I didn't come to an art museum to watch you nurse a toddler

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You problem entirely.

And no I don’t need to cover or leave the room.

Pop that kid in a sling, latch, keep it moving, or sit as needed. I’ve nursed on just about every bench on every museum and at the arboretum and zoo as well. It’s how you manage kids on dc. Free spots with ac when it’s warm and outside when it’s cooler

Not every child weans at one year or solids. It’s normal for a toddler to comfort nurse as well.

And we shouldn’t have to hike to a lactation room hell and gone across the museum so you’re comfy. Grow up.

It’s actually not normal for a toddler to comfort nurse on demand.

The one mom I knew who did this (literally let her walking toddler yank her shirt up in public and latch himself on) is a seriously permissive parent with some issues.

Based on OP’s story we don’t have anywhere near enough info to judge this parent.

We don’t know if this is a 11 month old or a 2.5 year old. We also don’t know if he’s nursing on demand or if this is a scheduled time. There is no evidence that he just pulled up mom’s shirt and since OP is looking for ways to judge the mom I am sure she would have mentioned that.

[Anonymous]

I EBF 3 babies and I agree with you OP. Moving to the most discreet area possible is common courtesy. Unfortunately some women are attention seekers. It’s sad. And it ruins things for the rest of us who are much more reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vent.

Went to the East Wing of the National Gallery yesterday. There was a noisy toddler with their parents in the same room who was begging for "boob" and then started noisily nursing. It was bone quiet and the kid was slurping and grunting.

Why does this annoy me so much? I nursed multiple kids, heck, I've nursed a kid in the National gallery! But I chose to do so outside the exhibit and privately as I could. (this was way before lactation rooms were a thing).

I want to be sympathetic and supportive of nursing mothers, but personally, I'm just really grossed out by older children loudly nursing. And feel like my experience was diminished and they were disrespectful
Of the patrons who WERE NOT interested in their kid's snack.

If you genuinely want to be sympathetic and supportive of nursing mothers than you need to try harder. Possibly a lot harder.

Not really. There are nursing rooms in the museum.

There’s a difference when the kid is old enough to ask for it. If a two year old is acceptable, would you feel comfortable with a 3, 4, 5 year old? Where do you draw the line?

[Anonymous]

I agree that it seems impolite with a kid this age (who presumably can wait while you find a nursing area or more private area), and wouldn’t have been comfortable doing it myself, BUT that’s life. And you can’t ever really know what someone’s circumstances are (maybe the kid has special medical or nutritional needs, the mom has other children who can’t easily be moved elsewhere right then or whatever other reason).

In the end, it is a young kid eating and we don’t know if there might be a special circumstance. I’d just shrug and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old was this kid? How loud was the suckling? I’m imagining some weird Romulus and Remus reenactment.

🤣🤣🤣

Amazing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vent.

Went to the East Wing of the National Gallery yesterday. There was a noisy toddler with their parents in the same room who was begging for "boob" and then started noisily nursing. It was bone quiet and the kid was slurping and grunting.

Why does this annoy me so much? I nursed multiple kids, heck, I've nursed a kid in the National gallery! But I chose to do so outside the exhibit and privately as I could. (this was way before lactation rooms were a thing).

I want to be sympathetic and supportive of nursing mothers, but personally, I'm just really grossed out by older children loudly nursing. And feel like my experience was diminished and they were disrespectful
Of the patrons who WERE NOT interested in their kid's snack.

If you genuinely want to be sympathetic and supportive of nursing mothers than you need to try harder. Possibly a lot harder.

Not really. There are nursing rooms in the museum.

There’s a difference when the kid is old enough to ask for it. If a two year old is acceptable, would you feel comfortable with a 3, 4, 5 year old? Where do you draw the line?

I don’t feel any need to draw the line. I trust women that make choices for themselves and their babies. I will say that as a mother who had one kid walked at 6 months and another at 16, and all three kids able to ask for a drink before their first birthday, that your assumption that this kid is at least 2 is off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no reason for a toddler to even be there.

Art museums are great places for toddlers.

Only toddlers that don’t whine and cry and BOOB probably because he’s bored. Unlike newborns, toddlers can go a few hours without milk. What if it was a toddler who was whining for juice? You’d have him wait or leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You problem entirely.

And no I don’t need to cover or leave the room.

Pop that kid in a sling, latch, keep it moving, or sit as needed. I’ve nursed on just about every bench on every museum and at the arboretum and zoo as well. It’s how you manage kids on dc. Free spots with ac when it’s warm and outside when it’s cooler

Not every child weans at one year or solids. It’s normal for a toddler to comfort nurse as well.

And we shouldn’t have to hike to a lactation room hell and gone across the museum so you’re comfy. Grow up.

It’s actually not normal for a toddler to comfort nurse on demand.

The one mom I knew who did this (literally let her walking toddler yank her shirt up in public and latch himself on) is a seriously permissive parent with some issues.

My sister had one who did but he was severely autistic, he will never be independent and he doesn’t speak.

[Anonymous]

If the kid is old enough to walk around and ask for “boob” by name that is too old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You problem entirely.

And no I don’t need to cover or leave the room.

Pop that kid in a sling, latch, keep it moving, or sit as needed. I’ve nursed on just about every bench on every museum and at the arboretum and zoo as well. It’s how you manage kids on dc. Free spots with ac when it’s warm and outside when it’s cooler

Not every child weans at one year or solids. It’s normal for a toddler to comfort nurse as well.

And we shouldn’t have to hike to a lactation room hell and gone across the museum so you’re comfy. Grow up.

It’s actually not normal for a toddler to comfort nurse on demand.

The one mom I knew who did this (literally let her walking toddler yank her shirt up in public and latch himself on) is a seriously permissive parent with some issues.

My sister had one who did but he was severely autistic, he will never be independent and he doesn’t speak.

Well this one said BOOB so I don’t think that’s the scenario here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vent.

Went to the East Wing of the National Gallery yesterday. There was a noisy toddler with their parents in the same room who was begging for "boob" and then started noisily nursing. It was bone quiet and the kid was slurping and grunting.

Why does this annoy me so much? I nursed multiple kids, heck, I've nursed a kid in the National gallery! But I chose to do so outside the exhibit and privately as I could. (this was way before lactation rooms were a thing).

I want to be sympathetic and supportive of nursing mothers, but personally, I'm just really grossed out by older children loudly nursing. And feel like my experience was diminished and they were disrespectful
Of the patrons who WERE NOT interested in their kid's snack.

I agree with you. It should rude. If an adult was in there eating a snack it wood be rude. When my husband slurps imhsi soup it is rude. Sorry your experience was ruined.

Children young enough to be fed in their parents arms by breast or bottle, are permitted to do so in environments where it would be rude for others to eat.

Similarly kids get forgiveness for behavior when they haven’t yet developed the skills to do something else. A toddler who slurps when drinking, or an infant who doesn’t say please
or thank you isn’t the same as a typical husband who does the same.

But this kid was asking for it. Which means they can talk. Which means they are probably eating solid food and that is not allowed in a museum. This kids was old enough where the polite thing to do would be to leave the museum, have a snack, and return.

An infant is a different scenario. Forgive all my typos earlier.

And I breastfed both my kids till 18 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You problem entirely.

And no I don’t need to cover or leave the room.

Pop that kid in a sling, latch, keep it moving, or sit as needed. I’ve nursed on just about every bench on every museum and at the arboretum and zoo as well. It’s how you manage kids on dc. Free spots with ac when it’s warm and outside when it’s cooler

Not every child weans at one year or solids. It’s normal for a toddler to comfort nurse as well.

And we shouldn’t have to hike to a lactation room hell and gone across the museum so you’re comfy. Grow up.

They aren’t popping a verbal toddler in a SLING!

Also, just exit out to the hallways or courtyard, maybe 10 steps from any gallery with artwork at NGA. Just not in the quiet areas

[Anonymous]

[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vent.

Went to the East Wing of the National Gallery yesterday. There was a noisy toddler with their parents in the same room who was begging for "boob" and then started noisily nursing. It was bone quiet and the kid was slurping and grunting.

Why does this annoy me so much? I nursed multiple kids, heck, I've nursed a kid in the National gallery! But I chose to do so outside the exhibit and privately as I could. (this was way before lactation rooms were a thing).

I want to be sympathetic and supportive of nursing mothers, but personally, I'm just really grossed out by older children loudly nursing. And feel like my experience was diminished and they were disrespectful
Of the patrons who WERE NOT interested in their kid's snack.

If you genuinely want to be sympathetic and supportive of nursing mothers than you need to try harder. Possibly a lot harder.

Not really. There are nursing rooms in the museum.

There’s a difference when the kid is old enough to ask for it. If a two year old is acceptable, would you feel comfortable with a 3, 4, 5 year old? Where do you draw the line?

When they are able to ask for it.

[Anonymous]

I would have found it unneccessary and obnoxious too. I breast fed kids past one year. But I do judge parents who publicly bf kids old enough to ask. Nope. If thirty or hungry you can find a place to go sit for a snack like anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Agree w/ OP