I am a first time mom of a 6 week old boy and I am not entirely sure how I want to handle public breastfeeding for him and I quite yet. I was raised with lots of women around me who breastfed but they always covered, so the idea of being open would be very different for me. A lot of my family is judgemental about it, which is ridiculous. I can handle them, but I guess my real issue lies with my own confidence. I want to be able to feed my boy anywhere and everywhere without dealing with the hassle of a cover. What tips do you have to build up confidence to get to this point? Also, we are going to be traveling in a plane just the baby and I soon, so any tips with that are appreciated as well.
As much as I am for the woman who can just whip it out anywhere (you go girls!) Itās just not for meā¦ Iāll breastfeed anywhere but I definitely prefer to be coveredā¦ just for my own comfort. A lightweight nursing cover (I have a convertible oneā¦carseat cover and highchair cover) I find that works best for me
Screw everyone! Whip out that boogie and feed your baby!
I was extremely self conscious, and used a cover religiously every feeding, even at home. 1 day I needed to feed, and from that day forward I quit caring. Do whatās comfortable. As for the flight, use a baby carrier in the airport for hands free, and nurse during takeoff and landing
Find other moms that are nursing veterans. Nothing is more empowering. Cover no cover, public or not. It should always be up to you.
Just be discreet about it,
Some good nursing shirts definitely helps! Sometimes I donāt have one, but they make me feel better in high traffic areas. My little is too wild for a cover, but every time you nurse in public you get more and more comfortable! And you realize that the people who stare and have mean comments arenāt as common as you think.
Cover up if thatās what your lore comfortable with, its not about building confidenceā¦ itās really not that big of a hassle to cover up especially if you get a. over that just goes over your neck, you can keep it tied so when you need to nurse just throw it over your neck
Wear layers! A loose T-shirt and a tank top underneath, that way you lift the loose top up latch baby and drape it to his mouth do everything is covered but you donāt need a cover
Just do it ~ you can use the tank top method for more coverage until you get comfortable. Feed that baby proudly!
Where I live they pull breast out for beadsā¦feed ya child
Latched mamma has some pretty cool clothes I recently purchased specifically for nursing. No covers needed and they keep it all discreet. Check it out. Or, be proud and continue to feed the way you feel comfortable. I hate using covers but i will when weāre out to dinner or around my in laws. Otherwise I prefer my childās comfort over mine. She hates when I cover her and she also gets sweaty pretty quickly when I do cover her.
We flew for the first time just she and I , I politely advised the others next to me that I nurse, jokingly said ā I promise not to flash youā helped break the ice. Thankfully so many people are actually okay with it, I sometimes think we breastfeeding mommies have more concerns with it than others.
Keep it up mom, youāll find what works for you.
two shirt method
a nursing tank top under and a tshirt over
we use whatever baby blanket we have with us to latch and thats it
They make awesome nursing covers that are also adorable infinity scarves. I loved them lol
I always wear a tank top under my shirt, that way if Iām pulling my top layer up or down it gives additional coverage and draws less attention to you and what you are doing. I prefer a cover at least while latching, something lightweight but you have to do what works best for you. I try and be as discreet about it as I can and never had any issues, Iām nursing number 4 currently.
I carried a taser in my diaper bag if anyone had something to say Iād give them a quick answer
You can breast feed in public without showing your whole breast. Get nursing bras and wear clothes that will be easy excess to your breast without total removed.
Good nursing tops make a huge difference.
Get some nursing friendly clothes! And the two shirt method. Lift top shirt up and your covered both ways!
Tank tops under regular tops keeps your tummy covered on the bottom and your breast covered on the top I usually lean forward in snap pull my breast out of the tank and bra leave my over shirt down for the most part until I am bring baby to the breast. Nursing tops. Also instead of covering baby you can just lay a burp cloth or receiving blanket over your breast at the edge of babyās face.
Get a sport bra nursing bra and you will be mostly covered.
I hope that description made since
I started with breastfeeding openly at my bestfriend/babies godmothers house. Then she came with to an empty park and slowly built my way up with 1 support person
I breast fed my son. But for me I had to cover just for my own self. You just gotta get out there and do it. To see what you are comfortable with.
Latchedmama.com has amazing nursing shirts that will make breastfeeding without a cover comfortable without exposing you too much to feel self conscious. I was self conscious at first, but the more I did it the more comfortable I was with it. But then he got to a point he wouldnāt nurse in public so there was that lol
Two shirt method. Once you get the hang of latching (I used a blanket until baby and I had our groove) no one will even notice youāre feeding the baby unless theyāre staring.
I wear a tank top under a t-shirtā¦ I occasionally toss a blanket over to latch him if there are children around but grown ass adults I just latch my baby. The nice thing about the tank top under a t-shirt is that not much shows. Or if Iām wearing a pull over sweater I tuck the baby underneath and feed him that way. I get embarrassed sometimes but I tell myself sally lip smacker eats in public and if my baby is hungry then time to eat!
Wear a nursing tank top and a button up shirt over it if you feel you wanna be covered, if someone says something tell them to piss off you are feeding your child and they need to mind their fucking business!
I preferred to cover up but sometimes went without. I wore leggings with a high waist, comfortable nursing bra and layered tank top and shirt (nursing clothes can be spendy).
Whatever works best for you and your little is all you need to worry about.
Itās part of womanhood itās not illegal do it when youāre ready
With my first I had a nursing cover but my son would always pull it off so Iām planning on getting one of these for when we go out for this baby because it wraps around ur body and it has so many uses.
Girl you just got to whip them out no matter who is watching! Thatās the secret to being successful in your breastfeeding journey.
They make like an apron thing that hooks over your neck it stays in place. Also I got a carseat cover off of etsy and it doubles as a nursing cover. Itās real streatch I thought it was handy. Also if the wind is blowing it stays on the carseat
First and foremost tell people to mind their own tits. If breastfeeding uncovered works for you then do it. If covered works better then do it.
Just think about feeding your son. Tune everyone out.
I had a breastfeeding drape. Velcro strap goes around and behind the neck. A nice lil stationary cover for your baby and boobies.
you can do it discretely, I always did. People would not even be able to tell
I had a hard time covering up. My boobs would smother my babies nose. So I always had to make sure he was latched good. Itās a hassle to worry about what people will think. But your babies head covers up most of your boob. Just as much skin shows with women who show their cleavage.
Wear clothes made for nursing mothers. They help cover you well and then use a blanket if the baby doesnāt mind being covered
I covered to latch usually used a muslin blanket (def cooler in az heat) usually just to cover around off putting people and by covering I mean protecting myself not protecting other people from me.
I walked around many stores. Sat in public and was never told anything I actually kind of begged for the day coz Iād go full tit thenā¦ Lmao
Hope you find what works best.
I would covet in public and at home no big deal,I covered when I fed it was better for me in public,I did not want anything showing
There are excellent roomy shawl covers that give privacy.
Mama, do what it is you wantā¦ donāt let family or strangers dictate your own personal space, do for your little man and tell anyone else to fly a kite or f@ck off!
Do what makes u comfortable
If youāre not comfortable whipping a boob out for everyone to see then donāt do itā¦ you shouldnāt feel bad for it.
When there is a will, there is a way! Just do it! Two of my favorite sayings.
I loved the two-shirt method. Tank top (I always did a nursing tank) underneath a t-shirt. Pull the t-shirt up, the nursing tank down, and when the baby is feeding, cover the rest of your boob with the t-shirt. People might stare, but I just would stare back really intensely like āWHAT?!ā That usually got them to stop. I did work my way up to that though. I started with a nursing cover. Once we got good at it I did just the t-shirt.
I just sat down and lifted my top from the bottom up no one even tell
Iād cover just because Iām insecure but do what feels right to you and your little one, some babies hate covers hope all goes well and you have great experiences
I would cover up u can do it easily and stay covered and feed your child without drawing attention to yourself
I mean, there are covers that have a metal piece through the top so you can open it at the top to see but are still covered. Iām not really sure why anyone would want to just throw their boob out in public for everyone to see. That to me is āattention seekingā. I breastfed three of mine and ALWAYS covered unless I was home. I mean 14 year old boys going thru puberty dont see anything but boobs and could cause a very embarassing moment for them too. Makes 0 sense to me to even want to reveal yourself. It should be public indecency. A man cant take his peetom out and pee wherever he wants to.
I just lifted my top up and breastfed I didnāt expose my full breast there was no need.
I wore 2 strapy tops lifted one lowered the other could barely see a thing this time iv got some lovely BF tops and hoodies of Amazon x
Buy nursing shirts. They are amazing. Also you can cover to latch and unlatch as well.
Try and forget about other people I know thatās hard, but do what YOU feel comfortable doing.
Whatever youāre comfortable with love! Mine is now 3 1/2 months and we personally use a cover, but at the very beginning it was extremely difficult to fuss with a cover while also trying to get a good latch so I would do without momentarily. He gets ANGRY when heās hungry even to this day and when youāre sleep deprived, you stop giving a crap what others think. No one dared to say anything to me about it!!
Some babies refuse covers over there head while nursing my little man is like that just make sure you are prepared knowing your states nursing laws! All states allow breastfeeding but some require cover up some dont. For example in my state indiana no cover is required a mother is allowed to breastfeed anywhere shes allowed to be without need for over heating baby while eating
Oversized shirts and tank tops become your best friends.
Pull the Tank down and the big shirt covers it all.
In the summer time tankini tops under big shirts or receiving blankets were amazing.
Do what you feel comfortable with.
2 shirt method and just do it. Forget about other people.
I personally preferred to wear clothing that would hide as much as possible or even put a receiving blanket over out of respect for others and their children. I understand itās natural and no one should be shamed or forced to go to a restroom but honestly is it really necessary to show so much?
My cousin has a bunch of nursing hoodies that zip down right at your boobs. She would wear those with a nursing bra and she could nurse anywhere with ease! But honestly I think it just comes down to trying not to give a duck what people think. We have boobies to nurse our babies and they have been become so sexualized making us feel some type of way about accidentally slipping a nip in public. Which is crazy.
I am all for breastfeeding and even in public but doing it uncovered I donāt understand why anyone would be comfortable doing that. And if you do, expect to get what youāre asking for. For strangers to see a womanās breast and nipple in a babyās mouth out in publicā¦ a lot of moms may be thinking whatever who cares and a lot of men maybe thinking something else inappropriate. I would say if you donāt care if a viral picture of it goes on the internet then go ahead. And if you donāt mind comments that you might not want to hear. Otherwise I would cover up.
I always wear a spaghetti strapped under shirt so I could pull my top shirt up without showing my belly lol. And that was enough ācoverā for me. My top shirt covered most of my boob but didnāt force my kids to eat in secret.
Took me several months to figure out but I had a small quilt my grandma made for my daughter that was stiff enough to kind of build a wall so I didnāt have to cover my daughterās face but it covered us enough that no one could see anything.
I have cover for my son, he makes us more noticeable with the cover on than without it. He hates the cover and pulls it, hits it, throws his feet all over the place. Iāve gotten to the point where I just turn away from people and nurse him.
It all depends on where you live know your rights. It is not to bad to cover up. Get a cute one. With writing āLike my Baby is at the Bar.ā āMy baby is having he meal respect his right to do so without comment.ā āMy son is hungry you Donāt want to hear him if I have to stop address your ignorance.ā āI am servicing the next President his lunch at the moment will be right back with you.ā āIt is my right to serve my child their meals in public.ā Refuse to talk to them if they are negative. Your breast feeding coaches usually have cards to explain your rights or what you are doing or why it is better. Get some of those and hand them out while feeding. Or if they donāt make up a few it had so you can relax and donāt engage while with your child. You must relax or your milk can dry up, child can get a sore stomach from you being up tight, baby canāt nurse properly if you are wigged out. Piss on they you have to deal with a crabby baby if you canāt do your job. They are no body shine them on.
I am still breastfeeding my 15 month old. Iām a pretty modest person. I wear a nursing bra and nursing tank under my shirt. Itās pretty discreet to lift the shirt up and pull the bra and tank down.
You can start out covering when theyāre little in order to give you the practice of getting everything situated while babyās not very grabby, that way when he is old enough to pull the cover off, etc you can do the nursing tank method above easily and discreetly without a cover. I have only really good boob and one lazy one, so when weāre out, I use the good one only because we get it done on one side that way.
Once I got to the point that she was grabbing at the cover, I would sit to where the side I was nursing on was closest to a wall or corner to where visibility was little. I would also have a receiving blanket on my opposite shoulder ready to shield anything if the baby moved or I needed a quick cover up for a second.
Several months ago, she was crazy hungry while we were in the baby section at Target. I just plopped down amongst the racks and went to townā¦lolā¦what better area than the baby section, am I right? Youāll get more comfortable and figure out how to manage it all!
If Iām somewhere in close proximity to other people (like a restaurant or someoneās house), Iāll go to the car or another room. I just donāt feel comfortable whipping it out in front of my Dad, for example.
I bought a scarf that was super thin and loose and wore that out n about so if I needed to breastfeed out n about I could cover up. Donāt over think it momma. I had my first daughter a week after my 22nd birthday. Her father and I were young and unprepared to say the least. We would go out to our friends camp all the time to take saunas hang out he would drinkā¦ Alot. Well I was the only female and was breastfeeding and never even thought twice about it. I dried up around 3 months sadly but still never cared about others. With my second, they are 10 years apart different dadās, I really wanted to breastfeed longer and would sit in the car or places off the side in stores and would use a blanket burp rag or my scarf. Dont over think it ok
There are really cool nursing shirts and bras out there now where you hardly show a thing. I use the 2 shirt method where I have like a tank top or spaghetti strap on and then a normal t shirt. I lift tshirt and the undershirt stays down and I barely show anything except for when he is first latching on and coming off. Havenāt mastered that yet. I hate breast feeding in public I do it in the car. But its winter dont know what Iām gonna do in the summer. I also have a small recieving blanket I use if someone is being nosey and dont cover him up per say just cover up the bit of boob sticking out baby thinks itās funny and will hold on too.