A mom traveling on a United Airlines flight recently experienced harassment while nursing her little one. In a world where breastfeeding is legal and normalized, it’s disappointing to see that some women still face judgment and shame for feeding their babies in public. This incident prompted the mother to share her experience on Instagram, using the hashtag #MomsDontFlyUnited.
According to reports, new mom Emma Carter was on a flight from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles with her four-month-old daughter. The baby was peacefully nursing when another passenger complained to the flight crew about Emma’s choice. After finishing nursing, Emma found herself in a rather tense situation. She was holding her sleeping baby and, feeling that everything was fine since she was discreet, was taken aback when a fellow passenger demanded that the crew tell her to “put some clothes on.”
When a flight attendant approached Emma and asked her to cover up, she firmly declined, explaining that her baby was content because she was nursing. It’s important to remember that breastfeeding is not only legal but also a natural part of motherhood. Unfortunately, the other passenger escalated the situation, exclaiming loudly that it was “disgusting” and insisting that someone intervene.
Let’s face it: a breastfeeding baby is far less disruptive than a ranting adult. Many passengers would likely agree that a calm baby is a welcome sound compared to a shouting adult. It seems that mothers really can’t catch a break—whether they breastfeed, pump, or use formula, there’s always someone ready to criticize their choices.
Feeling embarrassed by the scene, Emma eventually covered up with a blanket, but she was understandably upset. Breastfeeding mothers have the right to feed their babies comfortably, and the only one causing a scene that day was the disgruntled passenger, who might have been better off enjoying a good book or some in-flight entertainment instead.
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In short, it’s high time we normalize breastfeeding in all settings and support mothers as they nourish their babies, rather than shaming them for doing so.