Mom asked to leave flight for breast feeding child

[meeg124]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20061115/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_breast_feeding_passenger

More asinine people afraid of a breast!

[Lynette]

Aw man! I wish someone would challenge me about bfing, I need the money! LOL!

[My3sonsplus1]

That is really ridicoulous. And this is excactly one of those "who eatwants to eat under a blanket" things. I mean even in their own "excuses"! My kids would nibble/bite me if I covered up with a blanket over me, and it would take that much longer to get them unlatched. So I guess if the patrons don't mind me screaming every 30 seconds because my child is biting me... and the child screaming because they are hungry since they refuse to eat with their face covered... granted a 22 mo would have alternative foods so it probably isn't a "hunger/starving issue" but you know we all eat before we are starving and a 22mo even if it was "just for cuddles" often needs some "babying" (which I don't even think this is) while on a plane trip day.

[LMS]

As much as I think women should be able to BF where ever they are, I can't help but wonder if maybe a little somethin was showing? I mean, offering her a blanket isn't really offensive, so i don't understand why she refused it, kwim? I'd also be interested to hear if this stewardess took it upon herself to ask this woman to cover up, or if another passenger asked her to.

[My3sonsplus1]

As much as I think women should be able to BF where ever they are, I can't help but wonder if maybe a little somethin was showing? I mean, offering her a blanket isn't really offensive, so i don't understand why she refused it, kwim? I'd also be interested to hear if this stewardess took it upon herself to ask this woman to cover up, or if another passenger asked her to.


Like I said I cannot cover up even if I wanted to. My kids would kick or pull off the blanket, and I need immediate access to my breast to unlatch when the kiddo starts to nibble (often reflexively as they nod off to sleep so not "deliberate" at all). So that is my perspective. Some women *can't*. Even with a newborn the blanket falls off my shoulder 18 zillion times in the matter of 2 minutes because they are trying to bat off the thing or just "because" (I guess I have small shoulder caps, never could get a sling to work).

[meeg124]

This is pure speculation but I'm wondering if the stewardess thought that child was too old to be breast feeding and decided to do something about it? And like Jackie, I wonder if she decided the woman needed a blanket or did another passenger complain?

[LMS]

yeah, i think whether she took it upon herself to deem it "inappropriate" or if a passenger actually said something.... for me, that would make a big difference in how i interpret the story.
B/c if it's the stewardess just being a tighta-- about it, then i think it's an issue.

If another passenger complained and this woman refused, then i think it's disrespectful and inconsiderate on her part. Yes, you're free to do it in public, but if someone else is really uncomfortable about it and vocalizes that, isn't it also your job as a courteous citizen to try to do something (ie, cover up, then towards the window, etc etc etc) to make them feel more comfortable? It's not like they were in a mall where another passenger could walk away - on a plane, you're pretty much stuck where you are. kwim?

[LMS]

also wanted to clarify that unless the woman was being vocal or abusive towards the stewardess, she shouldn't have been kicked off the plane

[colleen&Kail]

wow i cant beleive people are so wierded out by bfing, especially since most women do it. although i dont under stand why she would refuse a blanket? its not that biug of a deal.....but i think that there is mroe to this story becasue it doesnt make since that she would be kicked off the flight just for refusing a blanket. unless she told the flioght attendent to f*** off ro somehting. LOL

[daisydoc]

personally if I were nursing and someone offered me a blanket to "cover up" I would be pissed! Yes it is my right to nurse in public and yes it's their right to voice their opinion BUT that doesn't mean I have to acknowlegde it. I "can't" cover up either. I couldn't with Sevannah and I can't with Jazper. They pulled it off EVERY SINGLE time and that just draws more attention to what I am doing. Plus I know that BFng makes some people uncomfortable so I try to keep anything showing to a minimum so as to not "offend" those people. But I think the majority of society is too stuck on the breast as a SEX object and not as a natural part of raising a child.

[Kellie_MO5]

personally if I were nursing and someone offered me a blanket to "cover up" I would be pissed! Yes it is my right to nurse in public and yes it's their right to voice their opinion BUT that doesn't mean I have to acknowlegde it. .... But I think the majority of society is too stuck on the breast as a SEX object and not as a natural part of raising a child.

:yeah
:thumb EXACTLY! I totally agree with you! :clap

:myopinion


You don't wanna see me feed my baby? cover your own damn face with a blanket...

[meeg124]

I've never heard of anyone being denied service because they have plumbers butt, so what is a little boob compared to some ugly butt crack? :lol

[Lynette]

If another passenger complained and this woman refused, then i think it's disrespectful and inconsiderate on her part. Yes, you're free to do it in public, but if someone else is really uncomfortable about it and vocalizes that, isn't it also your job as a courteous citizen to try to do something (ie, cover up, then towards the window, etc etc etc) to make them feel more comfortable? It's not like they were in a mall where another passenger could walk away - on a plane, you're pretty much stuck where you are. kwim?

Personally, I don't feel it is my obligation to make other people feel comfortable about me nursing my baby. I mean what if someone was offended by formula for whatever reason, would you feel the need to make them feel better by hiding it? It is not just that a woman is free to nurse, it is *against the law* to prohibit her from doing so in a public place in mosts states (including the one in the article) and the law doesn't quantify the amount of boob showing either. In a plane everyone is facing forward and if she was by the window you and a 22mo's head is right there a person would really have to turn and stare to see some skin most likely in which case a person could look away.

Alaina also is/was a blanket kicker but then nursing doesn't equal food 100% either especially for a 22mo old so it isn't as simple as plugging the kid in, having him chug down some milk, and you're done. It is the cuddling, the eye contact, talking to the child, the body warmth, skin on skin contact, and something about sucking that does something to them biochemically, etc so tossing a stuffy blanket over the kid's face to please someone who thinks boobs are only sex objects interferes with that particular multi-faceted act of mothering. Now if a woman is shy and WANTS to do that, go ahead but to force it on her or even just expect it is wrong IMO.

I would suspect in this case that the airline is going to argue the plane is private property so they can do what they want since the law doesn't apply to private property although they will probably settle and re-train their employees eventually. Also since 9/11 you can't even glare at a stewardess before they will boot you off a plane. Has anyone ever seen that show that Southwest put on for awhile? That was some funny stuff but they won't let anyone on a plane who might cause a scuffle because of in-flight safety issues.

[LMS]

I think saying formula would make someone uncomfortable is something completely different. We are talking about bodies, and unfortunatly some people just aren't comfortable with bodies. Granted, the breast has become very sexualized by hollywood, etc, but also some people just aren't comfortable with it for the COMPLETELY opposite reason - that they feel that is something very private and should be kept that way. (I notice this train of thought a lot in older people it seems)
If It was something that someone COULD be made uncomfortable by, like simply clothes or SOMETHING body related, yeah, i'd probably cover up, but then again I'm not super-skank so I don't think I'll be wearing anything that revealing anytime soon. LOL
As I said before, I don't think its' right for them to have kicked her off the plane, and I DO think women should be allowed to BF where ever they are at the time - I would just be curious to hear a little more about what actually happened.
Somehow I don't think it went
"would you like a blanket?"
"no"
"we're going to have to ask you to leave"
I'm sure a LOT more was said from BOTH parties

I guess this is all to say that if the woman polite to the stewardess and was being moderatly discreet, then the stewardess was in the wrong.
If the woman was just being adamant about doing it her way, and intentionally continuing to make other passengers uncomfortable b/c "she wanted to", then i think she was in the wrong.
Or if she was being beligerent, argumentative or abusive towards the stewardesses, then she deserved to be kicked off - but for nothing related to the bfing ;)
But it's all just speculation anyways b/c none of us know anything more than was printed ;)

:myopinion

[Kellie_MO5]

Well, this is what the airline said
A Freedom spokesman said Gillette was asked to leave the flight after she declined a flight attendant's offer of a blanket.


I think if it was the passenger throwing a fit or something it would have been said, esp if the airline is trying to defend what happened... I think the airline is so completely wrong, and cannot stand people who think breastfeeding is dirty, or should only be done in the home or bathroom.

Really, I think it *is* the same as formula... both feed the baby, so why is one okay to be done in public without hiding it, and the other is frowned upon by some? Personally, I get upset when I see babies being fed formula (though I DO understand that some (very few) have no choice) because I know it is infirior (sp?) to breastmilk, and it just tastes aweful! but I don't expect ff mommas to cover it all up, because it is essentially the same as breast, in that is is feeding the babe...

I wonder if the airline would have kicked off a woman with a low cut top showing a lot of cleavage, or a mini skirted woman? (my thoughts are probably not...)

Anyhow, feeding is feeding, and people should just get over the whole 'OMG I just saw a little breast! Never mind that my friends all wear shirts that show more, that's just gross!' When I breastfeed I try to be modest simply for me, try to let not too much show, but there are times when baby just throws his head back and all is exposed... do I care if whoever is looking at me gets an eye full? not really, just kinda laugh it off. It's just a breast, doing what it's supposed to... and I usually surround myself with people who wouldn't be offended by that either.

Really, I bet those men that complain about women BFing in stores, restaurants, parks (yep, parks!) are the same ones that stare at a woman's ass as she's walking down the street in short shorts or mini skirt...

okay, this has gotten long enough, and my mind has wandered enough that I'm not really sure where I'm going with this anymore... LOL (I swear it's true, braincells leak out with the breastmilk..lol.. i've lsot al my memory ones)

[Lynette]

Obvioulsy you are right Jackie about not being there and there being more to it probably than what was written in the article and I was only exagerrating the formula example to play devil's advocate because I think bfing should be just as readily acceptable. Quite honestly, if someone offered me a blanket I would be pissed quite honestly because the implication is that I am doing something indecent or private like going to the bathroom or picking my nose but I would smile and say no thank you.

I honestly think more than just old people have a problem with it but maybe they are the only ones who will say anything? And no, I don't think bfing militants who shove it in everyone's face to be deliberatly antagonizing are doing the "cause" any favors either.

It will be interesting to see how it turns out though and like I said, I wish it were me because the money would be nice! :D

[LMS]

oh, i completely agree. It's not JUST older people, i'm just saying there are two REASONS people are 'offended'.

Kellie: In the article they also said something about the airline official 'not knowing what else happened'. so it also may be a matter of time before more information is released.
I really hope she was kicked off for being beligerant... otherwise they should deffinatly get rid of that stewardess

[KaisaG]

I'm kinda in the middle on this one... I'll have to wait until I hear the whole story to form a real opinion. Although I'll breastfeed anywhere, I try to be discreet but if it comes down to it and I can't help it... well.. oh well. I'm sure taht it has something to do with the child's age. I can't imagine if the child had been a young infant, things would have progressed in the same manner.

[My3sonsplus1]

Here's the thing, the WHO reccomends breastfeeding until age 2. The girl was not yet 2...
1. If she were "just" comfort nursing, do the stewardesses ask parents to take away 2 or 3 year olds blankets, teddy bears or pacifiers even? Even if they are smelly/ugly/weird looking or otherwise "offensive"...
2. If she were "eating" the WHO says there is nothing wrong with it and I think the APA also says 2... and even if there were no officially reccomendations the "kid" is a baby still, not an infant but still a baby.

People who extended nurse don't go into thinking they will be nursing a 20 month old, 2 year old, 2.5 yo it kinda "just happens". There is nothing about eating that slice of first birthday cake that takes away a kids need to cuddle with mommy and nurse, and the second year birthday cake holds no special anti-nursing ingredient either, kids wean when they are ready and if mom is still comfortable with it more power to her. If she is becoming uncomfortable (physical or emotional) then it is her choice to wean not some arbitrary outsiders opinion that "that kid needs to be done". I am actually a bit jealous when Lynette mentions that Alaina is still nursing (she is a day older than Ben) since Ben weaned when I got pregnant this last time, and it was a pretty forced weaning as I got nursing aversion r*e*a*l*l*y bad this last time since I was tandem nursing still at the time, and instead of being relaxing nursing was rage inducing :( Ben doesn't even know WHAT nursing is anymore. I mean he does but he doesn't remember it AT ALL. The first time he saw Elias nursing he had to ask what he was doing. Okay all that was to say that the baby's age should have been irrelevant since even if we have ideas on when the bottle should stop or the pacifier or a kid carrying a blanket it is not some outsiders right to tell us what are family should be doing as far as food/comfort measures.

[KaisaG]

I don't think it's anyone's business either... I plan to let Baby E wean himself (or wean him at age 2) even though traditionally the women in my family carry around extra weight until they wean. What's a few vanity pounds compared to his health? It's funny to me that outside people think that they have any right to verbally communicate any level of opposition when it comes to breastfeeding a child in public- regardless of age.

[becky]

it seems i have missed a whole discusion on this one and pretty much everything has already been covered. I would be interested to see how this all turns out and if in fact the woman was being beligerant to the stewardess.

[Lynette]

LOL! You sound disappointed Becky!! How did the test go yesterday?!

[becky]

oh i was disappointed i missed out on a good discussion :)

[Kellie_MO5]

I don't think it's anyone's business either... It's funny to me that outside people think that they have any right to verbally communicate any level of opposition when it comes to breastfeeding a child in public- regardless of age.


:thumb :clap :thumb