Florida Mom Asked Not to Breastfeed 2 Year Old in Lobby of Hillsborough School. When and Where is Breastfeeding Inappropriate?
Inappropriate or Discriminatory?
My daycare was part of a city-wide system which provided supervision, licensing, education and field trips, as well as administrative and placement services. The daycare system was excellent and I always had a waiting list for when I happened to have an opening in my group.
One day there was an opening and a mom and her 3 year old came to visit and complete the necessary paperwork involved to join our group. Little Allison went into the playroom with the children as her mom and I chatted. All seemed fine until 3 year old Allison returned to her mom. She unbuttoned her mom's shirt and began to breastfeed. The mom never said a word only that she would return each day at lunchtime to breastfeed her daughter.
I had never seen a child this old still breast feeding, and the other children's reactions ranged from laughter to "gross." I had some explaining to do and had to tell their parents what had happened. I also decided that Ally would probably do better in another group.
A similar situation occurred recently in a local Tampa elementary school. A mother waiting to pickup her son decided to breastfeed her 2 year old in the corridor outside her son's classroom. She attracted quite a group of on lookers until the principal came along and suggested the mother come into her office where she would have more privacy. The mother refused, citing a Florida law stating breast feeding in public is allowable with no restrictions.
To further prove her point she brought 20 nursing moms with her to the next Hillsborough school department meeting where they breastfed their children throughout the session. The school board voted to leave it up to the principals where a child could be breastfed in the public schools.
Emotions run high on if and when a child is too old to be breastfed. There seems to be no problem with nursing an infant whose only source of nutrition is breast milk. Most nursing moms breastfeed discreetely, shielding the infant with a light receiving blanket, attracting no attention.
The problem occurs when the child is no longer a baby. The child already eats normal food and drinks from a cup. He can easily wait a few minutes or the mom can bring a snack or sippy cup drink for him as they wait. There is no necessity to breastfeed him in the school corridor attracting attention of the children passing by.
The principal was more than gracious in suggesting the mother move to a private room. The mother however took it as a violation of her civil rights and the debate continues.
Sources:
Personal Experience
http://hcsd.breastfeed.blogspot.com
TBO.com
Published by Memmay Moore
I am a transfer to Tampa from Boston where I had many years experience in health and nutrition education. I am now enjoying a new career in writing and photography. View profile
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46 Comments
Post a CommentWHO (World Health Organization) recommends nursing until a child to age 2 and beyond. It is normal in many cultures to nurse until age 5 and older. There are a number of benefits to the child. I nursed my daughter until age 3. On the other hand, discipline is important even with this. Once mine was verbal, she had to ask to nurse and not permitted to just pop open my shirt whenever. The mom in your article was wrong. She was offered a place to nurse privately and refused. Yup, I could go on and on here, lol.
Included in the Bible is the account of Isaac not weaned until he was five ears old. In a nutshell, on principle I agree with the mother. Society-at-large today is far too removed from the natural order of things, including how to think about breastfeeding.
My question is, when does she stop breast feeding her children? When they are old enough to drive, or when they leave home or get married? I find it ludicrous really. I have the same feelings about kids sleeping with parents .. when does it stop? The problem with this behavior is that the breasts are more than mammary glands for feeding infants, they are also treated as sexual objects. Until society changes its view on a woman's sexuality connected to her breasts, there will always be the connection of something akin to child molestation or something as gross. I don't even have a word for what someone might think of half grown kids breast feeding. I saw one on TV that made the news for a 6 year old breast feeding.
While I strongly support breastfeeding, there comes a time when babies turn into toddlers and then young children. There have been mothers who have tried to nurse 5 and 6 year olds in public! While I try not to judge, I do think that when parents breastfeed at ages that are considered way outside the norms, they are bound to get some public reaction. I guess there is a range of opinions when it comes to two and three year olds who breastfeed. What is the appropriate line?
very interesting. Breastfeeding is the only way to go, in my opinion, but good grief! If a kid can drink from a sippy cup, that's all they need in public. I don't see that mother's point in forcing the issue, especially in a school corridor. Just the kind of thing a school principal should have to waste time fooling with, instead of the job of educating students.
I am all for breasfeeding, but come on, there comes a time.... If a mother is concerned about the nutritional value of breast milk, she can pump and the kid can drink it. Otherwise, it's just ridiculous for a 3-year-old to be breast feeding in public.
The womam should probably choose to be attract less attention. Enjoyed the article.
Certainly there should not be a problem for a mother to feed a baby, since it's easy to cover yourself up so that nothing can be exposed. It's a perfectly natural thing after all. However I am inclined to agree, that a 2 or 3 year old if still breastfed doesn't need to have it at an inconvenient time, and therefore it could be done at home.
WOW - that should really be done in private. I'm not sure why she's still breastfeeding at 4, but a school is not the approriate place.
When I first read this account (before your article), I didn't notice how old the child was. I read years ago the story of a child who was still nursing at age 4 or 5, and the mother, to stop it, bought her a beautiful little cup to drink milk out of. A few days later, the daughter came in to where the mother was and began to reach for the breast. The mother reminded her of their arrangement, to which the daughter burst into tears, saying, "I broke my cup, now I want my t*tty."