Breast feeding in France (gasp) in public?
Jul 26th, 2005, 04:39 PM
#23
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In many cultures it was "normal" to nurse children until they are two or even three. This is becoming less common the world over, although it is by no means very unusual, even in the States.
However, by that age it is almost completely for comfort, not nutrition. A toddler might nurse early in the morning and then again at bedtime, or even just once a day. Yes, children do have teeth, but they do not bite; do you bite your glass when you are drinking from it?
As with all things that are private, be discreet and you won't have any worries. Most people will not even know what you are doing.
However, by that age it is almost completely for comfort, not nutrition. A toddler might nurse early in the morning and then again at bedtime, or even just once a day. Yes, children do have teeth, but they do not bite; do you bite your glass when you are drinking from it?
As with all things that are private, be discreet and you won't have any worries. Most people will not even know what you are doing.
Jul 26th, 2005, 04:42 PM
#24
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starmom, By and large fodorites do not like children of any age interfering with their precious holidays. Judgments about faulty parenting skills run amok here with the most ridiculous comments coming from those who have no children.
Suze has some very similar nasty comments on this thread, also about breastfeeding in Paris:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34489962
Do your best to ignore her.
Do what you need to. Be discreet in public as I'll assume you already are and have a great trip.
Suze has some very similar nasty comments on this thread, also about breastfeeding in Paris:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34489962
Do your best to ignore her.
Do what you need to. Be discreet in public as I'll assume you already are and have a great trip.
Jul 26th, 2005, 04:51 PM
#26
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- yeah, rockhopper, there are some issues there i'm sure. cultural sensitivity. what a joke.
- telling the OP to be discreet is just encouraging her to make more of an issue..."i'm not discreet when i eat, why should the baby", etc, etc. if she's breastfeeding in public now, she has a certain routine and there is no reason to alter that in europe. none at all. this debate is the annoying vs. the annoying.
- telling the OP to be discreet is just encouraging her to make more of an issue..."i'm not discreet when i eat, why should the baby", etc, etc. if she's breastfeeding in public now, she has a certain routine and there is no reason to alter that in europe. none at all. this debate is the annoying vs. the annoying.
Jul 26th, 2005, 05:18 PM
#29
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Ok so I was a bit defensive in my original post. I guess I was expecting some negative comments. SO I got some negative comments but also got some useful info. The link to the other thread was very helpful. Thanks 
Jul 26th, 2005, 05:21 PM
#30
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One more thing... I am not interested in offending people but the fact is, I am still nursing an infant who relies on breast milk for the bulk of her nutrition (not to mention comfort, immunities, etc) and so I can not always go somewhere private when she is hungry.
Jul 26th, 2005, 05:29 PM
#32
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No, the bathroom was not what I meant It doesn't have to be the bathroom. But I know there, the same as here, in most cafes you are sitting so near from the other tables that you don't have space even for moving your arm without touching the person by your side. And I thought probably someone breast feeding would need a more confortable place, I don't mean to hide..just to be confortable
It doesn't have to be the bathroom. But I know there, the same as here, in most cafes you are sitting so near from the other tables that you don't have space even for moving your arm without touching the person by your side. And I thought probably someone breast feeding would need a more confortable place, I don't mean to hide..just to be confortable
Jul 26th, 2005, 05:36 PM
#33
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When I saw this thread first posted I know it was going to get messy. It's too controversial a topic to start with, then throw in the age of the kid and look out! Starmom, if you found the other was helpful, did you enjoy MKingdom's calling the OP "vile"? ;-)
Jul 26th, 2005, 06:04 PM
#34
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<<One more thing... I am not interested in offending people but the fact is, I am still nursing an infant who relies on breast milk for the bulk of her nutrition (not to mention comfort, immunities, etc) and so I can not always go somewhere private when she is hungry.>>
Well, I avidly support breastfeeding. I've raised five children. But, at around nine months, it is USUAL that the baby is weaned to a cup (and NOT the "sippy" sort).
A one-year old, up and walking I would presume, is NOT a "baby" but a toddler. And, also consuming FOODS, and not "relying" on breastfeeding for the "bulk of their nutrition".
One could not help but to question whose "comfort" you endeavor to satisfy...
Over dozens of trips to Paris, I, personally, have never, ever seen a mother breastfeeding a baby - anywhere - ever.
It could not possibly be more obvious that you are not the least bit concerned with "what to expect".
For a one-year old, breast milk is simply just not "food".
So, have you figured out your lodgings yet?
Well, I avidly support breastfeeding. I've raised five children. But, at around nine months, it is USUAL that the baby is weaned to a cup (and NOT the "sippy" sort).
A one-year old, up and walking I would presume, is NOT a "baby" but a toddler. And, also consuming FOODS, and not "relying" on breastfeeding for the "bulk of their nutrition".
One could not help but to question whose "comfort" you endeavor to satisfy...
Over dozens of trips to Paris, I, personally, have never, ever seen a mother breastfeeding a baby - anywhere - ever.
It could not possibly be more obvious that you are not the least bit concerned with "what to expect".
For a one-year old, breast milk is simply just not "food".
So, have you figured out your lodgings yet?
Jul 26th, 2005, 06:41 PM
#36
starmom, I'm only a mom to my 4footed child but I found this for you.
http://www.007b.com/public-breastfeeding-europe.php
http://www.007b.com/public-breastfeeding-europe.php
Jul 26th, 2005, 07:12 PM
#37
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Personally, I hope Starmom nurses her baby in Paris WHILE wearing white trainers and short shorts.
Honestly, some people seem to think that Parisians are offended by the most ridiculous things. One has only to visit a public toilet in Paris to realize that their aesthetic sensibilities are, in a word, overrated.
Honestly, some people seem to think that Parisians are offended by the most ridiculous things. One has only to visit a public toilet in Paris to realize that their aesthetic sensibilities are, in a word, overrated.
Jul 26th, 2005, 07:24 PM
#38
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Well, it might surprise all the lecturing know-it-alls on this post that the La Leche League, an international organization that supports breast-feeding, and in public, has its OLDEST French chapter in PARIS.
Take a look at this link: www.lalecheleague.org/France.html-I think there are English speakers to answer questions.
And anyone who thinks there are not very many babies in Paris either hasn't been there or is blind, because babies are EVERYWHERE in Paris.
Starmom, as long as you're discreet it is ABSOLUTELY ACCEPTABLE to breastfeed your baby in public in Paris (and I'm sure in the rest of France, but I've seen it a number of times in Paris in restaurants, including with my best friend and her baby, and we must have gone to around 3-4 restaurants) so I know from personal experience there.
Just ignore all the noise here. Go and breastfeed in France in peace, you'll have no problem at all.
Take a look at this link: www.lalecheleague.org/France.html-I think there are English speakers to answer questions.
And anyone who thinks there are not very many babies in Paris either hasn't been there or is blind, because babies are EVERYWHERE in Paris.
Starmom, as long as you're discreet it is ABSOLUTELY ACCEPTABLE to breastfeed your baby in public in Paris (and I'm sure in the rest of France, but I've seen it a number of times in Paris in restaurants, including with my best friend and her baby, and we must have gone to around 3-4 restaurants) so I know from personal experience there.
Just ignore all the noise here. Go and breastfeed in France in peace, you'll have no problem at all.
Jul 26th, 2005, 07:39 PM
#39
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I don't want to get involved in a big controversy over this, as I breastfed two kids, but in my 65+ trips to France I have never seen anyone breastfeeding in France in public, and my general sense is that French women don't do this in public - period.
I agree with clairobscur, who ought to know what she's talking about.
But, starmom, you seem committed to breastfeeding in public no matter what the general mores in France are, so why even bother asking? Go ahead and do it and see what happens - and report back to us. You say you're just interested in knowing what to expect, but then again you seem to be adamant about breastfeeding in public places no matter what. You do seem a bit confrontational about it, and I suspect that's what's going to be your downfall in Paris. I sincerely think you want to know more than "knowing what to expect."
And as a final note I gotta say that as a breast-feeding mom who owns a home in France and traveled there every year with kids who were breast-fed, I never once found it necessary to breast-feed in public. Intelligent, resourceful moms can always find a way around this. It's the moms that want to flaunt the fact that they've got to feed Jonny right this minute even though we're in a café that drive me nuts.
starmom: if you have half a brain you can arrange your trip so that you can both enjoy the trip and breastfeed your child without offending anyone. Be discreet. Don't breastfeed at major tourist sites. Do it at the hotel. This isn't rocket science - figure it out and do it! Get over your insistence that everyone should love you doing this in public and accept that it's probably not so cool in Paris. It may be totally cool in California but it's not in Paris, so adapt. Adapt. Adapt. That's what travel is all about.
I agree with clairobscur, who ought to know what she's talking about.
But, starmom, you seem committed to breastfeeding in public no matter what the general mores in France are, so why even bother asking? Go ahead and do it and see what happens - and report back to us. You say you're just interested in knowing what to expect, but then again you seem to be adamant about breastfeeding in public places no matter what. You do seem a bit confrontational about it, and I suspect that's what's going to be your downfall in Paris. I sincerely think you want to know more than "knowing what to expect."
And as a final note I gotta say that as a breast-feeding mom who owns a home in France and traveled there every year with kids who were breast-fed, I never once found it necessary to breast-feed in public. Intelligent, resourceful moms can always find a way around this. It's the moms that want to flaunt the fact that they've got to feed Jonny right this minute even though we're in a café that drive me nuts.
starmom: if you have half a brain you can arrange your trip so that you can both enjoy the trip and breastfeed your child without offending anyone. Be discreet. Don't breastfeed at major tourist sites. Do it at the hotel. This isn't rocket science - figure it out and do it! Get over your insistence that everyone should love you doing this in public and accept that it's probably not so cool in Paris. It may be totally cool in California but it's not in Paris, so adapt. Adapt. Adapt. That's what travel is all about.
