Breastfeeding in Public Around The World

Women were not created as sexual objects to be looked upon as some kind of “toys”, and breasts were not created for that purpose either. Female breasts have a purpose, and that purpose is the reason they exist. They were given to us as the means of BREASTfeeding our babies!

Basically breastfeeding in public IS legal in the United States, though sometimes people simply don’t know it and therefore might complain about it. This means you can nurse your baby anywhere that you are allowed to be with the baby.

This is some of the collection of notes that I picked from the original source about attitudes towards public breastfeeding in different countries around the world. On this page are comments from Americas, Asia, and Africa.

Saudi-Arabia
State: Jeddah

If woman feed her baby and the peoples are seeing her, of course they like to see her breast more and more and may be they come hot and like to do sex with that lady who is feeding. And I think it is not good that any lady feed her babies in public places. If she want yes, she can move to the place where no one can see her.

Mexico
State: Tijuana, Baja California

I lived in Tijuana, Mexico from 2004 to 2006 and most women did not breastfeed. Breastfeeding was for the extremely poor, the radical left in the middle class, or the very well-educated. The majority of the middle class and the wealthy class did not breastfeed. As a result, breastfeeding my children in public in Mexico was uncomfortable as the men, who were not normally accustomed to seeing breastfeeding, would stare. I cannot comment on southern Mexico.

Chile.

In Chile women breastfeed their babies everywhere. It’s not considered a choice, formula is considered a supplement for when breastmilk is not available or enough (not very common or sometimes misdiagnosed supply issues).

Pakistan

The Pakistani society in influenced by the religion or the religion pundits. In rural area the breasfeeding in public in not a harm where mothers feed babies covered or otherwise. In cities, it is not seen in public. Even women avoid in presence of relatives. The topless beaches is a dream and the fundamentalists can enjoy two or three wives, legal or illegal but the poor are aspiring for one.

Guatemala.

We lived in Guatemala from 2002 to 2004 (I am originally from the U.S.) and I saw more breasts in those two years than at any other time in my life. Women would breastfeed anywhere and everywhere without covering up–in the queue at the bank, at the airport, in shopping malls and restaurants, in parks, on the sidewalk. It is viewed as completely natural and normal in Guatemala.

Indonesia
State: Jakarta

Most people will feed discreetly. But now more and more are open about it. Personally I have seen an Indonesian mother feeding her toddler with no care of her surroundings. She had her boob out and while one nipple is in her son’s mouth, the other nipple is being twirled and rolled by her son. I think her son uses the nipple as a comfort thing like sometimes babies need to roll the end of a pillow. I didn’t see any people staring at her.

Malaysia.

I think majority of city moms bottle feed. In rural areas, most mothers breastfeed. It is not uncommon to see a mother breastfeeding her baby in a bus or on a train or at a bus station. It is more uncommon to see a mother breastfeeding in Starbuck or in the city, actually. However, breastfeeding is catching on in Malaysia and a lot of awareness are being promoted

Taiwan

I hate to say that, but breastfeeding is not really common in Taiwan. But after the government and hospital try to promote the advantages of breastfeeding, breastfeeding people were getting more and more. But still less then 10%. Mostly people use formula feeding their babies. I never saw any woman breastfeeding in public. Well, most Asian people are really shy.

Brazil
State: Cear

In Brazil breastfeeding is highly recommended by doctors and campaigns on TV. Some mothers still use formula because they don’t have the support from their families. The state of Cear, where I live, is the state in the country with the highest rate of babies exclusively breastfed until their 4th month.

Ghana

In Ghana bottlefeeding is for orphans, babies whose mothers cannot produce enough milk, upper class wannabes and expatriates. Ghanaian women breastfeed - everywhere and anywhere. The poor ones just whip it out, let it show. The rich ones have special tops made so its not ALL hanging out. Growing up I used to watch my neighbour breastfeed her baby - all the kids would gather and stare in astonishment…and NO ONE had a problem with it. If you grow up thinking its normal, you will NEVER be offended.

What is your opinion about this subject?