws protecting breastfeeding mothers...

I personnally am not a mother, nor do I really ever want to be, but I think that someone who DOES have a child has every right. Why should a child be less healthy? As long as the lady isn't flashing everyone while her child is feeding, then I think it's fine.

There are many state laws establishing the rights of nursing mothers... covered or not. I sure don't cover up with a blanket but if someone is offended with my little bit of skin showing... well I hope they can get over it because I am a lot more worried about my baby!

Most states in the US DO have such laws in place. As well as ALL federal property.

If they refuse service to a breastfeeding mother, then THEY are breakign the law and can be fined. If you know of one contact the La Leche League and see what you need to do to make sure that they do!

Most state laws specifically state, public AND private places, that NOONE can deny the mother or the child the right to nurse.

A mother should be able to feed her child wherever and whenever needed-period! I was only able to BF for about 5mos, but I was not about to feed my baby in bathroom stalls or fitting rooms! Many people freak out about peeing in public bathrooms, yet they would suggest that I feed my child in one! The way I see it, if you don't care to see me nourishing my child (and I'm not burying my baby's head in a blanket either!) then DON"T LOOK! It's that simple.