Do you bottle feed in public? Why or why not?

@foxyfire33 (10005)
United States
September 28, 2007 10:32am CST
So here's the other side of the "breastfeeding in public" debate since that seems like such a hot topic. My youngest is breastfed only and does not take bottles at all but my older children all had bottles at one point or another. I remember it always being such a hassle. While they were on formula I had to carry around the canister of powder (which spilled out into the diaper bag on more than one occasion) and bottles of water (which also had a tendency to leak) or bring along a small cooler if I prepared the formula at home. Even if I skipped formula and just brought bottles of water or infant juice, I still had to deal with bottles falling on the ground and needing to be washed, bottles getting lost, tops coming loose and spilling all over the baby...and on and on. And then there's also the whole scare about chemicals leeching out of certain plastics and latex nipples becoming a choking hazard if the baby bites them. Baby bottles just don't seem worth the trouble unless it's ABSOLUTELY necessary. I am so glad I don't have to deal with them for this baby...at home or in public. So what about everyone else? Do you think dragging bottles around in public is too much of a hassle? Or are the hassles worth it to avoid all the people who think breastfeeding in public is disgusting?
2 responses
@Samanthavv (1380)
• United States
15 Dec 07
My baby is ONLY bottlefed if I am not there to feed her! Then and only then is when she is bottlefed! I don't care if anyone thinks it's disgusting. They can look away if they aren't comfortable! I do what I am comfortable with and if they don't like it, then tough! They're adults! They have the freedom to just LOOK AWAY.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
17 Dec 07
Exactly! Thanks Samantha! My s/o keeps trying to get him to take a bottle...I have no idea why. I don't mind him drinking other things but only want him drinking from a cup so I can skip the whole bottle thing entirely.
• United States
5 Oct 07
No, its way too much of a hassle for me too! I don't formula feed at all, but its still a PITA to have to pack bottles of BM in a cooler. Straight from the tap is so much easier! :)
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
5 Oct 07
"Straight from the tap" LOL Love it...will have to remember that line! I tried pumping and storing in those little freezer baggies that double as bottle liners, they always leaked everywhere and where a pain to thaw out...not to mention a little awkward to have my 17 year old step son having to riffle through baggies marked "My Mommy's Milk" to get to his ice cream!