Agreed. And between the “Ew, breastfeeding” and the “How can you NOT breastfeed–you think this infant is a cute toy/hobby?” I’m starting to think you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Either way someone’s going to tell you you’re a horrible mother. Pick the reason for being a bad mom that’s most convenient for you and go with it.
You just hit the nail on the head. And what blows my mind is that a lot of it seems to be done as an effort to justify or validate someone else’s parenting style. Like the cry-it-out issue - that’s great that crying it out works for you (general you, of course). I don’t choose to use it because I haven’t found it to be effective and can’t tolerate that much crying. I’m not saying anything whatsoever about people who do use cry it out. I just choose not to do it. However, no matter how much I say that or how neutral I am, just by making the choice I have, I’m assumed to be judging others and they must in turn judge me. It’s ridiculous.
As long as the kid is healthy and happy and well adjusted, I don’t give a rat’s ass how they got that way. Obviously what their parents did worked.
QFT x 1000
With some states being very short on ob/gyns I have often thought about getting certified to be a nurse midwife. One thing that always gives me pause is the amount of bullshit some people give each other about parenting choices, especially breastfeeding.
People need to mind their own business and do what they feel is best for THEIR child. To think that you should have any say-so over what someone else does or that you’re in a position to judge someone about their parenting choices is the height of arrogance and ignorance.
Exactly. And for the record, the vast majority of people turn out (reasonably ;)) happy and healthy and well-adjusted. So do what works for you, and tell anyone who gives you any crap about it to tend to their own children.
Don’t have a problem with it at all - as long as the mother isn’t offended if I should accidentally see anything that’s on display (not that I’ll be staring - but if I accidentally catch a glimpse before I realise what’s going on, I don’t expect to get the evil eye).
I work because I love my kid. I want her to have health insurance, not to mention a roof over her head, food in her belly, and shoes on her feet. I keep her picture on my desk and look at it 20 times a day to remind myself of why I’m still at my fucking job. I wish I had the luxury of choosing whether or not to work outside the home.
It doesn’t bother me in the least. It actually bothers me less than most adults eating in public (replying to the OP).
I like looking at tits but watching breast feeding is icky.
I’m not offended by it, if a kids got to eat …but I’d prefer not watch if I can help it, and definitely not when I’m eating.
Don’t care and I hardly ever see it…couldn’t give a fuck if a woman wants to whip out a naked boob, either. Nursing, and nursing with discretion, may not be the easiest thing to do, particularly if you have big tits or your baby doesn’t like blankets. Don’t really care about discretion…plenty of men seem to think it’s OK to walk around topless on a hot sunny day, so why shouldn’t nursing women be left alone and not judged?
Wunky’s not come back, but I can only assume that Kim Kardashian is the sort of person in their social set:
She further comments on the lady changing the baby on the table (which I can’t approve of), but that’s for a Pit thread…
My point was that it’s silly to judge other parents for doing what they feel is best for their individual kids when there is no evidence the kids are being harmed.
And I don’t see what evidence there is to support that breastfeeding for comfort until a later age is inappropriate or delays emotional maturity.
Not personally offended. OTOH if you do it conspicuously without a blanket or whatever such that it’s a public spectacle, I reverse the right to stare at the spectacle until it no longer is a novel sight.
OTOOH the worser crime is actually to have a baby in a public place of expected maturity and rather than witnessing breastfeeding, one has to try to ignore loud horrible baby wailing.
Huh… I was never the “unbutton from the top” type as in this photo, and there are more discreet ways of doing it (I always lifted my shirt, and any exposure was minimal) but I see nothing wrong with the concept if Mom is comfortable with it.
Breastfed 2 kids, one for 2ish years and one for just over one; the toddler rarely (never?) got nursed in public once he was walking, but as babes-in-arms, those kids got fed anyplace I happened to be including at the dentist and podiatrist.