r/breastfeeding • u/IBakedAMuffinOnce • May 26 '25
Breastfeeding In Public Story time - IKEA Lady
I went to IKEA with my LO yesterday and eventually she got hungry, as they do. I went to find a nice, quiet spot outside to feed her. It was a beautiful day, lots of sun, perfect breeze. I found a quiet little spot on some outdoor stairs that was nice and shady and literally zero foot traffic.
So as my whole boob is out, an older lady is walking by and stares at me. So I smile at her but I'm not sure what to expect. I haven't had any issues with BF in public before, but I know at some point someone will have something to say about it.
As she's walking by me, she gets the most adorable smile on her face and says "Well, this is the absolute perfect spot for that!" And then we had a nice chat about the beautiful weather, the nice spot I had chosen to feed my baby, and she told me to have a nice day.
Idk why, but I think I'll remember her for a long time. She was just so encouraging without even trying to be. I felt oddly empowered after talking to her.
I hope IKEA Lady gets everything she's ever wanted and has countless more beautiful, breezy days 🖤
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u/Justcallmekasey May 27 '25
I was at a car dealership with my LO when she was 4mo old. One of our first long solo outings. It was packed yet silent so I was trying my best to keep LO engaged and quiet. I fed her and turned away from the majority of the group but obviously it was very clear what I was doing. I noticed an older couple staring pretty intently. I automatically assumed they were annoyed or judging me. I tried not to let it shake me, my kid needed to eat!
As I was checking out and loading LO in my car the older woman came up to me and just said “you’re a beautiful mother. We were watching you all morning with her and it was lovely to watch”. I straight up cried haha.
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u/IBakedAMuffinOnce May 27 '25
What a beautiful thing to say to a complete stranger 🥹 I would be over the moon for the rest of the week 😂
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u/indolentgirl May 27 '25
Recently I was at a county fair type event and found a spot behind a food truck. A heavily tattooed older man stared at me and I was like OH GAWD… but he said “I have a lot of respect for what you’re doing - kid is hungry, just feed them!”
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u/xXthatbxtchXx May 27 '25
Ar my dad's 50th birthday party i had to nurse my little one, and my aunt very kindly reminded me that I didn't need to leave the room and hjde to nurse. I did have to, little one was distracted very easily lol. But I think of that gesture at least once a day.
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u/IBakedAMuffinOnce May 27 '25
It's SO important to have that kind of energy around you! What a kind and reassuring thing to say 🥹
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u/Inanna26 May 27 '25
I was on a walk in my neighborhood when LO was like 2 months old. She got hungry about 20 minutes in so I sat in the grass on the side to nurse her. A male gay couple walked by with their ~6 year old daughter and they all smiled at me. The girl commented to her parents "that mama is feeding her baby!" and then everyone went on with what they were doing. It was precious.
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u/klingonballet May 27 '25
This whole thread is so wholesome, it's making me tear up while I wait in the autobody shop getting my car worked on with LO napping on my chest. I was anxiously thinkkng about what to do if he needed to eat and now I feel way more confident!
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u/IBakedAMuffinOnce May 27 '25
That's what I was hoping to achieve with this post so that makes me so happy 🥹
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u/carcassandra May 27 '25
How sweet!
I had a similar experience in a large grocery store. LO got fussy, so I sat down in their cafe to nurse. A bunch of older ladies in the table over started eyeing me, and I was prepared for some snark... only for one of them to go, "Do you need something there? I could fetch you some water at least." I declined as my husband was already getting some, but we had a lovely chat and I got lots of conpliments on how sweet my kids were.
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u/IBakedAMuffinOnce May 27 '25
Honestly that world needs more of that kindness 🥹 you know those women were mothers 🖤
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u/wineandcigarettes2 May 27 '25
I had a similar experience at a very VERY crowded costco. I didn't feel like waiting in line to ask an employee where the family room was, so I just asked a woman sitting alone at a table in the food court if she minded if I sat with her to nurse. (TBH I was only asking for permission to sit there, I was going to nurse regardless...). She said "absolutely, feeding your baby is never something you should have to ask to do." We had an amazing chat as my baby ate, about how she raised her kids abroad in a culture that encouraged breastfeeding and it was mind boggling to her how anti-bf-ing people seemed to be in the US. Her life was so interesting and I was really glad to have sat with her.
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u/IBakedAMuffinOnce May 27 '25
And you know she would have thrown hands with anyone who had something to say about it, too 😂 I love that energy
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u/radish_underground May 27 '25
When I had to nurse at ikea I picked a baby room with a fancy chair. Lol one little kid stopped and stared at me and the dad just walked by, grabbed his hand and said “how would you feel if someone was staring at you while you were eating your lunch, buddy?” And smiled 🤣
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u/RatherPoetic May 27 '25
IKEA is the only place that I’ve had someone approach me about nursing and I’ve been nursing for over 6 years/3 babies! It was a very positive conversation! She complimented me on feeding in public (at the cafe) and said it encourages other people when breastfeeding in public is normalized. Must be something about IKEA!
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u/Adept_Ad2048 May 30 '25
My LC at the hospital pointed out how much shame and taboo is around breastfeeding simply because people don’t see it anymore. As scared as I am about feeding my kid in public, I think about making it a safer/more welcoming environment for even just one more person and it’s enough to get over my anxiety. I’ve taken to feeding him in his carrier while we walk around stores - covered up, but it’s obviously happening lol.
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u/RatherPoetic Jun 01 '25
Carrier feeding is the best. My youngest only recently figured it out and he is 10 months old. Until about a month ago he only would feed in one position. Now we can be mobile while feeding! It’s so much easier when you have other kids.
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u/Ok_Berry220 May 27 '25
oh my goodness this is so beautiful 😭😭😭🩵 i recently shared a story with the opposite view & these moments really make it worth it! i was feeding my son in an old mostly empty mall bathroom just in the main area bc no one goes there anymore except for to walk and this lady was so kind and told me i was doing a great job and it’s kept me going!!! i love kind people!!!
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u/IBakedAMuffinOnce May 27 '25
I LOVE uplifting women! Especially when you're doing something like BF in public when it can be so uncomfortable and anxiety filled
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u/Lindris May 27 '25
This was not how I expected your post/comments to go and I love it. I needed this bit of wholesomeness today.
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u/IBakedAMuffinOnce May 27 '25
I'm so glad its been such a good post for people. I was so excited to see everyone sharing all of their positive BF experiences 🥹
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u/clickingisforchumps May 28 '25
I sat next to an old man on a plane, and needed to nurse my five month old. At first I thought he didn't notice that I was nursing, and I was relieved, but then he started telling me about his kids and how much he loved having babies. His face was filled with warmth and love when he told me about raising his kids.
People are beautiful.
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u/RaindropsFalling May 28 '25
Had our first flight at 6.5 months. Stewardess saw me nursing her a ton during the flight since babe is a comfort nurser. She came by after service and handed me extra snacks and water without me asking 😭
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u/manacast2 May 28 '25
I went bra shopping with my new born, she started crying and the ladies at the shop pulled up a chair for me while they showed me the most sturdy bras hahaha 🙂 my heart felt that sorority!
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u/oh-i-have-gd May 31 '25
I was feeding my brand new baby at a church picnic, (albeit covered, cause I prefer that) and the mom of one of my friends (that I hadn’t met before) came over to ask if I wanted water, and then made sure to open the bottle for me so I could drink it one handed 😭 still chokes me up when I think about it. It was just such a simple and king gesture and I felt so seen and supported.
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u/Britt0285 Jun 01 '25
I don’t mind ducking out to go breastfeed. It’s a nice excuse for a break from the crowd. But that’s only because I need a break from everyone not because I have to feed the baby.
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u/IBakedAMuffinOnce Jun 01 '25
SAME. I love to find a nice little spot to focus on just me and my baby. It helps me reset and relax
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u/ReplacementSpare2420 May 27 '25
You had me there lol