Breastfeeding mums told to buy a ticket for baby

Talk of babies and tickets aside, it does seem weird they have no child tickets for horse-jumping but they do for other events. What's up with that?

For the life of me, I will never understand why parents choose to bring their babies and/or toddlers to major sporting events (perhaps because they figure they have a better chance of being on TV?). I couldn't justify spending the money on tickets knowing that I would probably be paying more attention to my child than the actual event I paid so much to see in person. If I'm spending half the time waiting in line to get into the bathroom to change baby's diaper, I may as well be watching the event from the comfort of my own home. Much, MUCH cheaper and not nearly as stressful!
To each their own, I guess.

There is absolutely nothing sexist or anti-breastfeeding about this policy. Dads to bring children have to buy a ticket, bottle-fed infants have to have a ticket, everyone MUST have a ticket....end of discussion. You don't get special treatment because you are breastfeeding or an attachment parent, you get the same treatment as all of the other parents. I would have never taken my infants to a large sporting event as infants or toddlers because it is not an appropriate place for them and I wouldn't have wanted to disturb everyone else's good time if my children couldn't handle the event and ended up fussying. I am so tired of the idea that being a parent somehow affords you special rights. You want the right to do what you want when you want? Buy an island. This is a society and we have social norms and rules and policies that may preclude you from attending certain things with small children, just liek my parents had to and I had to when my children were small.

As a breasfeeding mom of five I have to say it makes more sense to get a sitter or sell your ticket. Babies come first, that does not necessarily mean Mom comes first. I have read the article and most of the comments. Not everyone wants to be near your beautiful baby and that is the reality. There is also the fact that some immunizations are not given before one year old so crowded events increase the chance of baby contracting a serious illness.

This "Gotta breastfeed or die" is bordering on insanity..I nursed my 2 children so I have been there..But these women are rabid creatures,hollering about their "rights" at the cost of everyone elses..If you want to take your baby then pay for a ticket, if its written in the policy of the event then just do it and go on..If you want to haul your child around all day in a sling you still should pay for a ticket..And I am sure the mothers will not let it go at just the ticket price, they will also be demanding a special place be set up for them to allow for feedings and some will complain that the events should be placed on hold as well during those feeding times because the mothers will not be able to see what is happening and they aren't getting their money's worth from the paid admission..Enough is enough..And I do pity the people who have to sit near these mommies if they decide not to leave the seat and just whip the meal out for the baby..Maybe a camera will pan the crowd at that time and just stop on her so the whole viewing audience can be uncomfortable as well..Or maybe just post it to You-Tube..

Why did is suddenly become responsible parenting to take your newborns out and about, everywhere you want to go as if you're pretending you don't have a kid and that's just a handbag you're clutching to your boobs? My grandparents would have taken me from my mother if they found out she was taking me anywhere before I was old enough to know where I am. Guess what ladies: this isn't really about ticket prices. This is about you wanting special treatment because you squeezed out a little you. It's been perfectly fine for moms and dads to leave their babies with grandma or pay a babysitter for hundreds of years when they decided they needed an hour, an afternoon, or even a weekend off. They can charge whatever they want for tickets to these events, it's their decision that a baby needs a ticket. But it's your dumb decision to bring the kid with you. You're talking about newborns for christ's sake! They have no idea where they are at any point in time, you really think they're going to have a conversation with you when they're 30, thanking you for taking them to see the equestrian events at the olympics when they were 2 months old? NO! Stop making it all about you, idiots.

they can pump and leave the child with a sitter if they don't want to pay for a ticket

@Alison..If there is milk in there it can be expressed,the woman just has to try different techniques..And babies can be taught to take from a bottle,sometimes no more than changing the nipple will do it..Women who are feeders just refuse to try since it inconveniences them to do so.. And don't care if a seat isn't used, if the policy states so then buy a ticket..Gonna change a poopy diaper on your lap?

I feel this is a breastfeeding issue that has nothing to do with breastfeeding.. you have two people regardless of age, you have to buy them a ticket..

Charging extra for babies, rightly or wrongly, has nothing to do with breast feeding. It's not like they are allowing bottle fed babies into the events.

The VERY Last place I would take a new baby or a child with a compromised immune system is into a crowd of people during what is cold and flu season. Especially with the increase in TB and other airborne pathogens coinciding with the decrease in immigrants vaxing in London.

A crying baby can be extremely annoying. I have seen women refuse to leave a movie, restaurant and even church service when their child is crying. It ruins it for everyone.

why would anyone take such a small infant to such a large gathering of people???? in todays world and the threat of terriorism at such events the child would be safer not going at all. cant you pump some milk and leave it along with the child at grandmas. a child that young wouldnt know if he/she was at the olympics or the grocery store.

Stop whining! If your seeing the event is so important, buy the ticket or pump the breast milk and leave the baby home with a sitter.

Why would you wanna bring your baby to the olympics? That is a huge hassle. When you have a baby with you, you have to bring the entire house item with you as well :/. Sit at home and watch the games on tv like the rest of us, ladies (if you can't find a babysitter)

i think that people need to respect other people. if i paid for a ticket(i assume they are not cheap) i would want my money back if i was placed next to a whining, fussy crying baby. another ticket should be purchased to place the giant diaper bag, and whatever kind of carrier they are using. would they appreciate sitting next to someone with a guide dog that barked everytime a noise was made and drooled on them or wanted to lay on their feet? i am sure they would be voicing their complaints about that.

Let me get this straight - you made a decision to attend the Games. You also made a decision to have a child. So when one of those decisions interferes with your ability to enjoy the choice you have selected through your other decision, who exactly has to become accommodating and flexible - everyone else or you? Seems like it should be you ...

The kid's in her lap, not taking a seat. It's entirely too young to be actually watching the event. In terms of the organizers, the newborn is effectively the same as a backpack. What's the admission charge for? Are they charging for purses? Are they charging for air being breathed? Are they charging for the act of being conscious inside their venue?

All this fuss about nursing babies reminds me of all the fuss at Target recently. The moms made their point by exposing themselves in public, and it seems to me that is what these women want to do. There is no modesty any more. These new mothers were raised in the "gimme, gimme, gimme" generation so they think they are entitled to do whatever they want to.

unless my comprehension is off, it sounds like they are targeting ALL infants/kids for tickets not just nursing kids. its still stupid charging infants and charging kids at adult prices.