I don't really have anything against it, but I probably wouldn't do it myself when I have children.

My aunty did it in public though when my cousin was alot younger. But I wasn't really old enough to understand all that.

I fed my son when he was a baby but never felt comfortable feeding him in public so used to have to plan my trips out between feeding times.It is very frustrating when you're out that there aren't many places that have a mother and baby room.I think the solution would be to provide an area in places that allow families for a mother to feed her baby.Certainly the toilet is not an exceptable place.They are building smoking shelters in the pubs and some restuarants but can't supply a room for mothers.

I think mothers should be allowed to breastfeed in public. It's natural. If you have a problem with it, look away.

So is urinating (and some would argue this is more of an emergency) ok to do in public, if others just look away?

There are facilities provided in most places for urination. Theres not many places where a mother can breastfeed privately if her baby needs food.

There are facilities provided in most places for urination. Theres not many places where a mother can breastfeed privately if her baby needs food. [/quote]


So there are as many places to perform one private need as there are another, surely this means the same rule for both then, in fairness?

So there are as many places to perform one private need as there are another, surely this means the same rule for both then, in fairness? [/quote]

Are you saying that people can breastfeed in toilets?

According to The Daily Mail article here


Which indicates that under current legislation it is illegal to breastfeed in public.

Therefore women for the time being should not!

If the child needs feeding use a bottle or do it in the toilets - it's the law

Hang on

This other Daily Mail article

Seems to say it is not illegal


So what is the current law?

Since when did I say that?
Urinating in public is unhygenic, breatfeeding in public isn't. Also urinating in public isn't normal behaviour whereas breastfeeding in public is.
Totally different kettle of fish...

As I mentioned above, it seems the current law is unclear, one article from the same newspaper appears to contradict another.

If it is technically an offence, then sorry I will have to be against breastfeeding in public, no matter how discrete, because I can not condone the breaking of the law.

If it is not an offence in law, I have no objections, given what has been said by the WHO

So some legal clarification would be nice here, but in absence of any clarrification it would be best to err on the side of it being unlawful to avoid the possible committing of any offence

Also urinating in public isn't normal behaviour whereas breastfeeding in public is.
Totally different kettle of fish... [/quote]

neither is it "normal behavior" to breastfeed in public, it can also lead to prosecution, although this would be an extreme case, a polite stop it would make more common sense.
Which would'nt be afforded to people urinating in public for the hygene reasons you mention.
Either way, I picked up on your point as your answer to the problem was for people to merely look away.
Looking away could be an answer to solving most 'minor public dissorders' for that matter.
Sorry, but why should I look away when someone else is in the wrong, breastfeeding is a choice if one makes that choice simple DO IT IN PRIVATE

The only alternative to it is to feed a baby in a bathroom. I wouldn't eat my meals from a bathroom and I certainly would not expect my baby to.

It's natural, and unless every single business provides somewhere hygienic and nice for the baby to feed - then it should happen in public.
(Also a point against the 'urinating' point someone brought up. Businesses and services provide toilets, they don't provide private baby feeding areas that aren't toilets!).

Why shouldn't woman breast feed in public i don't see how it could be deemed offensive its natural.

I am sympathetic to this, but because of an article in the DM, there is a legal question mark and until that is cleared up, the safest thing to assume is that it is not acceptable.

I'd rather risk prosecution than feed my baby in an unhygienic toilet.

Why can't they use those expresso things and fill a bottle up before they leave the house?

Loses nutrients.

But it would keep you on the right side of the law as it presently appears to stand.

Indeed, but I stand by my point that I'd rather be on the wrong side of the law than to feed my child in a toilet!

It would be good to find out what the present law currently says

The DM 2005 article said it was not unlawful, but then the 2008 one says it the mother could be charged under public order or indecency legislation.

Indeed, but I stand by my point that I'd rather be on the wrong side of the law than to feed my child in a toilet! [/quote]

So you'd rather bring about prosecution, (but, as I said I dont think it would go that far) than consider alternatives that are EASY to manage. How would this HELP your baby?

1, Feed the baby before or after a short trip.
2, Find a child carer for those outings which may take a little longer.
3, Find a more suitable place, a restroom that isnt that un hygenic for such a small ammount of time, a rea not so populated off road, a park, car park, (I am purely against those who whip breasts out like confetti at a wedding in this argument, with NO consideration for anyone)
4, Most important ...Express milk from the breast into a feeding bottle for a potential emergency .... if considerations 1,2 and 3 cant be made. And your not losing that many nutients over one feed, and this can be made up on the day EVEN IF indeed 2-3 nutrients have been lost whilst at at Tesco's/wherever

With this in mind I'm changing my oppinion now to why we dont take a more serious line with these mothers, everyone else has to adhere to public order, litter, dog fouling, ect... this is and urinating are all more of an 'emergency' and can be less of a problem if we just asked people to look away if they have a problem with it.

It looks like from

This source

And from other sources, breastfeeding in public currently is illegal.

In theory, a police officer can have the woman arrested, prosecuted and convicted on indecency charges, for which she will have to sign the sex offenders register, at which point social services may very well take the baby into care and adopt it out.

So if you have to go out and do not want a criminal record and want to keep your child, get your baby used to the bottle.

Sorry, but as it is the law, and as that is the case I can not condone breastfeeding in public

It depends on where you live. In Scotland they passed a law a couple of years ago, the legislation makes it an offence to stop nursing mothers from feeding their babies in places like bars, buses and shopping centres. Businesses who break the law risk a fine of up to £2,500. There is adverts on t.v in scotland aswell to show that it is allowed in Scotland.
I have a poster up in my work that says we welcome breastfeeding mothers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ_cHpunck0

I would not have a problem with it in Scotland, because it is legal there. I have to be against breastfeeding in public in England, soley because it is ilegal, and I can not condone in any way shape or form the breaking of the law.

Sorry, but baby will have to wait until you can get home and feed in private, or you will have to use the toilet. I know the argument about eating meals in a toilet, but sorry this is the law.