Breastfeeding in public

Breastfeeding in public is a topic of heated, social discussion. On the one hand, there are those who believe that this activity results from the natural need of the mother's organism to meet the needs of the child. On the other hand, there are opponents who find it irritating, distasteful and want such attitudes to be punished or reprimanded by mothers. So where is the golden mean for breastfeeding a baby in any situation? Is the solution only in discreetly covering the body with a scarf?

Feeding in public places

Some people find that a nursing mother in a store or park is irritating, and the very activity towards other people in the environment is tactless. On the other hand, it is known that mum's food is the best, unique, adjusted, changing quantitatively and qualitatively in relation to the growing needs of the baby. So why should mom be embarrassed about giving it to her baby?

Breastfeeding is the most natural method of feeding babies, and it's also convenient because it gives mom freedom of movement. Thanks to this, leaving the house with the child ceases to be a source of additional stress. However, it cannot be ruled out that the young mum will be embarrassed by criticism of the opponents of on-demand feeding - that is, in every situation and in every place. Some people do not distinguish between the fact that they are feeding a baby and that it is just being physically and having an open breast. What attitude should you adopt so that feeding outside the home is not problematic for your mother or those around you?

Support for breastfeeding mothers

Many institutions and service premises meet the needs of nursing mothers. In some public places, shopping malls and restaurants, there are special rooms and even amenities, such as changing tables for children, comfortable armchairs for nursing mothers. In such a space, a woman can safely, away from the eyes of others, in hygienic conditions, feed her child without focusing her eyes on herself, without outraging anyone or disturbing anyone.

The list of breastfeeding mother-friendly places you can find online is constantly growing. This underlines the fact that public awareness on this subject and acceptance of breastfeeding in public places is growing, and thus there are more supporters than opponents of breastfeeding.

How can you help yourself by feeding in a public place?

• It is good for the mother to be able to "cut off" from the outside world in which she is with her child and she found a place where both of them would feel at ease and in a comfortable situation.
• Such a secluded place doesn't have to be a toilet. A public place may include a nursing mother's room.
• If a woman feels uncomfortable revealing her breast in a public place, it is worth taking a scarf or a nursing cape.
• In stores it is available cotton breastfeeding clothing, blouses with special indentations, or unzipped and a special nursing bra to facilitate breast removal.
• Every woman is different. If a mother finds out that feeding outside the home is a source of anxiety and distress for her, she doesn't need to feed her baby in public. However, it is worth remembering that they can do so by paying attention to a discreet, comfortable moment for themselves and the child.

Breastfeeding in the church

Breastfeeding in the church is also a difficult topic, but situations are different and the subject should also be looked at from this point of view. Some time ago, the #konieczabawywchanego campaign was launched on the network. The organizers are launching a system of advice on the feeding culture in public places. The church is also such a place.

As a public place, the Church is at the same time a meeting place for the community of believers to which young children also belong. The Pope himself, as the authority of the church, encourages breastfeeding. If mum is taking her child to church, it is a good idea to come a little earlier to find a suitable place so that she can comfortably and possibly discreetly feed the child, if necessary.

A good solution may be presence at mass for families with children. When families with young children gather in the church for one hour, it is in such an atmosphere that the greatest understanding prevails for children's crying or other behaviors, as well as for the needs of feeding the child.

Breastfeeding in public and the law

Regardless of the place - be it a bus, shopping mall, park or restaurant, a woman has the right to breastfeed her baby. Of course, the reactions of passers-by, passengers and customers are different, but these are only the people encountered and you cannot focus on pleasing everyone.

Mom's goal is to be responsible for the baby. The most important thing for mum is the child's safety, and her priority is its health and well-being. Any critical gaze can be ignored, but openly mom should protest any offensive remarks about her, because in Poland, women have the right to breastfeed in a public place.

The statement of the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment of 2016 says that “women have the right to breastfeed freely in public places. The provisions of Polish law do not prohibit feeding in a public place (restaurants, shopping centers or public transport). An entrepreneur who pressures a nursing woman to change the feeding place is acting unlawfully. A nursing mother, who will be asked to leave, has the right to claim compensation from the owner of the facility under the provisions of the Act of December 3, 2010 on the implementation of certain provisions of the European Union in the field of equal treatment, as such behavior may be considered a form of gender discrimination (Art. 60). The provision of art. 12 of the same act stipulates that in the event of violations of the principle of equal treatment (...) there is a right to claim damages ”.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child and breastfeeding 

Poland has also been a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child for 25 years, which emphasizes the great importance of its healthy development, and thus - breastfeeding, as is known from the medical point of view, takes a special part in this. According to pediatricians' recommendations, mother's milk should remain the basis of nutrition during the first 6 months of a child's life. This food is wholesome, provides the baby with all the substances necessary for development, and also strengthens his immune system. From the psychological point of view, the very act of breastfeeding builds a sense of security and closeness with the mother and translates into a good relationship with the baby.

Indecency in the Code of Petty Offenses

It is true that the Code of Petty Offenses refers to an indecent excess (the provision of Article 140 of the Code of Petty Offenses), which is punishable by detention, restriction of liberty, a fine of up to PLN 1500 or a reprimand. However, according to the definition, an indecent prank is one that violates the good principles of social functioning - i.e. behavior that can cause scandal, a feeling of disgust, anger, indignation in the average person (e.g. dealing with physiological needs or walking naked in a public place).

It cannot be considered that the above-mentioned behaviors that bear the hallmarks of an indecent act also include breastfeeding a child in a public place. The confirmation of this thesis can be found, for example, in the jurisprudence of the courts.

Breastfeeding in labor law

The labor law also regulates the provision on breastfeeding children. According to Polish law, also Art. 187 of the Labor Code provides that every breastfeeding employee is entitled to a fully paid break for breastfeeding, which is included in the working time. If a woman is feeding one child, she is entitled to two half-hour breaks, while if she is feeding more than one child - two breaks of 45 minutes each.

Therefore, it seems that the topic of breastfeeding in the forum is not a dilemma in the legal sense, but a social problem, because it concerns the norms of mutual social life. These standards also include such human characteristics as tolerance, understanding and openness to the needs of people, including the smallest.

Źródła:

http://kancelaria-cpr.pl/2017/10/26/karmienie-piersia-miejscach-publicznych-a-prawo/
Labor Code, chap. IV, Systems and schedules of working time, Art. 148
Code of Petty Offenses, ch. XVI, Offenses against public decency, Art. 140, Art. 151
Journal of Laws 2020.0.2156, i.e. the Act of 3 December 2010 on the implementation of certain provisions of the European Union in the field of equal treatment, chapter 2, The principle of equal treatment and legal measures for its protection
Convention on the Rights of the Child - an international convention adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989.
Journal Of Laws of 2010 No. 254, item 1700 The Act of December 3, 2010 on the implementation of certain provisions of the European Union in the field of equal treatment