Many people today will attempt to prohibit the right new mothers have to publicly breastfeed their child Legal rules are different for every place, but there are many legal sanctions protecting a woman's right to breastfeed.
Nationally, an American woman's right to breastfeed publicly is protected when she is doing so on federally owned property. This was officially codified by the €Right to Breastfeed Act€ (H.R. 1848), by President Bill Clinton in 1999.
This €Right to Breastfeed Act,€ protects a mother's right to breastfeed on any land or in any property owned by the United States. This includes such places as museums, national parks and forests, etc.
The laws are different, however, for states. Currently, there are 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands, with specific laws that permit a mother to breastfeeding both publicly and privately.
Unfortunately, in spite of these laws' existence, there are no overarching laws governing private property. Which means that, on private property, the owner is legally permitted to have his own regulations limiting breastfeeding. For instance, the restaurants or department stores -- two locations a breastfeeding mother might try to nurse her child at -- might bar women from breastfeeding inside their property.
Many women wonder whether there is a way to circumvent the rules of a private property that prohibits a woman from breastfeeding. However, there is really no way a woman can get around these rules.
A general tip that can protect a nursing mother is that the more modest you are in nursing, the less likely you are to be observed nursing. Therefore, if no one sees you breastfeeding, no one will complain about it.
That being said, a breastfeeding woman should attempt to use a cover to discreetly breastfeed her child in public, especially if she thinks the place where she is nursing might have patrons who will complain. It's very rare that a woman who respectfully breastfeeds her baby under a nursing cover will cause a disruption. But a mother who boldly breastfeeds, with no sense of privacy or regard for others could easily make others around her uncomfortable -- and those are the ones who will likely have complaints made against them.
You should know that the subject of public breastfeeding is an issue that incites much interest and passion from breastfeeding mothers. If you are a devoted proponent to your legal right to breastfeed in public, you can and should get involved to make it easier for mothers like yourself.
Nationally, an American woman's right to breastfeed publicly is protected when she is doing so on federally owned property. This was officially codified by the €Right to Breastfeed Act€ (H.R. 1848), by President Bill Clinton in 1999.
This €Right to Breastfeed Act,€ protects a mother's right to breastfeed on any land or in any property owned by the United States. This includes such places as museums, national parks and forests, etc.
The laws are different, however, for states. Currently, there are 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands, with specific laws that permit a mother to breastfeeding both publicly and privately.
Unfortunately, in spite of these laws' existence, there are no overarching laws governing private property. Which means that, on private property, the owner is legally permitted to have his own regulations limiting breastfeeding. For instance, the restaurants or department stores -- two locations a breastfeeding mother might try to nurse her child at -- might bar women from breastfeeding inside their property.
Many women wonder whether there is a way to circumvent the rules of a private property that prohibits a woman from breastfeeding. However, there is really no way a woman can get around these rules.
A general tip that can protect a nursing mother is that the more modest you are in nursing, the less likely you are to be observed nursing. Therefore, if no one sees you breastfeeding, no one will complain about it.
That being said, a breastfeeding woman should attempt to use a cover to discreetly breastfeed her child in public, especially if she thinks the place where she is nursing might have patrons who will complain. It's very rare that a woman who respectfully breastfeeds her baby under a nursing cover will cause a disruption. But a mother who boldly breastfeeds, with no sense of privacy or regard for others could easily make others around her uncomfortable -- and those are the ones who will likely have complaints made against them.
You should know that the subject of public breastfeeding is an issue that incites much interest and passion from breastfeeding mothers. If you are a devoted proponent to your legal right to breastfeed in public, you can and should get involved to make it easier for mothers like yourself.