Wendy Store

Is Breastfeeding in Public Okay?

Tuesday December 15th, 2009

breastfeeding250Is it okay to breastfeed in public?

A Michigan woman was escorted out of her local Target store for breastfeeding her 4-week old child.

Mary Martinez said her daughter became hungry when she was shopping at Target so she started to breastfeed. A Target employee approached Mary and said she was breaking the law.

Find out what Wendy has to say about breastfeeding in public.

Watch It!

Tell Us: Do you think it’s okay to breastfeed in public?

Watch: Wendy’s Mommy Guilt

122 Comments

  1. I think target(such a huge company,well respected,donates 2 so many charities etc would of never went this far unless there was an issue that we don’t know yet?”The security cameras will reveal the truth” I say let’s not jump 2 conclusions just yet cuz I kno this is not the last were gonna hear,I bet there’s more 2 come that we don’t know yet!

  2. I think target(such a huge company,well respected,donates 2 so many charities etc would of never went this far unless there was an issue that we don’t know yet?”The security cameras will reveal the truth” I say let’s not jump 2 conclusions just yet cuz I kno this is not the last were gonna hear,I bet there’s more 2 come that we don’t know yet

  3. I do believe w/ some of you,however you need to make sure ur covered up esp n places where there might b young kids,or anyone 4 that matter!it just commom sense! N commom.courtesy that’s all it is:)everyone has their right to choose,2 cover up or not 2 coverup

  4. Wendy I am a mother of 2 and I did breastfeed. I am more concerned about why a mother unnecessarily took a 4 week old out in public and to a department store. That in itself is bad enough but we do have this sometimes fatal virus going around…do you think she’s heard of H1N1?

  5. Need to you message very Important
    but my zip code is Canada

  6. I don’t have any children but I think that if her child was hungry she is going to do what ever is best for her and her child. I also believe that noone should have anything to say about her trying to be a mother. The baby is only 4 weeks so she had every reason to breast feed her. Everywhere is appropriate for doing what she did, hello it’s called being a mother.

  7. i think that breastfeeding is a natural thing its to nourishments for the child and its more than just someone having their breast out, before there were other options of feeding your child; such as formula it was pulling out of the breast. People should praise mothers who breastfeed and not shame them. a mother shouldn’t have to feel shamed when their child needs to eat, not everyone can afford or was blessed to have love ones purchase the oprah top pick of breastfeeding multipurpose device hell we barely can afford the bras that open at the breast lol… but that was just wrong they could’ve just ask the lady ma’am some customers are uncomfortable could you please go into the family restroom or etc… for most part people over do everything that just BUSH HAS PUT PEOPLE ON PINS AND NEEDLES. we need to relax enjoy life enjoy freedom of what every part of the world has become.

  8. I am a mother who breastfeeds. I would feel absolutely violated if I were asked to leave a store for feeding my baby. This is absolutely crazy. I think the mother featured on Wendy should check the laws for her state and file action. I love Target and cannot believe an employee would do that.

  9. Hi Wendy,

    First off let me say I love your show, my wife and I watch it together at night when I get home from work. My wife currently breast feeds our four month old daughter. She does not do it in public but her younger sister does (restaurants, library, store, it doesnt matter).

    I do not feel anything is wrong with it and Target should be ashamed of themselves for calling the police! Everyone talks about how they love the kids, but get offended when they have to eat. Society has got everyone thinking it’s wrong to nurse, partly because corporations are making so much money from formula. Go figure, baby cows drink cow’s milk and children drink cow’s milk vs the milk of their mothers. Not Natural….

    One more thing, most people wouldn’t take their cheese burger and fries into some store’s nasty a$$ bathroom to eat, so why should a fragile baby have to eat in one?

    How You Doin’!

  10. i just want to tell you that i love you girl. your show doing great. love it love it, you look fab, every day. i think your show is the best on tv right now. you are a real woman and nothing in the world can beat that. love you wendy.

  11. This woman is just trying to get her more than 15 minutes of fame. She has contacted every tv station & newspaper to make a point. She failed to tell you that she pulled her breast out in the middle of the Electronics dept during the busy holiday season @ Target. Also she was the one making it a big deal not Target. They offered her a comfortable spot in another area of the store & she refused & continued to raise a stink hence the reason for the police.

  12. I am a new mother, and have been breastfeeding for 3 months now… i watched todays show, and tonight i was at my brothers wrestling match hes in high school and i went up to the top of the bleachers and started nursing my hungry son (3months old), and this lady kept just staring at me… it made me feel a little akward and then under her breathe to her husband she said that it was “gross”… i was totally covered up, you couldnt see any flesh.. maybe my sides a little but no breast at all…! i dont know why people think its “goss” im just feeding my son the best thing for him!! I think people should learn more about breastfeeding and how wonderful it is for babies!!!

    I was just shocked that Target kicked a woman out for nursing her child- what is this world coming too?

  13. I think breastfeeding is ok, but for those people that may or may not like that is why the made those cute little cover.

  14. Some silly people tend to turn breastfeeding a baby in public into a sex thing. They will stop and stare the woman down as she’s nursing her baby. Which to me is more offensive

    I’ve seen few women nursing her baby in resturants or the ladies room and neither time was I offended or felt she should go to her car or go home

  15. Breast feeding is wonderful and a very close comforter for Mom and baby .I brestfed my two child up until they were 1yr. I had to do the same thing , in mall. I had a friend to make me a cover out of a baby blanket and no one really knew if I
    was brestfeeding .It takes time for some mothers to learn how to prepare for public outings and wearing brestfed tops just for Mom’s and that special time of giving awesome, life supporting milk that a baby needs on demand. Its not that I was hiding but more of protecting a private moment in public..

  16. Wendy I believe there is a time and place for everything. Mother’s who breast feed should schedule pumping there breast. Making a few bottle’s of her milk to travel with.
    Thank You,
    CAMILLE

  17. I’m tired of every once in a while the story comes out about how breastfeeding moms are like these offenders. People need to get over it because moms will continue to breastfeed for it is God’s gift and that is why women have breasts. I am a mother of 5 and breastfed all of them including my 1 year old twins; whenever, whereever. Babies need to be fed. Would they rather have a screaming baby! Department stores should all have a courtesy mother’s room to accomodate nursing mothers. Mothers have to shop and definitely are the ones who shop more for the households. No one ever stopped me from nursing. Some women walk through stores half naked and are exposed much more than mothers who nurse.
    Let’s concentrate on real more important offenses in this world. Stop stressing mothers and disturbing babies feeding times…
    I will continue to encourage mothers to breastfeed. And will come in defense of any mother who is hassled during this time.
    Sincerely,
    Rebeca
    Breast is Best.

  18. Wendy,

    Just wanted to let you,know, How FABULOUS you looked today. That Brown Looks very, very nice too.Thanks four goin back to the natural Lipstick. And as Always Love that HAIR!!!! Simply Beautiful…….Whats that sayin’ Less is ……I forgot the reast as that make up artist of yours.

    Have a Great Day!
    P.S. Comment was suppose to be about Breast Who Cares

  19. Who’s business is it anyways…. Sickening? HOW? What is wrong with people!?…. Tell you what, sometimes mommies are busy and can’t go out on a “schedule” If children are asking questions is the issue, than why not appropriately educate them as to what breasts are really for… Excuse herself to her car? It’s -4 in Michigan HELLO If you have a problem with a woman nursing her child discreetly it has nothing to do with anything or anyone but you and your strange insecurities.

  20. I can’t believe the people complaining about public nudity – breastfeeding is NOT nudity, you dolts! How about looking at magazine covers, billboards, and TV shows. We see much more skin in those types of media than we do every day on the street or in stores. You would rather have your child see Victoria’s Secret commercials, actors “making out,” or the D&G commercial that pretty much condones threesomes on TV – or a mother doing what is most natural? Consider this a teaching moment – for yourself or your children. A woman should NOT have to hide anywhere, let alone a bathroom to feed her child. Would YOU eat your lunch if a public bathroom?? I won’t even go into how the depiction of women on TV and in advertising screws with a woman’s self esteem………

    Educate yourselves!!

« Older Comments
Newer Comments »

Leave a Reply





(required)

« | »
Download Wendy's Theme Song on iTunes
DEBMAR MERCURY © TALK WW PRODUCTION, INC.
PRIVACY POLICY  TERMS OF USE  CONTACT US