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Breastfeeding in Public places

  • 03-12-2014 01:14PM
    #1
    Mr_Red
    Closed Accounts Posts: 483 ✭✭


    Story Here
    Lou Burns said she burst into tears when staff members at the five-star venue asked her to cover herself and her baby with an oversized napkin in order to avoid “causing offence” to other guests.

    The mother-of-three was enjoying afternoon tea in the main Tea Room on Monday when the incident happened.

    Ms Burns, who is married to actor Nick Burns - best known for the comic character Nathan Barley, told The Evening Standard waiters rushed over and covered her when she began feeding her daughter.

    Im not sure if I disagree with the Hotel here.

    Opinions?


«134567…22

Comments

  • #2
    BoJack Horseman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,247 ✭✭✭✭BoJack Horseman


    Mr_Red wrote: »
    Story Here



    Im not sure if I disagree with the Hotel here.

    Opinions?


    Mrs BoJack has a couple of light shawls for breastfeeding in public.

    The kid doesn't mind so it works fine.

    Its just about choice, if you don't want to use a shawl, don't.
    But no harm being cognisant of those around you.


  • #3
    BMJD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭BMJD


    I'd tell the waiter to fook off, not that my man boobs are much use at anything.


  • #4
    Honey Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 703 ✭✭✭Honey Monster


    Breast feeding is grand as long as your a woman. I get awful looks.


  • #5
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,270 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    God bless we have become easily offended, and down right prudish in our outlook on life.. This woman was doing something natural and the hotel seemed ashamed..


  • #6
    Duggy747
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,295 ✭✭✭✭Duggy747


    I don't mind if a woman breastfeeds in front of me.

    It's when she refuses to top my coffee with a few drops I find disrespectful...


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  • #7
    Pumpkinseeds
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,635 ✭✭✭Pumpkinseeds


    If you know you're going to a restaurant why not just express some milk into a bottle and bring it with you? I can see both sides of the argument, but some women make a point of being as obvious as possible about the fact that they're breast feeding, as though it's some sort of marvelous achievement. Women have been breastfeeding since time began, surely it's not too much to expect that a woman not whip a tit out in Claridges for goodness sake?


  • #8
    Fuzzytrooper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 896 ✭✭✭Fuzzytrooper


    I have no issue with breastfeeding in public - my first bambino arrived a couple of weeks ago so maybe that's changed my opinion. HOWEVER...if it is going to cause offense then I think it's not unreasonable to ask the mother to use something to cover up a bit. Some places flat out refuse to allow you to breastfeed at all I believe. My wife has a special sheet/cover designed for just such an occasion which she carries along with the baby's nappies etc. If needed she can pop it on and feed away.

    I'm surprised that a 5 star hotel didn't handle the issue more sensitively though. They could've had a quiet word. From what you quoted, it looks like their reaction may have drawn more attention to the breastfeeding. Although I wouldn't be surprised if its been blown out o proportion.


  • #9
    hoodwinked
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,175 ✭✭✭hoodwinked


    i am conflicted,

    i am pro breast feeding,

    and if some one was doing it in public i'd just avert my gaze /carry on with my day, wouldn't bother me....

    but if someone i knew was doing it right in front of me i'd be like "eww put them away"


  • #10
    Mary63
    Closed Accounts Posts: 801 ✭✭✭Mary63


    They should have supplied mother with a burka to cover herself and breast feeding baby.

    I really cannot stand these in your face mothers,put it away,we dont need to know all about you and your baby especially when your baby is walking.

    These babies are always called Phoebe or Fabian or other horrible names and you always hear them before you see them,Mum and Dad answer their stupid questions incessantly as if they and they alone are the most clever being to get up on two legs,seriously ****ing irritating in supermarket queues. It would be better if once in a while the children could be told to give their tongue a break as their chatter is so stupid,teachers then might be actually able to teach them in school.


  • #11
    qo2cj1dsne8y4k
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,646 ✭✭✭✭qo2cj1dsne8y4k


    If the child needs to be fed then I don't see why it's a big issue once the lady is discreet about it. It's a completely natural thing to do, and babies get hungry. I wouldn't eat my dinner in the bathroom so wouldn't expect a baby to either.

    It's not a woman's fault if others are such delicate flowers that they're offended by the human body.


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  • #12
    KomradeBishop
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,981 ✭✭✭KomradeBishop


    Nothing wrong with it really, but it's something that for many who are not used to seeing it, it will trigger a "wtf?" surprised reaction - which is to be expected, but doesn't mean it's ok to get offended by.


  • #13
    Penny Tration
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,687 ✭✭✭✭Penny Tration


    Has anyone actually looked at the photos of this lady? You can barely notice she's breastfeeding without the massive napkin they made her use. With it, it's very obvious what she's doing. Aside from that, apparently nobody in the restaurant actually complained.

    Why the fcuk shouldn't she breastfeed in public? It's not a sexual act, she's doing nothing wrong and tbh, you see just as much exposed breast on a walk down O'Connell Street.


  • #14
    ash23
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭ash23


    I don't think it's too much to ask for a woman to cover up a bit while feeding. When I was breastfeeding I had a light muslin cloth that I draped over my shoulder, covering my chest (not the babys face) so that it just looked like I was cuddling the baby to me.

    I truthfully don't like it when women don't at least try to be discreet. I've sat across from people who didn't even realise I was feeding. At home I would have no bother whipping my boob out but I would be more discreet in public to be considerate to other people.

    Looking at that photo though, she was lifting her top from the bottom so it isn't at all "in your face" and the restaurant were out of line.
    I was more thinking about someone who pulls their top down to breastfeed, ergo giving a pretty big eyeful.


  • #15
    SEPT 23 1989
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,038 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    Its the most natural thing in the world to see a mother feeding her kid

    people are very easily offended


  • #16
    jester77
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    It amazes me that anyone could in anyway be offended at the sight of a baby being fed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with feeding a baby, it's what breasts are there for.

    The problem is with those who somehow think they are being offended. They should just f*ck off back to their cave if something like that is going to offend them.


  • #17
    Hogzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,544 ✭✭✭Hogzy


    SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »
    Its the most natural thing in the world to see a mother feeding her kid

    people are very easily offended

    The hotel staff or the woman? TBH i think both are creating an issue over nothing.

    Big deal she was breast feeding...perfectly natural to do etc etc.

    Big deal she was asked to cover up...Shes not in McDonalds, she is in a restaurant in a 5 star hotel.

    The whole thing is PC gone mad.


  • #18
    Mary63
    Closed Accounts Posts: 801 ✭✭✭Mary63


    I was sprayed once by someone breastfeeding,I was sitting in front of her at a talk.

    It was absolutely disgusting.

    Breastfeeding in public with covering yourself also puts other women especially younger ones off breastfeeding,this is a pity as breastfeeding is important or so we are always being told.

    I dont think it makes a whit of difference.


  • #19
    jezzer
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,030 ✭✭✭jezzer


    i'm all for birds getting their jugs out but there is a time and a place and it can cause offence, not everyone wants to be in the vicinity of somebody getting their baps out regardless of what they are doing it for


  • #20
    Yeah_Right
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,347 ✭✭✭Yeah_Right


    I am a big fan of women getting their breasts out in public. I think more of them should.








    As long as they are hot :D


  • #21
    anncoates
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,925 ✭✭✭✭anncoates


    Personally, I'd like to see society being able to deal with a pair of tits being used for their original purpose without being offended.

    That said, it's a private premises so it's their call to ask her to cover up or use expressed milk so she should go along with their wishes.

    Have to say though, you'd have to wonder at the type of uptight fcuking gimp that would actually complain about somebody breastfeeding.


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  • #22
    Turtyturd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,404 ✭✭✭✭Turtyturd


    Hogzy wrote: »

    she is in a restaurant in a 5 star hotel.


    Obviously new money or she would have had the nanny do it.


  • #23
    WellThen?
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 358 ✭✭WellThen?


    God im sick of hearing "it's a natural thing". So is taking a ****. Just go somewhere else and do it whats the big deal. Why should i have to look at that while im eating my dinner.


  • #24
    Eggonyerface
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 712 ✭✭✭Eggonyerface


    Why isint this thread fill of Nathan barley quotes yet? Peace and ****ing


  • #25
    Chucken
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,459 ✭✭✭Chucken


    Mary63 wrote: »
    I was sprayed once by someone breastfeeding,I was sitting in front of her at a talk.

    It was absolutely disgusting.

    What? :confused:


  • #26
    wilhelm roentgen
    Closed Accounts Posts: 256 ✭✭wilhelm roentgen


    Bollocks to anyone who is offended by breastfeeding. That is what boobs are for!!. How can you be offended by a hungry child eating what is the most healthy and natural thing for him/her, and not be offended by seeing a 2 year-old walking around with a can of Coke and a Big Mac!!


  • #27
    Satriale
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,998 ✭✭✭Satriale


    WellThen? wrote: »
    God im sick of hearing "it's a natural thing". So is taking a ****. Just go somewhere else and do it whats the big deal. Why should i have to look at that while im eating my dinner.

    Why should i have to look at you shoveling food into your gob? Go do it in private, it's disgusting.


  • #28
    Chucken
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,459 ✭✭✭Chucken


    I cant believe it's 2 years since this thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81540070


  • #29
    IvyTheTerrible
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,949 ✭✭✭✭IvyTheTerrible


    Fuzzytrooper wrote: »
    I have no issue with breastfeeding in public - my first bambino arrived a couple of weeks ago so maybe that's changed my opinion. HOWEVER...if it is going to cause offense then I think it's not unreasonable to ask the mother to use something to cover up a bit. Some places flat out refuse to allow you to breastfeed at all I believe. My wife has a special sheet/cover designed for just such an occasion which she carries along with the baby's nappies etc. If needed she can pop it on and feed away.

    I'm surprised that a 5 star hotel didn't handle the issue more sensitively though. They could've had a quiet word. From what you quoted, it looks like their reaction may have drawn more attention to the breastfeeding. Although I wouldn't be surprised if its been blown out o proportion.
    It's against the law to refuse to allow a woman to breastfeed in a public place, it's a European law.

    And people comparing breastfeeding to taking a ****e, cop on.

    You see more exposed tit on a young one on a night out than from a mother breastfeeding.


  • #30
    kylith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,745 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    Pumpkinseeds wrote: »
    If you know you're going to a restaurant why not just express some milk into a bottle and bring it with you? I can see both sides of the argument, but some women make a point of being as obvious as possible about the fact that they're breast feeding, as though it's some sort of marvelous achievement. Women have been breastfeeding since time began, surely it's not too much to expect that a woman not whip a tit out in Claridges for goodness sake?
    Well, as women have been breastfeeding since time began you'd expect people to have gotten over it by now.

    Breastfed babies often have difficulty drinking out of a bottle, and vice versa, because of the difference in shape and texture between a nipple and a rubber teat.

    I wouldn't like to have to eat lunch with a stuffy cover over my face, and I don't see why a baby should either. None of my SiLs used to cover the baby and you still wouldn't have known that they were breastfeeding. When I see a woman breastfeeding I don't think WTF if I can see a bit of boob skin, I think 'oh, there's someone breastfeeding'.

    I'd have told the waiter to give the napkin to whoever complained so they could put it over their own head so as to not get upset by anything they saw.


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  • #31
    Donkey Oaty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭Donkey Oaty


    Eggonyerface wrote: »
    Why isint this thread fill of Nathan barley quotes yet? Peace and ****ing

    Appropriately enough, Nick Burns also starred in a stage production of "Much Ado About Nothing".

    And "The Bill" (£75 per person plus service for the current Christmas Afternoon Tea menu at Claridges).


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