Attitudes to Breastfeeding

For those of you that have followed my blog from the beginning you will know how strongly I feel on the importance of breastfeeding.

During World Breastfeeding Week, benenden ran a survey on the attitudes towards breastfeeding and I have to say that I’m a little surprised by some of the things they found out. Just take a look here yourselves.

One of the things that is most shocking to me is the number of mothers that feel some form of negativity when breastfeeding in public. 1 in 5 to be exact, which to me, is just unbelievably high!

We have been hearing in the press recently, about mothers been told to leave restaurants and shopping malls. I’m sure I even read somewhere about a mother who was told to “feed her child in the toilet” – disgusting right!”

I’m also really surprised by the percentages of men that seem to be more than happy for mothers to breastfeed in public. It kind of seems like men are more approving of it than women as you can see with these statistics:

“16% of women believe that breastfeeding in public is unacceptable, compared to just 6% of men and 12% of women said that public breastfeeding would be acceptable if they were covered, either by breastfeeding under clothes or using a modesty cloth, whilst only 4% of men felt that this was necessary”

I remember how nerve-racking breast feeding can in public can be but I never let it stop me. I knew I was giving my daughter the best thing I could and there was no way I was going to let some random people giving me ‘the look’ stop me what I was doing.

I would love to hear all you thoughts on breastfeeding in public so leave your comments but please be considerate of people’s feelings.

*Post in association with Benenden