Do you think breastfeeding in a restaurant is inappropriate?

Breastfeeding mothers are protected by law in NC.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-190.9 (1993) states that a woman is allowed to breastfeed in any public or private location, and that she is not in violation of indecent exposure laws. (HB 1143)
SUMMARY OF ENACTED BREASTFEEDING LEGISLATION
NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina, in 1993, exempted breastfeeding from the criminal statutes, and at the same time, clarified that women have the right to breastfeed in public, even if there is exposure of the breast.

N.C. Gen. Stat. sec. 14-190.9
1993 N.C. ALS 301; 1993 N.C. Sess. Laws 301; 1993 N.C. Ch. 301; 1993 N.C. HB 1143

"§ 14-190.9. Indecent exposure.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breast feed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding.

Breastfeeding in a restaurant is appropriate, making others uncomfortable in how a mother chooses to do this is not. I breastfed my 3 children in public, including restaurants and did not do it in a way that made others uncomfortable. Also, having nursed two children past age 1, by that age nursing is more for the emotional needs of the child and not for food since they are eating other foods by then.

if a mother has any resepct for herself as well as others she will go to a more private place. if you can see her breast it is expourse any way you look at it. they make baby blankets to use for more than just to wrap up a baby. They can be ussed to cover up while feeding.

If it bothers you to see my baby eating, look the other way.

First off, if you have something ugly to say, use spell check! Second, I breastfeed my child and I don't see why he can't eat at the table like the rest of my family. I second Kate, if you don't like it, don't look.

In NC a woman has a right to breastfeed anywhere. A resteraunt is a place to eat anyway so why would a child not be able to her their meal in the resteraunt also. Breastfeeding is natural and not indecent exposure. If someone ha a problem then don't look. Why would you not want to see a woman giving her child the best and safest start to life anyway?

To unknown, I have respect for myself and others and I didn't need a baby blanket, my shirts were large enough to keep things covered, breastfeeding can be done in public and not expose the breast. I remember sitting on the floor in line for a shot at the health department nursing my son, nursed all three at McDonalds, at the movies, on the airplane during a 9 hour flight overseas, I was never approached to say what I was doing was bothering someone else or asked to go somewhere else to breastfeed any of my children.

I've seen some, for lack of a better word, "women" showing much more breast flaunting their cleavage in restaurants than you will ever see when nursing a child. Is it the possibility that the accidental flash of a nipple will occur? Good God, I hope you're not staring that hard at my nursing child!

The WHO states that babies should be breastfed until *at least* year two, as it's not just for comfort past a year. The transition to completely eating table foods takes longer for some babes than others.

I've had lots of support in Eastern NC for nursing my child. In particular, many patrons have said "good for you, that's a wonderful thing you're doing". Granted, I nurse the child as discreetly as I can, for my own comfort. Contrary to popular belief, nursing moms do not like making a show anymore than other people want to see a show.

Speaking of show...have you ever tried to nurse a baby under a blanket? Talk about calling attention to yourself! They pull it off, play peek a boo, get distracted so it takes longer to nurse, decide that it's a right happy game. And forget about a new mother, who is already having the difficulty of learning how to nurse (and yes, it's a difficult thing to learn!) now having to do it without seeing and fumble around with the falling, shifting, sweaty hot blanket. Nothing says "look at me! I'm nursing over here!" like a huge tent of a blanket over your shoulder.

No, we need to support our new mothers in the difficult task of nursing. We need to encourage them, give them smiles, or at least ignore them instead of bashing them. Breastfeeding is one of the absolute best things a mother can do, and it is damn hard to do. Offer her a glass of water, a word of encouragement, and keep your snarky, mean-spirited glares and comments to yourself.

Well this may sound strange for a guy to say but ive seen first hand the way breast feeding can help all kids with the way all my kids were in health wise as other kids had cold and ear infections my kids didnt so i say if you have a prob with a child eatting then look around at the way some adults eat and then think about it which is worse i say the latter . well this is my app.

I think it is perfectly fine to breast feed in public. I nursed my two children in doctors' offices and restaurants. Even though I occasionally received the disgusted look from others, it did not bother me. If anyone can eat in a restaurant then a nursing baby should be allowed to eat at the same time too. I was giving my child the best and most natural start to their lives. By law it is legal to breastfeed in public and people should respect that.

The idea of breastfeeding in public being inappropriate is just shocking to me. As I read in an earlier post, people dont seem to mind the deep v-necks, or short skirts...when a child is latched on- breastfeeding; you can not see any more breast than some of the tops girls tend to wear, or certanly less breast than in a bikini. With all the health benifits breastfeeding a child has, you would think that society would be a little more tolerant than they are. We are a nation that tends to "sexualize" everything. Sex is seen on TV, in sales ads, and daily almost everywhere you look. Feeding a child, the way God intended a child to be fed, should never be considered inappropriate. It is what our breasts were made for. I fed my daughter the most nutritious was possible, people should be commended for that, not glared at. There should be a pole for how inappropriate is is for people to feed a child formula based on "milk from another species" all together. Human milk inappropriate.....cows milk appropriate-- I think not. Go figure. Thanks for all who read my ramblings...

To those people who say nurse in the bathroom; I say would you want to eat in the bathroom?

I think that the baby needs to eat too and it is up to the breastfeeding mom to be respectful of others and attempt to maintain coverage. However just because a mom chooses to breastfeed doesn't mean she needs to stay home because our society is unaccepting of this natural process.

I don't have a problem with women who want or need to nurse in a restauraunt. I certainly will not let my child go hungry because i decided to go out to dinner.
HOWEVER I believe that people should present themselves with consideration for others. I do not go to a restaurant showing my buttcrack, no pubic area, and certainly not any nipple. Therefore if and when I breastfeed in a place like a restaurant, I will be well covered because it's a personal matter and it's rude to impose any of those personal/private areas on anyone else, particularly while they're eating. I don't moon you while you're eating breakfast with your family. I would appreciate it if you returned the favor while i'm eating with mine.
That being said, there are plenty of respectable, considerate mothers who continue to breastfeed in a tasteful concealed manner and as far as I'm concerned more power to them and thank you for providing the best for your baby while not stepping on any toes in the process.
Women that choose to breastfeed uncovered are rude and trashy.

as far as it being no worse than some trashy outfits, that may be true, but just because there are other trashy women in the world doesn't mean you have to be one too. being more considerate and tasteful than someone else is never a bad thing.