breastfeeding and Finland

[ellensmum]

We are finally coming this weekend to Finland, all 5 of us! I am still feeding my year old, is it normal to feed a baby of this age in Finland, usually I only feed her at home but we will be travelling a lot and out and about. Will I be issued with a fatwa????

[biscayne]

No. You will not be issued with a Fatwa or anything like it. Finland is a VERY breastfeeding-friendly country. The statistics are much better than in any of the english-speaking countries (Australia possible exception) and your right to breastfeed whenever and wherever you like is protected by law. Probably most Finnish babies are weaned or beginning to be weaned by age one, however not all, you won't stand out. Go ahead and enjoy this nice time with baby. They grow up so fast!!

[AldenG]

A five-year-old might attract attention, but not an infant.

[Iyin]

A five-year-old might attract attention, but not an infant.

[ellensmum]

Yes i can imagine that, thank you for all your kind words of encouragement, for the record I'll be the one breastfeeding in the train station at 11 on Sunday!

[oompah18]

I have breast fed all my 4 kids at least until they were 1. I have used cafes, rail stations, buses, parkbenches and in many shops from opticians to "pharmacies". I bf them in slings or on a cushion, but I always wore a special bf shirt, it really helped me not overexpose my flesh!!!! People seem very open to it here, I never felt intimidated here, only in UK!!! In the weekly playgroup at the local parish house (seurakuntakoti), bf mums are offered a private room to nurse in, of they feel embarrassed bf in public! Good luck to you!

[ellensmum]

thank you for your encouragement, we are now here in Kuopio and everything is going well