Advice on Public Nursing

I used to nurse in public. I wore loose fitting tops that could be pulled up and the baby covered the middle so nothing was exposed. Many times while shopping at our local store I would walk off to a corner and nurse. Occasionally one of the male members of the squadron would come over to where I was while he was looking for items and I would just saying something about feeding time at the zoo and he would say ok and walk away.

You just have to do it more and find out what will work for you. Enjoy your little one and don't worry about the rest of the world watching.

the other S.

Nursing tanks are great. I also bought. One at Target. This is a good time of year since wearing a tank shouldn't make you hot. I found that it's seeing skin (Mom's belly) that often makes people uncomfortable. With a nursing tank under a shirt, no one really sees anything.

I do remember being uncomfortable the first couple of times I did it. But after you've done it a few times you start to see that no one can really see anything and most people don't care - except teenage boys. I made a couple of them squeamish at the mall once. Hey, that's what they get for hanging around right outside the nursing rooms. The other moms there got a kick out of me nursing my son when the rooms were all being used. Hey, my son was hungry, so I fed him.

Nursing tops make things easier, I had a few of those. I didn't like the whole blanket tent thing because I felt like I was drawing MORE attention to what I was doing. I always lifted my top UP not down. Baby came from below and covered the breast.
Just casually observe the other mothers, and don't be afraid to ask for advice. Most of us BF-ing moms love helping each other out!

Things that helped me is wearing a well fitting nursing bra that you can easily unlatch the cup one handed and a loose fitting shirt that you can lift from the bottom. I am not a fan of nursing from the top of my shirts. Besides the fact that you can't be as discreet, it ruins the neckline of all your tops which is something I hate. I have never used a blanket or one of those big curtain covers. I never layered shirts either, just too hot and uncomfortable to do it. I also never bought any special nursing shirts. I had 2 when my first child was born and ended up never wearing them because the openings gapped open too much and didn't cover as much as simply lifting from the bottom the shirts I already owned and liked a lot better.

The best thing is to practice at home first. Nurse at home as though you were in public. Some people suggest doing it in front of a mirror if you have one. Baby's head hides a whole lot more than you think it does. You also don't need to lift your shirt up very far. Go down to them, leaning down a little to latch so that you don't have to show as much, then sit back in a more comfortable manner when they are latched. Try sitting in a bench or somewhere where your back is against something so you don't have anyone behind you until you feel better about it.

I've nursed all 3 of my kids everywhere and anywhere. I even nursed them in the ring sling while walking in the store getting groceries (with someone else pushing the cart) and getting on and off attractions at Disneyland while navigating my other 2. I had very little problems with other people. The majority of the time they didn't even know or realize I was in fact breast feeding. Even when they got older it was always not apparent that they were nursing.
My best advice is to just do it. The more you do it the better you get and the more confident you become. I was unsure with my first but, in the end, he needed to eat and I didn't want to live as a shut in so I just had to breathe deeply and just do it.
All the best to you!

I agree with others about a nursing tank, they're awesome! I'm a big girl ( an H or bigger ) . My biggest concern was my stomach hanging out & the tank takes care of that. I would find a place out of the way to nurse. My current baby HATES to be covered , so I just wear a tank under , lift up my over shirt & pull it as far down as I can . I'm pretty sure people barely notice. At our older sons B-ball games I've had people walk up to me & start talking & then apologize because they didn't realize I was nursing. Also, I'm to the point where I don't care anymore. If they don't like what they see, they have the option to look away. That's coming from someone who would have NEVER BF'd in public with the 1st baby. My baby needs to eat & I don't want to miss my kids game.

For me it was all about the cover. I got one that went all the way around me and had lots of material to work with :). I nursed my third little guy all over. I think the brand I used was called udder cover, happy nursing :)

I nursed my son till he was 2.5, and I nursed him EVERYWHERE. I was very discreet while doing it - the more you do it, the better you get at being discreet and effective.

There are nursing covers that do a great job. When the baby is that small, it's kind of easier because they don't play with the shirt, etc. while you nurse. Get a nursing camisol - it covers your tummy like a regular camisol so you don't feel naked, but the breast part is un-hookable. They're great, especially in the winter. I really felt that they helped because they covered the maximum amount of skin, gave access for the baby, kept me warm, etc. Unless you're pulling your breast out of the top of your actual shirt, like pulling your shirt UNDER your breast, the baby's face covers 95% of your chest anyway. In order for anyone to see anything, they'd have to be all up in your business - and then you give them the stink-eye (I honestly don't remember this happening except for VERY small children, and they're curious - you just tell them you're feeding the baby and need privacy).

Find a comfortable place where you can have a bit of privacy, or park as close to where your other kids are playing and sit in your car with the door open so you can watch your child. I would just sit on the bench and nurse. Most people at parks are moms playing with kids and either won't notice or care. Few are dads, and they would act the same, generally.

For restaurants, I'd pick a booth in the quieter spot, and sit on the inside for extra privacy. Stores - nurse in the changing rooms (did that a lot at target).

ADD: Funny nursing story. My theater teacher from college had a baby after I graduated. I visited the school for a homecoming event and got to talk to her. She told a story about breastfeeding. Her baby came to class with her, as her office was connected to the classroom. She was teaching while holding the baby, and a blanket was covering it. She was NURSING while TEACHING and the college kids didn't even realize it.

I think I realized then (15 years before having a kid) that you can nurse pretty much anywhere with a little creativity, and it doesn't have to bother anybody.

Congrats on the new baby! Get a "hooter-hider" or "bebe au lait" nursing cover and no one will be able to see what's going on underneath. I think you just need to get over it (and I mean that nicely) and tell yourself there's no reason to be uncomfortable or feel awkward. At a park, plenty of moms are used to it and won't think twice about seeing you nursing.

I like M.I.'s suggestion for the nursing tank top because it keeps your stomach covered too.

I'm a C cup, so it was very easy to be discreet. The baby's head was bigger than my breast, so it hid everything. I figured if anyone was uncomfortable with it, then they didn't have to look. If you have a good nursing top and nursing bra it is easy to stay covered up. Where I live public nursing has become quite socially acceptable, so I wasn't terribly worried about being covered up, and I never would have considered using bottles for outings.

I did a nursing tank and a loose button-down shirt-- I could unbutton the bottom buttons, discreetly unhook one side, and baby was mostly covered with the bottom of the shirt. Or use a cover as otherwise suggested if you are struggling with getting a good latch, so you can see. I was able to just sort of go by touch to get him on.

Wearing two shirts (or a cami under your shirt) helps. You can pull the outer shirt up and your under shirt down. This ensures your sides and stomach remain covered. Also, practice nursing in front of the mirror. It will help you see that other people really see much less than you can while breastfeeding. I found that the initial latch was the hardest part to be discreet about. You can try turning around for a second while latching if this is a problem for you. Also, the more you do it, the easier it is.

I think it's all about the cover. I, personally, have no problem with moms breastfeeding in public. I wasn't able to breastfeed, but my sister and other friends have breastfed in my daughter's general vicinity, she has no problem with it, that's just how some babies eat.

But it can be hard to get over the modesty part of it, which is understandable. I've had friends who loved the moby wrap for breastfeeding, many of them used covers. Pick what's right for you and your baby and own it. :)

I would wear a tank top along with a nursing bra under a regular shirt. So when you need to feed pull the tank down and unhook the thingy on the bra. I would use a recieving blanket just while I was latching, my girls would not stand being covered while nursing. Good luck!

I have no issues with breast feeding. I prefer to not have it all bared out in front of everyone so I'd be so much more comfortable if it was covered up.

You can use a light weight blanket or a shawl type cover over one shoulder then slip your breast out of a nursing bra/top and go for it.

I nursed both my kids in public, discretely wherever I went. It is possible! I used a ring sling to carry them in(the end of the fabric can be put over your chest for even more privacy). An ergo can also be used to nurse in. Plus you get the added benefits of wearing your baby and nursing on demand. You can probably find some utube videos demonstrating how to wear and nurse discreetly. Good luck!!

http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=198550...

That is a link to a nursing cover that a friend of mine has, and she loves it because the top of it has a little flexible piece of plastic that keeps it bowed out so you can see down and baby can see up the whole time. I never used one, but just dressed in layers (still do, as I'm nursing my 13 month old), but I know some people want the extra coverage. I just felt the cover was always like a big sign saying, "Hey! Over here! I'm breastfeeding!", whereas I could just lift my shirt ever so slightly, latch baby on, and no one even glanced my direction.

I nursed my son everywhere I went. For the first few months, I used a nursing shawl. It's made of lightweight fabric, with a weight on one corner. The weight goes over your shoulder, so it covers everything and doesn't fall off.

After a while I sort of figured out that I could just wear a loose-fitting t-shirt or sweater and tuck my son's head under it. He didn't mind a bit, and it worked just as well.

But to get you started, for comfort-level issues, I recommend the shawl. They have them on Amazon and at places like Babies R Us.

I nursed both my kids.
I used a nursing apron.
Or, I nursed in the dressing room of a women's clothing store, if I was out and couldn't help it and was at a mall. I just made like I was going to try on clothes. LOL!
Or, I nursed in the car if at a park etc. and told my eldest kid, to sit by us.
Or, just sat, put on the nursing apron, and nursed where I was.
That is what most Moms do here, in my locale.

And I also just wore, comfy easy clothes, that was easy to lift up and nurse and put it back. ie: I wore sports bras. Not nursing tops. Easy.

I say a lot of the ease depends on your size. I was never able to breastfeed in public- ever. I was a J cup during that time, and it literally took two hands to wrangle one breast out. Then I had to have a support pillow to hold baby because I had to use one hand to hold the enormous breast up.
If you are smaller, then you can do it! Practice at home and in front of a mirror. That way you know what works and what doesn't as far as being discreet.

I used a Moby. If you wear a nursing bra and a nursing shirt, and wear the baby in a Moby, you can nurse whenever you want without even using a cover and no one will even realize you are wearing a baby much less will they notice you are nursing one. =) This worked for me until they were too old to be worn in the Moby, and then I just switched to nursing shirts and a nursing cover. A few good nursing shirts are a great investment because hardly any of your breast shows when you nurse AND your stomach is completely covered. If you have a nursing cover over that, even if the baby kicked off the nursing cover you would likely not expose any skin. That's what worked best for me! I am very modest and don't like public breastfeeding but had two kids that would ONLY nurse, so it was a necessity for me. Good luck!

I NEVER did with my first, but with my second I had to because we were always on the go.I wore button down shirts with a nursing bra. Then I just used a safety pin and a receiving blanket. To be honest, I never got great at it like some women seem to, but it was fine. I just covered. It made ME more comfortable.

Every person has different comfort levels with breastfeeding in public. I always felt like the nursing covers drew more attention to the BF than not using a cover, and I am a huge advocate of BF, so don't take that wrong when I say that. I really don't care what other mom's do...it doesn't bother me to see another mom nursing her child. I just know that my modesty level was such that I didn't want to draw any extra attention to myself.

When in public, I would generally nurse the baby in the car in the parking lot before going in (and sometimes put up the sun visor covers -- which isn't as practical in the winter, but people didn't think anything of in the summer). I would go to dressing rooms.

I later found out that a lot of the current baby carriers allow you to nurse without anyone even knowing that you're nursing. We have an Ergo, and if I'm wearing a shirt that is easily accessible, then no one knows at all. I can seriously walk in a store past a million people and no one would have a clue. For this, I did have a couple of nursing shirts that had side access. It was really easy to pull over the side panel, unhook the bra, and latch. From the top, the shirt is still there and in place. From the bottom and the back, the shirt is still there. Plus, I don't feel like I'm smothering the baby with blankets or covers.

I will say that I agree with some other posters...I think the amount of your skin that is showing is what makes other people uncomfortable (not that you should have to care about what others think!). I also didn't have a ton of nursing shirts...they weren't my first choice for fashion, but I had a couple that I liked that I would wear when I KNEW I was going to need to nurse in public.

Good luck with things. Baby #3 will be here for us within the next 3 weeks, and I'll be right there with ya with BF in public. :)

Get a nursing cover. I used mine with my first two, and I still use it if men are around, but otherwise, I just nurse wherever.

I wear nursing bras where I can just slid it down.

I just used a receiving blanket to cover myself.

Here was my take - the bottles ran out and it was better to nurse than have a crying infant. I took the plunge at a work event, no less. Santa had come to see the kids and I ran out of the milk I'd pumped for the occasion. I put on my bebe au lait cover and just tried to act like I didn't have a care. Some people are meh on covers, but if it gives you confidence, use it. I bet that especially with needing a hoodie or coat at the park you could nurse without even needing a cover or blanket and nobody would even notice. I would wear easy layers (Target makes great tank tops - one of those and a sweater was great for me).

IMO, more people don't care or approve than don't approve. I was never harassed. Just use common sense. Go enjoy the park, find a nice place to sit, and try not to worry. I'm sure you'll figure out what works for you and your baby. Congrats on the little one!!

I hate nursing covers, but they are great in the beginning when you and baby are getting used to it together. Use a cover or use a small blanket.

My prefered method is the two shirt method. Tank or nursing tank goes down, outer shirt goes up. Nothing exposed.

I have nursed everywhere - literally I think. The more you do it the more discreet you are and start off by practicing at home.

Good luck and congratulations!