Woman says she was kicked off plane for breast-feeding baby

Boston Globe ^ | November 14, 2006

[Scotswife]

"That they exist does not mean they were utilized. The story doesn't say one way or the other."

Right....and maybe mom wasn't prepared. The delay probably contributed to the child's crankiness - or hunger - and she may have just been doing the best she could do.

"Apparently the woman wasn't all that discreet, or this entire episode wouldn't have happened. "

Maybe/maybe not.
There are alot of jerks out there who think women shouldn't breastfeed at all in public no matter how discreet.
I had people glaring at me even when I was sweating to death under a blanket.

"I don't see why she had to make a big to-do. Those airline blankets are very light; she could have been gracious and gotten on with it."

Not light enough.
I personally would have covered up to get the baby latched on and then removed it....you really cannot see anything once the baby is latched on.

I'm sure the mom herself was cranky at that point too though.

[CaptainK]

Personally I would have brought along my own blanket because airplane blankets gross me out. Who knows how many people use one before they clean it.

If they ever clean it.

[stinkerpot65]

Heh-heh-heh. Heh-heh-heh-heh.

[M. Thatcher]

She had to make a big to do because the object is to make it seem like breast feeding moms are dissed. Which they aren't, at least in my experience. People breast feed in all kinds of places without the least bit of disruption. But as with everything else, just because you are breast feeding doesn't mean you get to ignore general public decorum. It doesn't give you license to do whatever you want, either even though it is for The Children.

Well put. Agree heartily with every word.

[derllak]

Going to the bathroom is a natural act too, but you don't see people flashing their butts when they gotta go. I was always very discreet for those who might have been offended. I would expect others to be as considerate. Why not cover herself with the blanket? That's not asking too much.

[zarf]

The only consideration is if the breast was sexually attractive or not.

If it was sagging and nasty she should of been tossed. If it was firm and attractive, she should of been encouraged to nurse during the entire flight.

To heck with the kid.

[Mjaye]

I can't believe that the mother didn't have a light baby blanket or cloth to cover herself. She has the right to breastfeed, but not everyone wishes to witness same, especially in the close quarters of an airplane.

By 22 months, this child should have been able to have a bottle from time to time. A screaming child isn't the only alternative, IMHO.

[ndt]

"If it was sagging and nasty ..."

I salute your honesty :) Personally the second you attach a small child, the appeal goes right out the window for me.

[Fatigued Mother]

If the child is 22 months old, I'm sure that he/she is not exclusively breast fed. Discretion is a must whether the child is 2 weeks or 4 years. Crazy world we live in...

[LibertyGrrrl]

i breast fed my twins until they were 23 months sometimes AT THE SAME TIME! Believe me it wasn't by choice. My goal was to breast feed for at least 12 months but 12 months came and went then I said I would stop at 18 months and then that came and went and then I said i would stop by the time they were 2 but I was able to finally wean them at 23 months. In a way I'm glad they were fed by me for so long. It's the healthiest food a mother could provide for her child. I breast fed in public often. One person even asked me if I had a baby under that thing (Korean sling) because she saw something move. She had no idea I was breastfeeding so it can be done discreetly and without anyone knowing....

[Scotswife]

"By 22 months, this child should have been able to have a bottle from time to time. A screaming child isn't the only alternative, IMHO."

Well..that's your opinion, but this was not your child, so you don't really know what the child needed at the moment - or not. Sometimes a screaming child IS the only alternative.

[Vicki]

She should have used the blanket. That is what women usually do in public. I was at a family function one time when a young woman (not a family member) breast fed her baby completely out in the open, both breasts bared in fact.

Of course every guy was crowded around her.

[voiceinthewind]

I agree, women who are deemed immodest should immediately be ordered to don a burka...oops, a blanket.

[voiceinthewind]

The lady in question was sitting at the window seat with her husband in the middle. A passenger did not complain, the flight attendant was the one who said she was offended.No part of the mom's breast was showing, by the way. I never ever used a blanket, I did what this mom did, a top was sufficient. The issue is that the flight attendant felt, IN HER OPINION, that the sight of a baby feeding without a blanket, was offensive. Against the law. The airline will lose.

[CindyDawg]

If it is as you say, I agree. How do you know this,?

[Scotswife]

"The lady in question was sitting at the window seat with her husband in the middle. A passenger did not complain, the flight attendant was the one who said she was offended"

Good point.
The flight attendant was out of line.

[CindyDawg]

If it happened that way, and it might have. I would like to hear the other side of the story too. Strange things happen.

[voiceinthewind]

It was posted on a breastfeeding site I read. They had a link to a newspaper article in Vermont, where this happened.

[CindyDawg]

I know. I read it. I though maybe you might know her. If it is as you say, she is owed an apology. There are usually 3 sides to a story though. 2 perceptions and the facts somewhere in the middle. I'm just glad moms can still take them on board:')

[GrammaLou]

Good grief!! Why bother covering up. Many women are wearing tops so low cut that the only thing not showing are the nipples, and then very often, they can be seen through the material.