194152 Mon Mar 18 10:40:28 -0800 2002 2 18 Manhattan 0 1036183 I was out with some friends who are new parents, chowhounds, and well-mannered, sensitive members of society. Their son is about 2 months old and they are learning how to negotiate the restaurant scene with a baby. They have been careful in choosing restaurants that can accommodate and are open to welcoming the paraphanalia that accompanies their child. As we discussed this, the topic of breastfeeding arose. We know that many people have strong views on this topic. My friend has breastfed at restaurants, but was very discreet and well-covered - as such, she has not yet met with any reaction. At the risk of opening this to unconstructive rantings, I was hoping to get some intelligent views on breastfeeding in restaurants per se. This is not meant to be a discussion of crying children, ill-behaved children, or even whether children should be in restuarants. The assumption is that the parents in question would remove a loud child from any restaurant. Another assumption is that the restaurant is one that would not be upset by the presence of a baby, to start with. Thanks for any intelligent comments. Mon Mar 18 10:40:28 -0800 2002 0 OPJK 1 1036189 Personally I don't think it's appropriate to breastfeed in a restaurant (no matter how discreet and covered the mother is). It seems that the best solution would be for the mother to pump breast milk into bottles before leaving home and then the child can be fed from a bottle while the party is in the restaurant. Mon Mar 18 11:50:35 -0800 2002 1036183 0 DeeDee 2 1036191 The Manhattan board is for discussion of food related topics in Manhattan. Please move subsequent postings to Not About Food. Thanks very much. Mon Mar 18 12:09:32 -0800 2002 1036189 2 The Chowhound Team