Trending 18th July 2019 by Megan Roantree

An Airline Is Being Blasted For Telling Breastfeeding Women To ‘Cover Up’

Any mum will tell you that it can be hard enough to breastfeed for many reasons without a company adding any stress.

A Dutch Airline should be seriously regretting its tweet about breastfeeding following a huge backlash online.

A British woman named Heather Yemm tweeted KLM Airlines regarding their policy on breastfeeding a baby on flights.

The airline responsponed by saying that while it is allowed, mums may also be asked to ‘cover up’ to ensure other passengers feel comfortable.

“Breastfeeding is permitted at KLM flights. However, to ensure that all our passengers of all backgrounds feel comfortable on board, we may request a mother to cover herself while breastfeeding, should other passengers be offended by this,” the tweet read.

“Do you think it’s acceptable to ask a mother to cover her child while feeding?” Heather responded.

“Why would breastfeeding cause anyone to “feel offended”? I’m very curious to know how feeding a child could be viewed as offensive?”

KLM responded: “As an international airline company, we transport passengers with a variety of backgrounds. Not all passengers feel comfortable with breastfeeding in their vicinity and sometimes these passengers complain to the cabin staff.”

Naturally, parents everywhere were pretty pissed off and thousands of tweets have been sent criticising the company.

Radio presenter and mum of two Louise McSharry commented on the response with a solid ‘Absolutely do one, KLM.’

She then added: “If only passengers had some way to avoid seeing this horror… perhaps some sort of cover for their eyes… like an eye shield of some sort. Or a lid! Yes, an eyelid!”

TV presenter Maia Dunphy also shared her thoughts on the policy writing: “Permitted?! Very poor KLM, very poor. I flew a lot when Tom was tiny, and feeding meant a more peaceful flight for everyone. I always booked a window seat for my own privacy and Aer Lingus never once threw a blanket over me.”

It goes without saying, but for many babies, breastfeeding is a natural and vital part of keeping them alive.

It’s also worth mentioning that with strict security in airports, it’s not always possible to bring pre-expressed bottles on to a plane.

Plus, if there is anyone who takes issue with a person feeding their baby, it’s not the mother or the baby who should be asked to do anything differently.

Any mum will tell you that it can be hard enough to breastfeed for many reasons without a corporate company adding any stress.

In short, leave mums and their babies alone.

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