Dear Editor,
Though the incident of a woman supposedly kicked off a flight due to public breastfeeding is being protested, not all woman stand for breastfeeding in public. Feeding a baby with an exposed breast before a crowd isn’t everyone’s idea of a comfortable image - not just the observers, but also the mothers who need to feed their babies.
Admittedly, I breastfed over 25 years ago and times have changed. Yet, I do believe this is an intimate act between mother and child. If my babies were hungry, I’d get up and feed them away from the public and I’d cover myself with a baby blanket. I never breast fed on demand; I did follow scheduled times to nurse and as a result, I planned my outings accordingly. No shame involved here. All I wanted was my privacy in feeding them.
One would think the airports would provide a private area just for this purpose. Some department stores provide a private area for breastfeeding and changing. If places can provide a play area for small children, many should provide nursing and changing areas.
However, no mother should be kicked off a plane for breastfeeding her baby. If airports fail to provide a comfortable area to nurse babies, they only have themselves to blame. In travel, mothers cannot leave their babies at home.
Suzanne Berton
Kingston, Ont.