Community› The Bump Month Clubs› June 2015 Moms
June 2015 Moms
New Discussion

Breastfeeding in Europe

hbornzinhbornzin member
in June 2015 Moms
Hi, we are traveling to Italy in a few weeks for my sister's wedding and I was wondering if any of you know the etiquette on breastfeeding in Italy? I know random question, but I was reading dos and don'ts for other things and some are things I would've never thought of. Is it considered rude, or normal to do it in public, should I try to do it in bathrooms when we are sightseeing or is it okay to just sit at a bench with a nursing cover?
Report Reply to Post

Re: Breastfeeding in Europe

  • lovethatcolosunlovethatcolosun member
    I say do what you normally do here. I nurse in public with a very light infinity scarf. It's light enough so DD doesn't get hot and I can move it much easier than the normal cover ups, which I find are dark and hot for LO and scream look at me I'm breastfeeding. Lol. Plus if you get milk dribbles or spit up on you, you can wear the scarf to cover it up. Point being, it's nice that you want to flow with the customs there, but I would do what YOU want to do. You'll never see any of those people again anyway!
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • MaliKaelaMaliKaela member
    I don't know the answer to your question, but I think it is so cool that you are concerned about respecting their culture. Most European cultures are a lot less prudish than Americans when it comes to nudity in general. I'd be surprised if most Italians cared at all about your breastfeeding. Especially if you are using a cover.
    Report Reply
  • mcmaggiomcmaggio member
    My husband was born and raised in Italy and breastfeeding is 100% normal there to do in public. My mother in law said when she was in public she would use a cover just to cover the top of her chest, but it isn't something everyone does. ..... They are from southern Italy though and between the south/north they are like 2 completely different countries so it depends on where you're going.
    Report Reply
  • rklinge0rklinge0 member
    I was a nanny and they went to rome when she had a baby. I believe she did it in the car but nudity over in europe isn't frowned upon. So I wouldn't stress
    Report Reply
  • bethanne09bethanne09 member
    Maybe it's a deep south conservative Baptist community thing, but I still get side eye when I feed under a cover in the far corner of where ever. Maybe it's time to move. Lol
    Report Reply
  • bethanne09bethanne09 member
    My dad said when he was stationed in Rome and Vatican City, women fed without any cover at all. He was surprised at first, but it seemed to be a "pretty common thing". He also said he couldn't really tell they were feeding most of the time, so they were still being pretty discreet.
    Report Reply
  • mishmardhionomishmardhiono member
    edited August 2015
    dancegurl1118 said:
    Maybe it's a deep south conservative Baptist community thing, but I still get side eye when I feed under a cover in the far corner of where ever. Maybe it's time to move. Lol
    This infuriates me. Like...makes my blood boil more than anti-vaccines. Maybe I'm just an asshole Yankee but God help the first person who side-eyes me. And I don't use a cover. I feed as if I'm going about my daily life, because it's NORMAL and a part of daily life!! I know I'm preaching to the choir here...I just can't figure out why (especially in the south) this normal act is considered inappropriate. No person is sitting there with their nipples out just hanging out when their child isn't feeding. I totally get if you're not comfortable, no one should be forced to NIP. But how about instead of side eyeing and shaming moms for feeding their child we start shaming the men and women for considering it to be inappropriate or sexual...because that's weird.
    totally agree. My MIL cant believe that in australia we are happy with nudity (strippers, bikinis, topless narmaids etc) but are offended by bfing. so moronic.
    Report Reply
  • bethanne09bethanne09 member
    dancegurl1118 said:

    bethanne09 said:

    Maybe it's a deep south conservative Baptist community thing, but I still get side eye when I feed under a cover in the far corner of where ever. Maybe it's time to move. Lol

    This infuriates me. Like...makes my blood boil more than anti-vaccines. Maybe I'm just an asshole Yankee but God help the first person who side-eyes me. And I don't use a cover. I feed as if I'm going about my daily life, because it's NORMAL and a part of daily life!!

    I know I'm preaching to the choir here...I just can't figure out why (especially in the south) this normal act is considered inappropriate. No person is sitting there with their nipples out just hanging out when their child isn't feeding.

    I totally get if you're not comfortable, no one should be forced to NIP. But how about instead of side eyeing and shaming moms for feeding their child we start shaming the men and women for considering it to be inappropriate or sexual...because that's weird.
    I was really hesitant to do it, but I have been trying to do it more to find my groove and all of that jazz. It seems like every time I go out and feed him not in the car, I get looks. Hell, even in the car people will put their heads up to the window and look at me like I'm hookering it up. There is a "crunchy mom" group starting at our Farmer's Market this weekend that I plan on attending. I don't exactly fit in the "crunchy" label, but I feel like they will be a good support system and maybe the start of encouraging more moms to NIP.
    Report Reply
  • I'msorrymsjacksonI'msorrymsjackson member
    @bethanne09 this seems totally crazy to me. I grew up in Texas but live in the UK now, and nobody really seems to give it a second thought here if they even notice that I'm feeding my LO at all. If I'm in my car, I don't bother to be discrete at all because I figure if people don't want to see it, they shouldn't be looking in my car! If I'm just out somewhere, it depends what I'm wearing, but sometimes I won't even use a cover (if I've worn a tank top under another shirt).

    People can't expect that mothers will just never leave the house with a baby (there are things we need and want to do!), so if they don't want to hear a screaming baby, they'd better learn to grow up about seeing a little boob!
    Report Reply
  • MaliKaelaMaliKaela member
    I'm really enjoying this conversation. I've never had a problem with others NIP. How does that effect me in any way?

    I have some personal issues with the boobies (bad experience at 16 involving an older man who DID NOT have my permission), and I was concerned I wouldn't be able to bf at all and would have to EP because the thought just freaked me out. I have been pleasantly surprised how much i'm enjoinig BF'ing and how much it has changed on own perception of my boobs in a really positive way.

    Anyway, prior to beginning nursing I was horrified at the thought of NIP without a cover, and a little uncomfortable with a cover as well. it didn't bother me that others would just whip it out, but I didn't understand how a woman could be personally comfortable with it. Now I get it! It is so much harder to make sure you are covered up! It's impossible with this kid wanting to snack all the time. I pump and bring a bottle because I still can't openly bf but covering up is just too difficult.

    I wish we were more educated and accepting here in the states.
    Report Reply
  • hbornzinhbornzin member
    mcmaggio said:

    My husband was born and raised in Italy and breastfeeding is 100% normal there to do in public. My mother in law said when she was in public she would use a cover just to cover the top of her chest, but it isn't something everyone does. ..... They are from southern Italy though and between the south/north they are like 2 completely different countries so it depends on where you're going.


    Thank you everyone! We will be in Florence, Chianti, and Rome!
    Report Reply
  • bethanne09bethanne09 member
    @hbornzin Have fun!!
    Report Reply
  • virginiaunicorn11virginiaunicorn11 member
    bethanne09 said:

    dancegurl1118 said:

    bethanne09 said:

    Maybe it's a deep south conservative Baptist community thing, but I still get side eye when I feed under a cover in the far corner of where ever. Maybe it's time to move. Lol

    This infuriates me. Like...makes my blood boil more than anti-vaccines. Maybe I'm just an asshole Yankee but God help the first person who side-eyes me. And I don't use a cover. I feed as if I'm going about my daily life, because it's NORMAL and a part of daily life!!

    I know I'm preaching to the choir here...I just can't figure out why (especially in the south) this normal act is considered inappropriate. No person is sitting there with their nipples out just hanging out when their child isn't feeding.

    I totally get if you're not comfortable, no one should be forced to NIP. But how about instead of side eyeing and shaming moms for feeding their child we start shaming the men and women for considering it to be inappropriate or sexual...because that's weird.
    Hell, even in the car people will put their heads up to the window and look at me like I'm hookering it up.
    WTAF?!?!

    I'm anti-gun, but (in the spirit of this thread) "when in Rome...!" I would wave a gun at any idiot f'ing a-hole who actually had the audacity to pull that sh*t. Are you FREAKING KIDDING ME?!

    I'm all for public BF, but sometimes I cover or go off somewhere if it's just as easy to do so, and I think someone will mind. If it's not convenient to cover/move somewhere, I just nurse the baby where I am. But no f'ing way am I going to be chased to my car and then still made to feel uncomfortable. No. F'ing. Way.

    Report Reply
  • karaelaine1991karaelaine1991 member
    I'm slowly becoming more comfortable with NIP. The cover is just such a hassle! Last night after our oven fire, we went to the Italian restaurant that's around the corner from our apartment for dinner. I forgot the cover and, of course, LO got hungry. I was ready to say screw it and just nurse her without it, but DH was so bothered by the idea that he actually went home to get it! Lol I started feeding her before he got back and didn't have any problems, but as soon as he got back he covered me up... it definitely seems to bother him more than it bothers me at this point.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • KarasTwinKarasTwin member
    I'm southern, Christian, and pretty conservative (though I can be a little apathetic on some issues). Breastfeeding didn't work out for us, but I had every intention of NIP. I don't know if I would have covered or not as nursing only lasted 2 weeks, but I think I would have done whatever was most comfortable for me and LO. My aunt, who is in her early 40s and has a 13 year old and 11 year old and bfd like a champ. She would shop for groceries with her oldest in the buggy and baby nursing. I think some people are opening up to it more than before, we just have to make it the new normal! All you mamas who are succeeding, keep on!
    Report Reply
  • bethanne09bethanne09 member
    I was talking to my mom about the car incident and she just laughed. She is living vicariously through me at this point as far as breastfeeding since it never worked out for her (dried up at three weeks with all three of us). She's going with me to the meeting this weekend and said we'll go to the store and feed him there to practice. She's definitely but afraid to tell someone off, maybe she can be my advocate since I tend to just walk away. We'll get some good stories out of it, I'm sure.
    Report Reply
  • virginiaunicorn11virginiaunicorn11 member
    bethanne09 said:

    I was talking to my mom about the car incident and she just laughed. She is living vicariously through me at this point as far as breastfeeding since it never worked out for her (dried up at three weeks with all three of us). She's going with me to the meeting this weekend and said we'll go to the store and feed him there to practice. She's definitely but afraid to tell someone off, maybe she can be my advocate since I tend to just walk away. We'll get some good stories out of it, I'm sure.

    I talk big but tend to walk away, too. Ah well. ;-) Good luck, lady! Hope your mama gets to spout off for you!!
    Report Reply
  • hbornzinhbornzin member
    We are here and I have been using a nursing cover and all is going good.. Today we went to the Vatican and they actually had a room to nurse your baby! I was so excited lol!
    Report Reply
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"