Breastfeeding Mother Asked to Cover Up

After Indiana-mother Maggie Naas ordered food for herself, she decided to breastfeed her 11-month old, Katie. But when she followed this instinct, the culture around her responded. The Olive Garden manager asked Naas to either cover up or feed her baby in the restroom.

“We had numerous guests complain about her modesty, Olive Garden General Manager Matthew Madden told KSDK, an NBC-affiliate in St. Louis. “There were children in the dining room. If the mother were more modest, this would have never been an issue.”

While I wasn’t in the restaurant, I imagine that the absence of a blanket was most of the reason that Nass’ breastfeeding seemed immodest. Why are feeding mothers expected to use a blanket and cover up? It seems like an unnecessary burden that only contributes to the taboo nature of breastfeeding. And why is breastfeeding such a terrible thing for children to see?

According to the news report, Nass didn’t have a blanket with her, and didn’t want to feed her child where people go to the bathroom, so she decided to leave.

“Culturally in the United States we do not accept breastfeeding as the norm, which we really need to, because it is the norm in feeding babies,” Lactation Consultant Cindy Razo told KSDK.

I agree with Razo. To me, this story highlights more than just a problem with one restaurant manager. It highlights a problem in mainstream U.S. society. The fact that there were numerous complaints about a woman naturally feeding her child shows how distant many of us have become from nature and the source of food. Naas was made to feel ashamed for following her natural maternal instinct, when instead, we should feed ashamed of our society for having such an aversion to seeing a completely natural event.

What do you think? Should restaurants and other public places mandate whether breastfeeding is acceptable, or decide what is modest breastfeeding? What would you have done in this situation? Share your comments.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Colleen R.

2:28PM PDT on Aug 1, 2011

There is a time and a place for everything. A pub is NOT a place for children or breastfeeding infants. I want to have a nice evening drinking and eating with my friends and whatnot and i do not wish to "see" or hear an infant in a restaurant like a pub. Enough of the "if you don't like don't look" stuff. I'm going to be facing my BF when talking to him - in some cases it is unavoidable. I agree with Tara W. For the record I would never ask a breastfeeding mom to take baby to the washroom to feed. Like I say time and a place for everything. A pub and certain restaurants are not for children or babies. I wish to dine without the cries of baby or kids getting in the way. There are plenty of family-friendly places adults can take kids for supper and dining experience. (other than fast food)

Nothing wrong with breastfeeding - just gotta be discreet!

send a green star

gillian brown b.

2:06PM PDT on Aug 1, 2011

breast feeding is wonderful,i personally wouldnt want my breast exposed in a public place mind you,but its a wonderful and natural thing to do.perhaps in museums and similiar places it ought to be avoided as the general public are ther for sightseeing etc and might be a little put off,thats if they indeed notice these things,as said.

Crystal W.

1:23PM PDT on Aug 1, 2011

WOW I'm udderly unimpressed with the fact that people are comparing breastfeeding to defecating in public. And that putting a napking over your breast (which doesn't hold by the way) doesn't seem awkward. Get over it people. Women will and should be able to nurse their child and if a restraunt manager wants to say something otherwise then I will call the cops and press charges for harassment. Which by the way I have done and came back in my favor.

Nimue P.

9:31PM PDT on May 7, 2011

I'm with Tara W: not all things "natural" have to be done in public. It's not about agreeing or disagreeing with breastfeeding, it's about discretion and respect. Nothing wrong with the human body and going without clothes is natural, would you do that in public? Would you have sex in public? Would you defecate in public? A little consideration for others goes a long way :)

Nuria P.

11:36PM PDT on Mar 23, 2011

I don't understand how can anyone be in favour of using a blanket for covering. It is stupid, if you don't like it, don't look, and show respect to that woman. The issue is not with the mother breastfeeding but in the eyes and minds of the ones who are looking. A breast was made exactly for that, if you still think that its main object is sexual, you have a prooobleeemmm!! In my country, something similiar happened in a public museum, and the mother was asked to leave, and she left. Next week there were lots of mums and babies breastfeeding alltogether and they were not asked to leave.
Why don't some mums organise and go all together to that restaurant? they are paying as customers, so I suppose the manager would not like them to leave then.

Dorothy C.

8:41AM PDT on Mar 22, 2011

Why should women have to cover up while feeding their babies? It's one of the most natural things to do and nothing to be ashamed about.

Gordana R.

7:25AM PDT on Mar 22, 2011

.awful. violence over mothers and babies...

Christiane M.

3:36AM PDT on Oct 13, 2010

As a breastfeeding Mom, I have to say I'd have left and never returned to that restaurant. I do try to cover up when I'm feeding my son, however in the height of summer it is terrible for an infant to be under a blanket/shield, next to my body heat, just because he's trying to get fed.

I don't know how many times over this summer my baby boy (born in May) pulled away and gave up on trying to feed because he was overheating. I tried everything, light shawls, covering only his face so at least his body could remain exposed... but seriously isn't it the rest of the public that has the problem? Why are we punishing the babies because adults have issues?

If you don't like it, don't look

Manuela S.

7:56PM PDT on Sep 13, 2010

I agree with the person who says that if we think seeing a mother breastfeed her child could traumatize a person, then we have a real problem. Exactly! Why it is so bad for children to see a nursing act???
And yes, who wants to eat in complete darkness? We eat and enjoy looking around, right? What makes people think babies are any different?
I will never understand what the problem is with nursing in public. There's great nursing wear available which covers almost everything, and the baby's head covers the nipple anyways. Do people really have nothing better to do than stare at nursing moms?
Good place to quote something I recently saw: "If you don't want to see me nursing in public, feel free to throw a blanket over your head."

Artie A.

7:20PM PDT on Sep 10, 2010

I understand the issue of some politeness and discretion, but the idea that a breast or a nipple would disturb you during dinner, then I ask you as you eat to imagine how the animal or fish was killed for you to have dinner. That would be quite disturbing.