Breastfeeding legal right

So bizarre that something so natural has to be made law.
Thank God it has been though. What a crazy world we live in.
Comment by Jen on June 16 12:53

I have been breast-feeding my baby for the last six months, whenever and wherever he has needed to be fed. I thought it was my legal right and am totally shocked to think I could have been charged with indecency! I have received one or two sour looks but no one has ever challenged me or asked me to stop. I have always tried to be very discrete. To be honest no breast-feeding mum wants to show off her flesh it is about feeding your baby in the best and most natural way. Let’s face it would you want to eat in a toilet or never leave the house for as long as you choose to breast-feed? It is ridiculous that a woman could be charged for feeding her child! Why has this taken so long?
Comment by vicky on June 16 23:03

I just don't get this! I agree that Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed a baby BUT a breast is a breast whether it is full of milk or otherwise so how can it be 'okay' to whip your breast out in public to breastfeed but definitely not at all other times?
Comment by Patricia on June 17 01:42

Breastfeeding mums very rarely 'whip their breasts out' in public! The vast majority do it as discretely as possible and try to keep everything covered up (usually successfully, but sometimes babies are not quite as sensitive and might wriggle and inadvertantly expose something for a brief second!) This law is long overdue! My only worry is that it's bringing some negative responses from some poor sensitive souls who can't tear their eyes away from a partially exposed breast and then choose to be offended by it(!), which is likely to put off many mums-to-be who are not sure yet whether breastfeeding may be for them. I am expecting my third baby now, I happily breastfed my first in public many times, not realising there might be so many people frowning upon it (I was discrete and never once got a negative comment, but got some lovely positive ones from time to time). However, I shall be a bit less comfortable third time round, being more aware that some people actually find it 'disgusting', just in case I accidently flash a little flesh.....!
Comment by Viv on June 17 13:49

Only six months? So what happens to the six and a half month old who wants to nurse? I'm sure they will respond wonderfully to "you'll just have to wait". I am sure the public would be much happier not hearing the screaming of hungry infants. Breastfeeding should be legal; whenever, wherever, however.

To those who think breastfeeding should be limited, you have obviously never had a hungry little nursling, and obviously you don't know how normal and non-sexual breastfeeding is.
Comment by Larissa on June 17 15:29

6 month age limit, how absurd when the World Health Organisation, based on scientific evidence, advises infants should be fed human milk until a MINIMUM of 2years of age. For those disgusted by public breastfeeding get an education and a clue, it is after all society wide ignorance on human lactation that prevents more & longer natural infant feeding. But hey silly me in the UK's very cultured, enlightened & open pg 3 society aren't breasts just for selling sex, alcohol & fast cars, how neanderthal of me to think they're actually for feeding babies - it would probably be more acceptable to breastfeed in public wearing a skimpy bikini, promoting alcohol whilst sprawled across the bonnet of a ferrari! Most breastfeeding mothers feed very discreetly using appropriate clothing, slings, nursing covers etc so as not to expose too much flesh - anyone seeing too much is obviously trying too hard to look! How hypocritical of society to accept baps out for the lads but not for the babs!
Comment by Sarah Hosking on June 17 17:18

I am sitting here in stunned disbelief that I have just discovered it is actually currently illegal to breastfeed your baby in public - but also that the new law is to state it's OK as long as your baby is under 6 months old. I am still breastfeeding my 11 month old son and had absolutely no idea that I was doing something "wrong" by not sitting in my house whenever he needs milk. Admittedly, he now rarely needs milk during the day, but that is a very recent development and the thought of being told to rush home every time he got hungry before now is shocking. So much for the encouragement of all new mothers to do the best thing for their children... They should at least up the age limit to 12 months as an absolute minimum, if there really needs to be one at all.
Comment by Kate on July 27 09:58

Articles like this which are scaring mothers into thinking it is illegal to breastfeed in public are only adding to the problem. It is NOT illegal! Women have been protected under the Sex Discrimination Act since 1975. Recent legislation is only to strengthen and clarify breastfeeding mothers rights.
Comment by Lissa on July 30 02:11

I personally agree with Patricia. I breastfeed myself and I would never do so in public as I find this personal and disrespectful on myself. As I have past a few mothers breastfeeding in public I did not see anything discrete about the way they breastfed, and I have witnessed the stares they received some sour and some creepy. Personally I disagree with the new law I hope no one is offended by this.
Comment by Shauna on April 18 19:40