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Jo123ABC 12:59 PM 07-09-2020
What are your thoughts on a provider breastfeeding in front of clients and enrolled children?
Cat Herder 01:14 PM 07-09-2020
Breastfeeding in front of enrolled children makes perfect sense as they are there 10-12 hours per pay. I'd hope they'd cover up just a bit as I myself did. If nothing else than to limit awkward discussions with strangers.
Breastfeeding in front of parents seems something that can be planned around. I would not schedule my children's meals during drop-off and pick-up times. I breastfed three kids.
Breastfeeding in front of parents seems something that can be planned around. I would not schedule my children's meals during drop-off and pick-up times. I breastfed three kids.
Former Teacher 02:11 PM 07-09-2020
Originally Posted by Jo123ABC:
What are your thoughts on a provider breastfeeding in front of clients and enrolled children?
I might get alot of flack for this but... What are your thoughts on a provider breastfeeding in front of clients and enrolled children?
In front of the children is one thing. Like Cat said, the children are there a LONG time. If I was a parent, I would prefer that the provider does it discreetly and cover up.
Clients/Parents (current and potential) are another thing. I just think that is unprofessional regardless if you cover up or not. Again like Cat said, you schedule feedings so you don't have to.
I like to read old threads and I am SO tempted to comment on them but I don't want to bring up a thread from 10 years ago
Anyway, the number of people who have said that they have breastfed during an interview (esp the ones that said they didn't cover up) astonished me. I get it's your personal home and all that. But I personally wouldn't want to a see (and no matter how you do it, there is ALWAYS a potential of showing something) a naked boob.
But that's just me
Jo123ABC 09:52 PM 07-09-2020
This is my third breastfed kid. I avoid nursing during pick up and drop off but I didn't get much of a maternity leave and you can't always plan feedings for a newborn. I've nursed in front of a parent once so far with a cover. I get irritated because they come and go as they please sometimes and don't always respect my schedule. It's whatever but my kid needs to eat too. I care for 8 of them and when the others are all fed breakfast mine should get to nurse too. I nurse in front of the kids (all under 5 except my daughter and niece) though I don't let it all hang out of course. I nurse, then move on. Just curious what people think and what other nursing mom providers do 
Cat Herder 05:33 AM 07-10-2020
Originally Posted by Jo123ABC:
Just curious what people think and what other nursing mom providers do
I had a drop-off window and a cut-off time. I breastfed after cutoff and before pick-ups. I don't let parents into my home during pick-ups and drop-offs, it is done at the door. If they need to see the playroom for comfort, they may ask. If it becomes a regular thing, they can leave. Just curious what people think and what other nursing mom providers do
I manage my program to meet my needs. I don't meet my needs around their wants.
Cat Herder 05:43 AM 07-10-2020
To add: I also welcome nursing moms to come breastfeed. They have a recliner, TV, blanket and guestroom to themselves. 
Ariana 08:39 AM 07-10-2020
Breastfeeding is natural and normal and anyone who has an issue with it can go elsewhere!
hwichlaz 10:18 AM 07-14-2020
Young infant feedings cannot and should not be scheduled. I'd make an attempt at discretion but babies don't always cooperate. IF a boob is sexual...a bottle is too since it's a fake boob 
edited to add: any adult that has perverted or inappropriate thoughts about a woman feeding a baby probably shouldn't be anywhere near anyone's children anyway
edited to add: any adult that has perverted or inappropriate thoughts about a woman feeding a baby probably shouldn't be anywhere near anyone's children anyway
DaveA 06:41 PM 07-14-2020
Originally Posted by hwichlaz:
Young infant feedings cannot and should not be scheduled. I'd make an attempt at discretion but babies don't always cooperate. IF a boob is sexual...a bottle is too since it's a fake boob
edited to add: any adult that has perverted or inappropriate thoughts about a woman feeding a baby probably shouldn't be anywhere near anyone's children anyway
You had my agreement till you made that statement. To go to if someone has a thought (not an action or treatment) toward an adult they are somehow now a danger to children is ridiculous. Yes- women feeding their child is natural and should not be discouraged or frankly even be noticed. But to go to "shouldn't be anywhere near anyone's children" is beyond judgemental. Things can serve multiple purposes. Women's breasts are for feeding & have a sexual component. There are whole industries built to both sides of that equation. To say someone who treats a client professionally but remembers the joke "Why are boobs like toy cars? They're built for the kids but it's the dads who plays with them!" shouldn't be around children is not something I'm going to say is a valid or good arguement. Young infant feedings cannot and should not be scheduled. I'd make an attempt at discretion but babies don't always cooperate. IF a boob is sexual...a bottle is too since it's a fake boob
edited to add: any adult that has perverted or inappropriate thoughts about a woman feeding a baby probably shouldn't be anywhere near anyone's children anyway
One of the best teachers I used to work with a teacher was lesbian. She made my rather dark and inappropriate sense of humor look like Mr. Rogers. She used to tell me some jokes that made me blush. She would never be unprofessional or inappropriate to a client. But I'd bet that the next time she saw me after seeing a DCM she thought was cute (a favorite topic of hers to me to get me laughing or blushing) nursing would be to tell me she almost volunteered to be a taste tester. Was she a danger to children?
I know I'm coming down like a ton of bricks and I've tried to clean this up. But this tripped my "a$$hole switch" immediately. It hits too close to some of the crap I dealt with in centers from people who didn't want me around infants or even in the building because I happen to pee standing up.
Blackcat31 06:06 AM 07-15-2020
I have to agree with Dave...
That statement is an odd correlation to make.
That statement is an odd correlation to make.
AmyKidsCo 01:19 PM 08-18-2020
I breastfed in front of my DCK but not in front of the parents. I wasn't shy about doing it around others in general, but didn't think it was professional to do in front of parents.
Jupadia 01:52 PM 08-18-2020
With my seconed I breast feed (for 5 months) and pumped (for 7 months) in front of the daycare kids. I'd cover up if a parent was comming in, detach baby or pumps. But the pumps I'd schedule around pick up times. Feeding I'd do as needed, but I'd have parents send a text if they were comming of schedule.
For me I had just little ones all under 4, a couple with newer young sibblings at home. I also had no issue with covering for parents personally I never felt comfortable breastfeeding in front of adult friends , there was no way I could have done it in front of clients.
Would have gone longer but hated pumping and he stoped feeding properly at 5 months. He became to distracted while eating, and there was no going into another room.
For me I had just little ones all under 4, a couple with newer young sibblings at home. I also had no issue with covering for parents personally I never felt comfortable breastfeeding in front of adult friends , there was no way I could have done it in front of clients.
Would have gone longer but hated pumping and he stoped feeding properly at 5 months. He became to distracted while eating, and there was no going into another room.