Africa ,
Sierra Leone in
West Africa nurses outdoors. In many areas of
Africa, breastfeeding in public is the norm. Babies are commonly carried on a mother's back in a length of cloth and merely moved to the front for feeding. The nursing mother may shield the view of the baby nursing, but generally no attempt is made to hide the baby and the mother's breast from view. When a baby is seen crying in public, it is assumed that the woman with the infant is not the child's mother, since it is normally thought that she would feed the infant if she were the mother.
Morocco Public breastfeeding is legal and widely accepted.
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone has the highest infant mortality rate in the world. During a goodwill trip to the country, actress
Salma Hayek breastfed on-camera a hungry week-old infant whose mother could not produce milk. She said she did it to reduce the stigma associated with breastfeeding and to encourage infant nutrition.
Asia woman breastfeeding in public
China Breastfeeding in public in China was historically constrained by traditional cultural and social norms. In ancient China, if a woman exposed the skin below her neck she was regarded as a dissolute woman. Traditional Chinese culture also paid much attention to the sexual role of breasts, and this has led to many women in China still regarding it as unacceptable to expose their breasts in public. China has no law that specifically allows women to breastfeed in public. There have also been examples of social media posts
going viral that attempt to shame individuals found to be breastfeeding in public. A fear of this has contributed to the low rate of breastfeeding amongst Chinese mothers. To promote breastfeeding, hundreds of mothers in China have participated in the "Big Latch On", an international event where women breastfeed their child in public together. In
Shanghai, breastfeeding in public is considered embarrassing by some, but it is also accepted by many. There have been calls for the establishment of baby-care facilities in public places. In Taiwan, Article 18 of the Gender Equality in Employment Act guarantees the right of employed women to breastfeed or collect milk during non-rest periods, while Article 23 stipulates that employers with more than 100 employees must provide a breastfeeding room and provide childcare facilities or measures.
India India has no legal statute dealing with breastfeeding in public. Instead India's
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, entitles breastfeeding mothers to
crèche facilities at many workplaces, and there are laws in some Indian states that require employers to provide time and facilities for breastfeeding. However, not all employers provide these facilities and they are rarely available to women in public places. As a result, breastfeeding often takes place in public, typically on public transport, in secluded corners, under trees, in cars or parking lots, or in public toilets. Women breastfeeding in public often experience embarrassment due to staring strangers. Prevalence and social acceptance vary from region to region. Breastfeeding in public is not a norm in higher sections of society, but is quite common in the lower economic sections. In rural India it is completely acceptable, but more difficulties are experienced in urban areas. A survey carried out in 2019 indicated that around 81% of mothers across India do not like breastfeeding in public, mainly due to a lack of hygiene and the stares of others.
Iran Before the 1979
Iranian Revolution there were no restrictions on breastfeeding in public in Iran. Currently breastfeeding is not usually carried out in public unless the baby is covered. In some places, such as the capital
Tehran, the municipality has set up private "mother and child" rooms for breastfeeding and
diaper changing to help boost the population.
Malaysia It is widely accepted for mothers to breastfeed in public in
Malaysia with the expectation of breastfeeding modestly (covering the chest with a blanket or something of the sort).
Nepal There is a degree of stigma attached to public breastfeeding in Nepalese society and many women avoid doing so. The country has no laws about public breastfeeding. Nevertheless, it is not uncommon to see mothers breastfeeding their babies in public places such as buses, parks, restaurants, hospitals etc. in Nepal. In Nepalese society, breastfeeding a child is considered a must for the mothers. Mothers who do not or are unable to breastfeed their child are considered to be 'bokshi' – 'witch', and much
social stigma is attached to it.
Philippines In the
Philippines, breastfeeding is protected by various laws, such as the
Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 and the
Milk Code of the Philippines (Executive Order 51). Mothers are allowed to breastfeed in public. Employers are required to allow lactating employees breaks to breastfeed or express breastmilk. The law also states that the intervals should not be less than forty minutes for every eight hour working period. Offices, public establishments such as malls and schools, and government institutions are required to establish lactation stations separate from the bathroom, where mothers can breastfeed their babies or express milk. The Milk Code prohibits the advertising of infant formula or bottle teats for infants under two years old.
Saudi Arabia Even though women cannot show any part of their body in public, breastfeeding is an exception. It is common for women to breastfeed in malls and parks, and it is acceptable among the people in
Saudi Arabia.
Syria In 2015,
Islamic State's
Al-Khansaa Brigade were reported to be punishing women who breastfed in public.
Taiwan Since November 2010, the
Public Breastfeeding Act has safeguarded the right to breastfeed in public, while
lactation rooms are set up to deal with privacy and to provide access to hot water and power supplies, with fines against interfering with a mother's right to breastfeed. After evicting a breastfeeding mother from the
National Palace Museum on 18 July 2012 and enraging many Taiwanese website users, the offending employee and her employer were both fined 6000
new Taiwan dollars (about 200
United States dollars), said the
Department of Health,
Taipei City Government (), but the Museum would appeal.
Europe Czech Republic Although public breastfeeding is often practiced and is not illegal, some people disapprove of it. Mothers who are breastfeeding in public buildings such as banks or coffee shops are sometimes asked to leave. These incidents can result in mothers making public protests.
France Public breastfeeding is legal and widely accepted.
Germany While public breastfeeding is widely accepted, especially since the
Movement of 1968 when public "Nurse-Ins" () were common, there is no legislation that specifically addresses breastfeeding in public. Paragraph 2 Article 6 of the
Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany provides that "the care and upbringing of children as the natural right of parents" while paragraph 4 "entitles every mother to the protection and care of the community".
Iceland Public breastfeeding is widespread and uncontroversial.
Italy In Italy, there is no law against public breastfeeding, but reactions to it vary in different communities. Some people regard it as embarrassing or taboo and this can lead mothers avoiding breastfeeding while in public places. In order to do this they express milk at home for later use, replace it with infant formula, or restrict and reduce their time away from home.
Ireland In the
Republic of Ireland, breastfeeding wherever necessary is protected by law under the Equal Status Act 2000, which protects people from discrimination and harassment (including sexual harassment). Although breastfeeding is not directly mentioned, protection for breastfeeding in public is covered by the Act on gender grounds. As a result, it is an offence to ask a breastfeeding woman to stop, move somewhere else or cover up, for example. While this gives a legally protected right to breastfeed anywhere that it becomes necessary, Ireland has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world.
Netherlands Public breastfeeding is common and widely socially accepted. There are no laws against public breastfeeding. Dutch law states that when an employee wishes to breastfeed her baby, the employer must provide, for the first nine months after the birth, a suitable nursing room and allow for 25% of work time to be spent on feeding the baby or pumping while on pay. After the first nine months, the employer is still required to assure conditions for breastfeeding are met (like timely breaks, nursing rooms, safe environment, etc.), but does not have to pay anymore for the time spent on breastfeeding or pumping.
Norway Public breastfeeding in Norway is widespread, particularly in cafes. Mothers do not have to withdraw and hide to breastfeed their babies as the practice is widely accepted and uncontroversial in comparison to countries such as the United States and United Kingdom. However, in the past nursing mothers sometimes felt embarrassed to breastfeed in public. They were expected to follow social rules for public breastfeeding and could be criticised if they did not do so.
Spain Spain's Equality Law provides a legal right to breastfeed in public. It is also widely accepted. In 2016, Member of Parliament
Carolina Bescansa breastfed her son in the
Congress of Deputies, receiving both praise and criticism for doing so.
United Kingdom Breastfeeding in public (restaurants, cafes, libraries, etc.) in Great Britain is protected under the
Equality Act 2010 which specifies that a business must not discriminate against a woman who is breastfeeding a child of any age in a public place. Her companion(s) are also protected by this act. In Northern Ireland sex discrimination law prevents women from being treated unfavourably because they are breastfeeding, and as of 2017, a specific law was planned to be introduced. A 2004
UK Department of Health survey found that 84% (about five out of six people) find breastfeeding in public acceptable if done discreetly; however, 67% (two out of three) of mothers were worried about general opinion being against public breastfeeding. To combat these fears in
Scotland, the Scottish Parliament passed legislation safeguarding the freedom of women to breastfeed in public in 2005. The legislation allows for fines of up to
£2500 for preventing breastfeeding of a child up to the age of two years in public places.
Vatican City In 2014, during a ceremony commemorating the
baptism of Jesus,
Pope Francis voiced his support for mothers breastfeeding their children in public spaces, including churches. On 9 January 2017, he reiterated his support for public breastfeeding during a baptism service, encouraging the mothers there to breastfeed their children during the service as needed, just as the
Virgin Mary had breastfed
Jesus.
North America ,
Mexico City, 2016
Canada In
Canada,
Section 28 of the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives
equal rights and freedoms to men and women, without explicitly mentioning breastfeeding. Both
British Columbia and
Ontario have included protections against discrimination due to breastfeeding in their provincial Human Rights Codes. In both provinces, discrimination due to breastfeeding is included in existing protections against discrimination based on sex. INFACT Canada (Infant Feeding Action Coalition) is a national non-governmental organization that aims to protect infant and young child health as well as maternal well-being through the promotion and support of breastfeeding and optimal infant feeding practices. It is an organization that provides support and education for Canadian mothers. In 2009, a woman at a shop was asked by an employee to stop breastfeeding publicly, supported by a manager. She later received an apology and acknowledgement of customers' right to breastfeed. A worker at the
YMCA in
St. John's told a breastfeeding mother to leave the premises. The mother was feeding her seven-month-old daughter in a private change room, which required a monthly fee. YMCA CEO Jason Brown later apologized, stating "This situation has caused us to reflect and review, and certainly we see no reason why there should be a restriction to women breastfeed their babies in the adult-only change room."
United States ,
Missouri, so city families could get away from the August heat. (Drawing by
Marguerite Martyn of the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch.) A number of issues constrain mothers from breastfeeding in public in the
United States. In 2011, the
US Surgeon General issued a plea to promote breastfeeding and stated in it: "Although focusing on the sexuality of female breasts is common on the mass media, visual images of breastfeeding are rare, and a mother may never have seen a woman breastfeeding". Another issue, especially in extended breastfeeding, is that US medical providers are not well-trained in supporting breastfeeding mothers. In a survey of medical professionals published in 2012, including physicians, midwives, residents, and nursing students, only 57.8% felt that breastfeeding over 1 year of age was normal. The recommendations for breastfeeding are until at least one year, yet in 2016 the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that only 51.8% of infants were breastfed at six months and 30.7% of infants were being breastfed at one year old. In a 2004 survey conducted by the
American Dietetic Association, 43% of the 3,719 respondents believed women ought to have the right to breastfeed in public. In spite of this, women breastfeeding in public have met with social resistance and even arrest. In some public places and workplaces, rooms for mothers to nurse in private have been designated. U.S. legislation governing breastfeeding varies from state to state and a limited federal law only applies to federal government premises. A
United States House of Representatives appropriations bill (HR 2490) contained an amendment specifically permitting breastfeeding and was signed into law on September 29, 1999. It stipulated that no government funds may be used to enforce any prohibition on women breastfeeding their children in federal buildings or on federal property. Further, a federal law also enacted in 1999 specifically provides that "a woman may breastfeed her child at any location in a federal building or on federal property, if the woman and her child are otherwise authorized to be present at the location." Section 4207 of the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act amended the
Fair Labor Standards Act and required employers to provide a reasonable break time for an employee to breastfeed her child if it is less than one year old. The employee must be allowed to breastfeed in a private place, other than a bathroom. The employer is not required to pay the employee during the break time. A number of incidents of harassment of nursing mothers that gained media attention prompted a number of U.S. states to act. These actions included viral videos of people harassing breastfeeding mothers in public, protests, and social media campaigns. A particular incident with a
Target employee harassing a breastfeeding mother helped to launch a new trend with corporations making breastfeeding accepted in their stores. As of July 2018, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands have passed legislation that explicitly allows women to breastfeed in public. Further, at least 29 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands exempt them from prosecution for
public indecency or
indecent exposure for doing so. On December 29, 2022, President
Joe Biden signed the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This act grants most nursing employees the right to reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space to express breast milk at work for up to one year after childbirth. The space must be shielded from view and free from intrusion, extending protections to more employees than previous legislation
Oceania Australia Section 7AA of the
Sex Discrimination Act 1984 specifically prohibits discrimination against a woman on account of her breastfeeding. The prohibition also applies to a public or semi-public place. State and Territory laws differ, but it is generally illegal to discriminate against women breastfeeding in a public place as a protected attribute in five jurisdictions and by proxy from other existing legislation in the other jurisdictions. The
Australian Breastfeeding Association was founded in
Melbourne, Victoria in 1964 as the Nursing Mothers' Association, and together with many health professionals, encourages and assists mothers to breastfeed their babies, if necessary also in a public place.
New Zealand Breastfeeding is encouraged and public breastfeeding is common. In fact, bottle feeding has been so widely discouraged that public
bottle feeding may make a mother feel more uncomfortable than public breastfeeding. Many shopping centers provide "parent's rooms" where mothers may change and feed their infants in comfort. Some Brazilian states and municipalities have passed laws to ensure the right of mothers to breastfeed in public and private places. In 2015, the governor of the state of
São Paulo,
Geraldo Alckmin sanctioned a law passed by the
Legislative Assembly that punishes anyone who prevents a woman from breastfeeding with a fine of approximately
R$ 510.00. In case of recurrence, the amount of the fine is doubled. In the same year, a law similar to that of São Paulo was sanctioned by the mayor of the municipality of
Rio de Janeiro,
Eduardo Paes. The law provides for fines of R$2,000 to R$10,000 for companies and employees who prevent mothers from breastfeeding their children in any public or private place. In the state of
Rio Grande do Sul, there is also a similar law prohibiting any type of constraint on breastfeeding in public. In state capital,
Porto Alegre, fines are also foreseen for establishments that prohibit mothers from breastfeeding on their premises. In 2019, a bill introduced by Senator
Vanessa Grazziotin for ensure at the federal level the right to breastfeeding in public establishes fines of around R$1,996 for those who prevent mothers from breastfeeding in public. As of February 2022, the bill is still pending in the Constitution and Justice Committee of the
Chamber of Deputies. == Controversies ==