Locations

Breastfeeding Laws and Attitudes by Country & Region

How can you expect to be treated if you breastfeed in public? Attitudes and laws vary by country and region.  Here is information based on personal experience and currently available information.

England: Breastfeeding is unfortunately not very common, so you may get some odd looks or you might even be asked to cover up or leave the area.  Local breastfeeding advocates are working hard toward a law to protect public breastfeeding and to change attitudes, but be wary when feeding your baby here.

France: L'allaitement maternel (breastfeeding) in France is encouraged and protected for working mothers by Federal law.  However, breastfeeding is still considered a rather intimate activity.  While you probably won't be treated unkindly, you may get some surprised looks.

Germany: Known as "stillen" in Germany, breastfeeding is protected for working women by Federal law.  You are not likely to get many dirty looks for breastfeeding in Germany. Even though it is not common to see breastfeeding women, this is because having children at all is not as common as it is for Americans and Germans typically don’t take their very young children out.

Decency laws are very different in Germany than they are in the US. You can walk into any gas station and see bare breasts on magazine covers. Porn is shown in the evenings on network TV. You are more likely to get stares for having more than one child or for having your very young child in a restaurant.

Ireland: The importance of breastfeeding is recognized in Ireland and many tourist attractions offer nursing mother rooms.  The Zoo in Dublin has a nursing mother’s room.

Ireland is slightly more like the US in their disapproval of breastfeeding in public. The Irish LOVE babies, but so few people breastfeed in Ireland, it is still considered odd to see it in public. The government and lactation advocates are working to change this, but be aware that you might get some looks or rude comments.

Italy: Allattamento (breastfeeding) is no big deal. I saw several very well dressed women pull their shirts up in a busy plaza and feed their babies.  I fed my baby all over Rome, including inside the Vatican.  No one even blinked an eye.  Be prepared when traveling in Italy--the Italians LOVE babies and will stop in the middle of the street to admire yours. 

Scotland: Scotland gets a standing ovation from me.  They have the best public breastfeeding law I have seen. It is an offence to stop nursing mothers from feeding their babies in public places such as bars, buses and shopping centres. Businesses who break the law risk a fine of up to £2,500. I breastfed all over Glasgow, Edinburgh, and on the trains in between.  I even sat down in the middle of a huge queue in Edinburgh and fed my baby.  I did not notice a single rude word or look.  In fact, I was even praised by a lovely lady for breastfeeding.  I love Scotland!

Spain: La lactancia materna (breastfeeding) is unlikely to cause you any problems in Spain.  It is not uncommon for women of all ages to go bare-breasted on the beaches here. Breasts are neither shocking or obscene here, so feed your baby with pride.

The US: Of all the countries, the US is the worst about giving breastfeeding moms attitude. The stories about moms being kicked off planes and kicked out of restaurants for breastfeeding seem to all come from the USA. In comparison to the European countries, the US has the most strict decency laws and the most judgmental attitude toward exposure in public. Pick your battles, but be sure you know your rights. Click here to see breastfeeding laws by state.


Click here to tell us your story about public breastfeeding!  How have you been treated and what attitudes have you encountered?