gurgle.com blog

Potty training a toddler and breastfeeding a small baby means that sometimes both things happen in inappropriate places!

Places I have breastfed both my girls include:

Yo Sushi (no one noticed, I was very discreet and Pops was in a sling)
BMI business lounge toilets (too many suits to whip a boob out so I headed sheepishly to the loos)
Practically every Mothercare in the UK (they have great feeding rooms)
Starbucks
On an Aer Lingus flight, a BMI Flight, an Iberia flight and a British Airways flight
In the front seat of my car in a lay-by on an A road off the M4
In a marquee at a friend's wedding (I've also expressed milk in a room at the bride's parent's house when someone walked in and asked me, 'what the hell are you doing!')
Many many times in our local park
At the Giant's Causeway on the North coast of Ireland
At Petersham Nurseries in Richmond (there were a few of breastfeeding at the time)
My local pub (I was in the beer garden and I don't think anyone noticed)
On the 52 bus going into town...

So far I have cleared up 'little accidents' from potty training in...
Every room in my house, particularly the carpeted rooms
My car
Nursery
My sister's house
My parent's house
My in-law's house
Our garden
My neighbour's garden
My friend's garden and house
My husband's work (no-one knew...I hope...)

I'm also very proud of my husband this week who phoned up LBC - London's talk radio station to stand up for breastfeeding. The presenter was slating women who breastfeed in public, particularly in restaurants. He also thought that families should have segregated sections on planes so that travellers without children weren't irritated by kids! My husband's arguments were quite simple.

a) If they expect couples with babies to NEVER go out for about a year after they have babies then fine, but the fact that there are places we know we can go and eat and DISCREETLY breastfeed, means we can have a semi-normal existence.

b) Most women we know who breastfeed are very discreet about it

c) For all those who can't stand public breastfeeding, there are plenty of women who can't stand the sideways glances and the dissaproving looks whilst they feed their babies.

And as for the aeroplane issue, well, families being segregated - i'd thought we'd moved on from putting people to the back of the bus!

Anyway, it was very funny listening to my husband standing up for my discreet but public breastfeeding! Thanks....