I was at the State Fair last night, and in the midst of my deep fried Oreo eating and strawberry milk drinking, I noticed a "Reconnection Area / Infant Nursing Station" for nursing mothers and children. I did not go into the structure, so I can't comment on the accommodations, but I snapped a photo of it and thought about it on and off since.

On the one hand, the sentiment is nice, and for those moms that truly feel more comfortable nursing in private, it certainly beats a bathroom stall. On the other hand, having such an area seems to suggest that nursing must be done in enclosed spaces only.

Are breastfeeders being rounded up like cattle?

Also, the word "infants" bothers me. Many mothers chose to breastfeed their toddlers. In fact, The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to 6 months of age and then a mixture of food and breast milk until the age of 2.

In general, I'm a firm believer in women being able to breastfeed wherever they are comfortable. Most choose on their own to be discreet and "cover up" while feeding, but even if someone was less modest, what's the big deal? If a person is uncomfortable with this, perhaps they are overtly sexualizing something that is not meant to be sexualized.

And yet, let me backpeddle a few steps and say there's something kind of nice about a cozy space where you can quietly feed and, maybe, chat with other moms at the same time. Breastfeeders of the past and present and future, what do you think?