breastfeeding in in public in HK

M

msd

New member
Hi there

I'm going to be in HK for CNY 2012 with my DD (who'll be 7 months). She'll be on solids by then but breast milk will still be her main source of food. I would appreciate you sharing your breastfeeding experiences in public in HK. Were there any difference in reactions depending where you were i.e in Central, TST, NT or were there none at all?

The law in the UK states that you cannot be asked to leave an establishment for breastfeeding in public. What is it like in HK?

I would rather not express milk as I don't see the point because she's with me and the milk is fresh and just the right temperature when she takes it from the breast. Thanks in advance.
 
i suggest you do a search on here as it is a commonly asked question.

personally, i breastfed both of my kids in public (sometimes sitting on a bench in a mall or on the mtr!).... no one batted an eye. i didn't use a breastfeeding cover and i was very discrete. it was never a problem for me, but i have heard stories from others that it wasn't so easy for them.

good luck! and welcome to hk!
 
I've breastfed my daughter all over HK--HK Island, New Territories, Kowloon, Islands....I cover with a nursing shawl (Bebe Au Lait) and there haven't been any strong reactions to me. I think people look at me because they are surprised to see me breastfeed on the MTR but it's not a look of disgust or offense or anything--they just kind of are curious but after a few minutes they just go back to whatever they were doing. I've breastfed in very local establishments (cha chan tengs) and no one even bats an eye. I've breastfed in more "western places" and again, no one seems to care. I don't know if it would be different if I didn't cover with a shawl. I have a few friends who don't cover with a shawl or blanket in public but I didn't really notice any unusual attention being given to them either. The only place I've ever been told not to breastfeed was in a public hospital waiting room in HK but that was like by one of the custodial cleaners so I'm not sure how much clout she actually had and I just did what I was going to do anyway.
 
I breastfeed my toddler w a sling everywhere we go including mtr and restaurants, cafes etc Some locals just look, look and look, some awhile some continued but they just look, that's all
 
Ureshii3 said:
I breastfeed my toddler w a sling everywhere we go including mtr and restaurants, cafes etc Some locals just look, look and look, some awhile some continued but they just look, that's all
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I think it's the sling more than the BFing they are staring at, Ureshii3. Even if I'm not breastfeeding I get lots of stares walking down the street with a baby sling. I've been "informed" that i will either drop my baby, strangle my baby, or break her neck by carrying her in a sling. Also, I think they are shocked I'm doing the mothering, not some Indonesian girl.

HK folks are not big on breastfeeding, but they don't seem to mind much if others do it.
 
Interesting experience u've got genkimom Tq for sharing how some people think abt d sling
I didn't get such stares/comments with my boy in d sling but wen we started bf-g some people started looking I guez bf is not something common for them to do but they don't really mind it
 
I've had a friend who wanted to see my "sleeping baby" in the sling just to find out she was nursing. My friend was a bit embarrassed and quickly looked away. Most people don't realize a sling can be a nursing "cover," too.
 
Thanks for sharing your experiences. My friend breastfed both her boys in HK and told me she's seen loads of people do it but I have never seen it (or wasn't paying attention as I didn't have a child at the time). She also mentioned baby changing facilities are good and there's loads about but I have yet to see that for myself.

The only reason I asked about breastfeeding in public is because from my previous visits to HK, I found local men (mostly in the NT area) are just plain rude as they would stare blatantly at my boobs (not all men before someone tells me off but quite a few, I was with a male friend who stopped counting after 20, he'll say 'there's another one looking at your boobs!' He made it into joke everytime I met up with him). I even gave one old guy a really dirty look but he never noticed cos he was too busy staring at my chest (they're not particularly big - maybe a bit bigger than local girls cos I'm quite 'meaty'). What makes it worse was that I was wearing a T-shirt that went up to my neck and was with my husband's grandmother at the time. So I'm sure you can imagine what my thoughts on breastfeeding are.

Going slightly off topic, does anyone recommend I buy food flasks, baby gadgets, etc from HK? One friend told me how good her Japanese flasks and other feeding equipment from HK were and another said 'just buy everything from here (UK), they're just as good'.

Thanks
 
msd said:
Thanks for sharing your experiences. My friend breastfed both her boys in HK and told me she's seen loads of people do it but I have never seen it (or wasn't paying attention as I didn't have a child at the time). She also mentioned baby changing facilities are good and there's loads about but I have yet to see that for myself.

The only reason I asked about breastfeeding in public is because from my previous visits to HK, I found local men (mostly in the NT area) are just plain rude as they would stare blatantly at my boobs (not all men before someone tells me off but quite a few, I was with a male friend who stopped counting after 20, he'll say 'there's another one looking at your boobs!' He made it into joke everytime I met up with him). I even gave one old guy a really dirty look but he never noticed cos he was too busy staring at my chest (they're not particularly big - maybe a bit bigger than local girls cos I'm quite 'meaty'). What makes it worse was that I was wearing a T-shirt that went up to my neck and was with my husband's grandmother at the time. So I'm sure you can imagine what my thoughts on breastfeeding are.

Going slightly off topic, does anyone recommend I buy food flasks, baby gadgets, etc from HK? One friend told me how good her Japanese flasks and other feeding equipment from HK were and another said 'just buy everything from here (UK), they're just as good'.

Thanks
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The staring is exactly the reason why I use a nursing cover. The staring really unnerves my husband (moreso than me) who is local. He gets a bit nervous even if I show a little cleavage but I think that part of that is that he IS local and he does know how local men think so I just cover up--it makes me feel less intruded upon and basically means there is nothing for anyone to see. Other people might not be bothered by it. And I guess you can't fault anyone for staring because 1) it's not common for local Chinese women to show their breasts in public--under any circumstances 2) it's likely they actually don't see public breastfeeding very often (they may even be curious as to how things actually work) 3) you are coming from a different culture and so that in itself makes you more interesting to look at. Having said this, I get stared at a lot--even when I'm not breastfeeding--it's just kind of part of being in the New Territories sometimes. I actually had a local lady at a restaurant this last weekend who was with her baby and saw me breastfeeding tell me, "Oh, I pump breastmilk and feed from a bottle when I go out or use formula as it's more convenient." I told her, "Really? I find breastfeeding more convenient as I don't have to take along bottles, formula, fresh water and then take time to mix everything up. I can breastfeed anywhere and it's quick and easy for me."

As to your other question--I have no idea the comparison between the UK and HK for feeding utensils so I can't help you there. I found that the selection was of just as good quality and often wider and more affordable in the States, though.
 
As an ethnic Cantonese woman, I get asked to breastfeed elsewhere more because establishments are embarrassed for me as there is a deep-seated notion that a Chinese woman should not be exposed in any way. Most will not bother you if you do not speak Cantonese. That said, I do think that the general public now is the most accepting in the past 7 years I've had to breastfeed in public than in the past. I'm more likely now to get words of encouragement from strangers now when I breastfeed in public - even in Cantonese. My experience has been HK island only.
 
On the other question, western brands are more expensive here - Medela, Avent, Mustela, etc., but the Asian brands will be cheaper. The Japanese and the Taiwanese companies come up with some pretty remarkable things that I had never knew I "needed". :) Also, local supermarkets/pharmacies and baby shops will have better prices than the chain supermarkets/pharmacies or department stores.
 
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