Breastfeeding in Public

You can legally breastfeed anyplace that you and your baby are allowed to be. I know friends who have had to explain this a few times even to police officers, so just wanted you to be aware of that!

Usually, though, most people won't even know you are BFing. Practice at home, with a mirror if possible, but only for your own comfort.

I have four children, and none of them liked having their head covered, so I didn't bother with blankets or nursing cover-ups. I just wore loose-fitting T-shirts most of the time so that it was easy to unhook my nursing bra underneath. I was only "exposed" for a second right before the baby latched on; after that, the baby covered most of my breast and the T-shirt covered the rest.

My husband was a little uncomfortable with the idea at first because he was worried other men would be staring at me, but after a few times in public, he relaxed because he could see that most people aren't paying any attention anyway. Usually the only trouble I had was with sweet elderly ladies who wanted to see the baby and didn't realize I was nursing until it was too late, lol! But most often, even then they weren't bothered by it--just surprised. ;-)

Just remember that most of the time, people barely notice strangers at all, so in general, they really won't pay much attention to you feeding your baby. If you do come across someone who gives you a hard time, stand your ground and let them know you have as much right to be there as they have.

God bless!
--A.

P.S. If you know any "veteran" BFing moms, hang out with them. I found I was much more comfortable with BFing in public after seeing other moms do it comfortably and confidently.

Some women like to cover up, like the previous posters mentioned. You can also buy nursing tops (Motherhood Maternity, Old Navy has a new line too), to help you nurse discretely & not show off your tummy. Your little girl may or may not like to have her head covered (most don't... really, who would?). I always found that using nursing covers and blankets draws more attention to the fact you're nursing.

So, try to practice nursing at home, doing your best not to show anything without using a blanket. If you don't want to invest in a bunch of nursing gear, you can also buy simple tank tops. Just cut out a space for your breasts to go through, and use them as undershirts. Then you can layer your other shirts on top and lift them up to nurse without worrying about showing your stomach.

Nursing in public can be a little overwhelming at first. It takes practice. Just tune everyone out around you. Remember, you have a legal right to nurse ANYWHERE you are legally allowed to be. And if someone has a problem with it, tell them they need to put a blanket over THEIR head. =p

I found the people who thought it offensive not enjoyable to be around while I had nursing children. If a man was in the room I was told to go sit in a bedroom alone ( older relatives usually). Not fun to me. One day a cousin's husband accidentally walked in the bedroom to get something and said he was sorry and didn't know what I was doing in there but that he thought it was not offensive and I was covered and why was I in there. This country is one of a few who feel this way about what God intended as a natural way to feed a baby and yet look at the commercials on TV. I see more breast there than feeding a baby. I hope you will take all this good advice you've been given by so many on here, and find what works for you and ENJOY it. It's such a wonderful bonding time and such a healthy way to feed the baby and God is the one who designed it.
You might try a bottle off and on though, with breast milk in it, as if they stop that you won't be able to leave her at all if you would need to go anywhere for more than a few hours.

Don't hide in the car - and definitely follow your instincts on staying out of that bathroom stall (uck). You are caring, quite naturally, for your baby! I think some descretion is called for, there are some weirdos out there and some people may not want to explain what you are doing to their young children (it wouldn't bother me).

Just find a quiet spot where ever you are and have a seat. I personally always used one of my oversized (1.5 yards) homemade cotton blankets (very light) and for my last child I had an scarf from India that a relative gave me. The scarf was huge, I think it is traditionally used for shoulders, sheer but not see-through even doubled over (it was huge).

When I was at a friend's house I always just asked (when the room was full) if there was a spot they would prefer that I feed the baby in - usually they would say I was fine right where I was. Pull out the scarf or blanket, get ourselves situated, and keep myself in the conversation. If you are comfortable, most of the time others will be too.

Congrats! I breastfed both of my children (12 & 4) for over a year often in public without people noticing most of the time.

I always would wear a top that was easily accessible at the waist and sometimes bring a receiving blanket as the child got older to reduce distractions and just as a little bit of extra cover if needed. This keeps your top half covered and most people dont even realize you're breastfeeding. Most of the time if I was talking to people, i might turn away while the child latched on, but with practice this becomes easier too.

Sounds like you're doing great. I am sure you will get more comfortable about nursing in public, I know with my first (and at the beginning with my second) I was uncomfortable. A couple of things that will help.. Nurse in front of a mirror a couple of times. You will see what all is showing and how much you can get away with while still being unnoticed. Also, you might go to the mall or somewhere and try to notice the nursing moms, what is discreet, what is not, how many you usually wouldn't have noticed. I found that the cover ups and blankets screamed "NURSING MOM" where many women (depending on baby and breast size) can nurse with very little cover but no breast showing. I always turned toward something (wall, plant, something) to latch on if I could and then felt completely comfortable, often people would come up and talk to me about my baby not realizing she was nursing. I agree that you need to be able to go out and breastfeed, it is one of the really handy benefits of breastfeeding... a much smaller diaper bag! It sounds like you're doing great. Enjoy.

K.

PS. An undershirt (I took some of my husband's and cut slits in them) is nice if you're worried about your post-partum belly showing!

Would you hide your toddler eating people food? Would you sit in a car to eat a muffin? While I do espouse modesty in the form of large shirts or a drapey shawl or baby blanket if you are concerned about being ogled, other than that, do NOT feel you have to make any concessions for breastfeeding. It's just eating! And if more people saw that it was acceptable and natural, maybe more people would do it, right? The only time I ever adjusted was if it was a place where any kind of eating would have been frowned upon, such as a library. Once I did it on a bench at a bus stop, and I actually had four drivers pull over to compliment me on choosing breastfeeding instead of formula!
:)
Yay for you for breastfeeding!
A.

hey, i just got on to wic and i am 10 wks pregnet with my first child, so they gave me a little card saying its ok to breastfeed in public, it is not against the law. so if you have to feed your baby, go ahead, its all natraul and God didnt give us boobs for the men, their for the babies to feed, so go right ahead!!!! and thank you for not giving your child formula. i give 2 thumbs up! if i had more id give more. lol

i breastfed for 18 month and i didnt let anyone give me grief about brreatfeeding in public. it is your good given right to feed in public. plus they have passed laws to make it legal to feed when and where ever you want to. if someone tells you to cover up or to go somewhere else, you dont have to move an inch. they can have legal actions taken against them. i never worried about covering up in public. the baby covers up the most "private" parts anyways. but some of my family was still sqweemish after all that time, so i just bought a breastfeeding cover. walmart, baby depot, target all of them sell them pretty cheap. but dont take any grief from anyone. that what god intended for us to do. and that is the best thing you can do for your child. so good luck.

I was never comfortable with 'baring it all' when breastfeeding my daughter. I bought a nursing coverup (I think it was $10 but not sure where I got it). If you go to www.uddercovers.com and enter onefree in the promotion, you will get a $32 nursing cover for only shipping and handling ($7.95). I think this is a good deal but didn't do it myself becuase I don't know if I'm having a girl or boy this time and the only two colors left are pink and blue!! Also, I know target sells them but they are more pricey. You can also use a very large blanket or wear nursing clothes and use a smaller blanket. Good luck!

Hi,
If you're wearing the right clothes, you should be able to discretely breastfeed anywhere. I wore clothes from http://www.motherwear.com/ and literally would walk down the isles in the grocery store nursing and it just looked like I was holding a sleeping baby. With proper attire, bras and tops you should have no problem, anywhere. I wouldn't even put a blanket over my baby while nursing, she would get too hot and no one knew what I was doing anyway. I didn't have to lift my shirt up or pull my boob out. I breastfed my daughter for 18 months.
Good luck,
M.

S.,
I want to say first of all what a great thing you are doing for your little girl! I nursed my son until 11 months (had enough milk in the freezer for another 6 weeks). He's almost 3 now and I miss it!

I used a Maya wrap both to carry him in during the day, but it worked GREAT for nursing in public. It's a ring sling that's designed with an extra "flap" to throw over yourself while feeding. You will be completely covered - so much so that I even nursed him at the American Royal and no one had any idea what I was doing! You can check out their website www.mayawrap.com to either purchase one yourself, or if you sew they have a pattern available on their site.

Don't feel guilty about not taking a bottle with you - what you're doing is completely natural. (And the best part is there's nothing to have to heat up, or bottles to wash after!) :)

God bless you!

Hi S..
i'm an american living in buenos aires, and here it is not a problem. women whip their boobs out and everyone says, what a beautiful thing. then i went home to visit. the story changed. i breastfed my son til he was 2, and whenever i was visiting, i got lots of weird looks. so i had to find a way so everyone was more comfortable, especially in my family. i would suggest a nice pashmina, poncho, or a light cotton baby blanket that you can drape over the "offensive to many" sight.
breastfeeding is the best, easiest and healthiest thing we can do for our children. Congratultions on your motherhood!
C.

Good for you!! I never minded nursing in public. I figure it is more of a problem for those around me to hear a hungry baby fuss than to know I am NOURISHING my child! Breastfeeding is more than just food - it is a bonding experience and a great source of comfort for baby and mama. You should not be ashamed or feel like you need to hide.

That said, I did try to be discreet. What I did was get nursing bras I could undo with one (right) hand while still holding my son in the crook of my (left) arm. With the 'unhooking' hand (in this case the right), I would carefully lift the bottom of my tshirt (I dress for comfort - most often in an Old Navy Flag tee) 'just enough' and get a good latch. Then I could just let the tshirt hide me and not cover my son too much so he could still breathe (otherwise he would squirm away and expose me). Unless someone is RIGHT next to you and looking DIRECTLY at that area, they can't see a thing - and usually couldn't tell what I was doing anyway. It just looks like I was holding my sleeping son in my arms.

Best to you and God Bless!

Good for you! I am always glad to hear of a mom choosing to breastfeed. :)

You have lots of great advice - I just wanted to add that when you go back to work and want to pump, I've seen some posts giving advice about pumping on here that you should look for! Good luck!

I breastfeed in public shamelessly, and I refuse to hide too! I didn't even use one of those cloak things. I did get some nursing tops for when I wanted to be really shy. I bought them online, since it's hard to find them around here. As long as you are comfortable, I wouldn't worry about how comfortable anyone else is. Usually people just walk on by or look away - which is fine. I've never had a bad experience with breastfeeding in public. I just found a place to sit comfortably and fed my baby.

Congratulations on your new baby, S.! I'm glad you are enjoying motherhood so much! I breastfed both of my babies and was frustrated that bottle feeding in public was more acceptable than breastfeeding. I resented that moms could give their baby a bottle in a restaurant, but I was expected to excuse myself from the table and nurse my baby elsewhere. I also refused to nurse in a stall --moms weren't giving their babies bottles in a stall. So, I decided that where ever it was acceptable to give a baby a bottle, it was acceptable to breastfeed. I just tried to be discreet (stay covered with a blanket or something) and respectful (didn't want to make others uncomfortable). Quick story, I was nursing (discreetly, of course) in public once while a friend was giving her baby a bottle and noticed a priest just a few feet away. My friend thought I shouldn't nurse so close to a priest. I told her I was certain he would approve of me nurturing my child as long as he didn't have to see it. :) Good luck!!

Hi S.--good for you! Good advice already, but I'll add just a bit. I liked my HooterHider for when my daughter was small better than a blanket b/c it has a wire lip at the top so she didn't feel smothered and I could see what she was doing. We had trouble getting the latch for awhile, so I needed a bit of cover to get her situated. I even used it at my in-laws house and stuff when there were lots of people around. GREAT idea to borrow one 1st to try it out, though.

One more idea--I had some leaking for the first couple of months, so I would make sure you have pads in your bra/nursing tank that you can slip right back on when she's done eating to catch any leftovers. Also, an extra top for mommy in the diaper bag isn't a bad idea... ;)

Enjoy your wonderful little one!

YOu should get a bebe au lait cover. It is absolultely the best gift I ever received! I hate BF covers usually and didn't use them with my first child. This one is special because it has a loop sewn into the top of it so that it gapes out and you can see the baby and get the baby situated. That was always the problem I had with the other kinds. I am now not afraid to feed anywhere in public thanks to this thing. It has literally changed my entire breast feeding experience! You can find these on-line or if you live near Shawnee Mission Medical Center, their little baby store, Mommy and Me (I think it is called that) has them in stock. It is worth whatever it costs. I use it all of the time.

Lots of suggestions, but I'll just mentioned what worked for me. I had a shawl, but I always forgot it, or it was awkward to put on while I was holding our daughter, so I ended up using her blanket to cover up which worked well. You'll start to find places that are easier to go - for example, if you're at the mall, go to a department store restroom instead of the one in the mall. Most of them have a lounge area with a comfy chair you can sit in. If you're in a restaurant, just try to find a table near the back or in a booth, so if you need to nurse while you're there, you don't have to go anywhere. I was a little nervous about nursing in public at first, even though I knew it was my right and best for our daughter, but one evening I met two friends for lunch who were also new moms, and we all ended up nursing at the same time. What a sight! I got over it after that. Best of luck!!

Nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public! They have these really cool Peanut Shells out there. They are aprons made just for breastfeeding. You put it on, put the baby under, and feed away. Most people don't even realize what you are doing. A nursing tank is a must I think for in public though so that your back isn't hanging out when you lift your shirt. They are fairly inexpensive at Target or Wal-Mart. Good luck! It was a little hard the first time but my little one is 4 months and I am totally comfortable with it.

Some malls and restaurants have womens sitting rooms with chairs. Or you can use a fitting room also at many stores. Most people feel comfortable if you are covered even when they know what you are doing underneath, feeding your baby!!
I think if you respect the people around you, you will get respect back by the courtesy of your willingness to at least try to make it a modest moment for everyone.
I remember the day when I went to the car also and it was a huge inconvenience for everyone. Sometimes you can go to the bathroom get the baby situated and then return to your company. Good luck!

Another shameless NIPper here!(that's nurse in public, duh) I used a blanket a few times, but my oldest didn't like it so I quit. I nursed her publicly until about 2, but still before bed every night till past her 4th birthday. Tandem nursed with her sister, who is now 21 months and going strong.

I never hesitate to nurse wherever we are. No one has ever given me any trouble. One time a woman gave me a dirty look on a bus in Chicago, but there was another lady right behind her giving me a big grin. Funny, the dirty look rolled right off my back, but the grin made me feel really nice.

I'am exclusively BF my 3rd daughter,I always feed before we head out the door and change the diaper.As for feeding in public it happens and you have to.I shop @ Target mainly so I go sit on the bench in the fittingrooms it's right outside of them or I also had to do it in the food court section I always cover myself and baby in the blanket it is big enough to cover up with and ya people look at you but as long as they don't say anything to me I ignore them as they should do with us BF moms.And by the way I have to go into another room in my home if my family is over or hide when at their home because its not that they don't understand that I choose to BF it's just they think its should be kept private,and my inlaws including brother and father I can feed my babies right in front of them and they don't think nothing of it.It's just some people have a different point of view.

You've gotten a lot of good suggestions and advice, so I will keep this short, except to encourage you to breastfeed in public. It is a natural, wonderful thing and you should never have to sit in a bathroom stall to feed your baby.

My favorite piece of nursingwear is a tank top I got from Motherhood Maternity that lifts up rather than flaps down like a nursing bra. I found that this style provides a lot more privacy since you can just lift it up enough for your baby to get the nipple in his/her mouth. Generally I stick my hand in there before and get my nipple situated (it probably looks like I'm feeling myself up, but oh well!) so I can just quickly get my daughter on and no one will know the difference. Once she is on, none of my breast/skin is exposed. Here's a link to the tank: http://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=95744036...

I will say that I wouldn't rely on having your baby under a blanket. It will probably work fine right now, but as she gets older, she will fight the blanket and try to get it off, so you will want to have some other plan--either good nursingwear or a wrap or both.

You have already gotten advice that says pretty much what I would say but I have to add that there is nothing to hide from. BFing is natural and normal and it is, thankfully, becoming the popular thing to do again. As long as you are being modest about it, there is not reason to be embarrased about it. I always just took a light weight blanket with me wherever we went that I could cover the baby with. You can also get the wraps that are the latest thing that you can carry your baby in and they work really well for BFing as well from what I understand.

As long as you are discreet you can pretty much breastfeed anywhere. I am a modest person but I also felt the same way about breadtfeeding in the bathroom (gross) or hiding out in the car. I wore nursing tops that were easy for me to acess and I used to carry a lightweight knitted blanket with us and when it was time to feed my children I draped that over us. I never made a big deal about it and figured "hey my kid needs to eat". I've also had friends who used Hooter Hiders and were very happy with them. (google it- they are cute nursing covers- but a little pricey). Good luck!

Do it, it's natural and you will be surprised at how much support, appreciation and respect strangers will have for you and your decision to not only breastfeed but breastfeed in public. Your cover can be as simple as layering your tops, (i like to wear a long tank so I can nurse on a whim without a blanket and the added layering helps with un-expected excessive leaking) or using your baby blanket. Simplify your life and enjoy the little moments! Best of luck!

ps keep in mind that you almost have to be more cautious and discreet in cars. i was in a wal-mart parking lot breastfeeding and this old couple parked next to me clearly distraught by my actions got so tied up with IT, that the husband (driver) failed to look in his rearview mirror and backed into another car Ouch!

use a baby sling and no one will know ur doing it, and you dont have to hide at all. if they come and invade ur personal space enough to see ur nursing, laugh at them, they had no business being that close to u in the first place.

Hey there S.,

I am a postpartum doula and I recommend different products to my clients. I came across a nice wrap that can be used several ways including as a cover when BF. If you send me your email, I would be happy to send a pic. It comes in black and grey. But, it is kind of expensive at $89. I think it is pretty though and you could use it beyond BF.

Hi S.. I was never a good public nurser and not very comfortable doing it so hats off to you. I always asked at a restaurant for a hot cup of water to warm the bottle up in. If you tell them what you want it for they are usually very helpful and don't charge. I was charged for the full amount of a cup of coffee at a Starbucks on Navy Pier in Chicago. Needless to say I do not frequent Starbucks. But that was the only time. Good luck and keep up the good work.

None of my 3 kids ever took a bottle, and all breastfed for at least a year or more. I am VERY experienced in breastfeeding in public!

When they were small and drank only milk, I would usually try to find a quiet corner somewhere. My church has a nursing room especially for that reason. At a party or friend's, I would usually go find a quiet room, but that's not always available everywhere you are. If we were in a restaurant, I would sometimes pull a chair into the bathroom if I was in a big group that included men.

Most of the time, I just fed them where ever we were. There are lots of blankets now that come down over your head and fully cover the baby so you don't have to worry about "slippage" when your baby is latching on! :)
You might try Babies R Us or an infant store to see if they have a nursing blanket. THey work much better than infant blankets. I was having a small reunion at a restaurant one time, and I had a blanket and was feeding one of my kids when someone else walked in and sat down with us. It was so discreet that he didn't know until I was done and removing the blanket that there was even a baby under there.

I think it's awesome that you are concerned with this. You know all the stories about how breastfed is best, etc., and your baby has to eat, regardless of where you are. When you are feeding your baby in public, you won't see most of the people around you ever again. I wouldn't worry too much about what others think, and as long as you are discreet and aren't flashing, I wouldn't worry about it!!!!

Baby's gotta eat. It's natural. Anyone who has a problem with it can leave... They have nursing blankets available with a strap that goes around your neck (some have velcro, some tie, Velcro is easy). I have seen them at Wal-Mart, but they have them at Specialty baby stores and Toys R Us that are better or you can easily make your own if you sew. I say good for you for nursing and keep loving being a mom!! Even through the hard times it is the best thing ever...:) Just remind people that comment that society has made breasts a sexual thing... They have always been intended to feed babies. As long as you aren't flopping it out unnecessarily and try to be a bit discreet...Feed your baby when you need to, where you need to. Enjoy motherhood and happy nursing.

Breastfeeding is natural! Don't feel like you have to hide! I nurse wherever and whenever! If people don't like it...they don't have to watch!

I'm breastfeeding my second son now, and I use a nursing cover. He is easily distracted, but when I pull the cover out, he knows what's coming so he settles down. The cover helps keep distractions to a minimum, too, which is really neat. It's from Bebe au Lait, but there are many different companies that make basically the same thing.
Blankets work for a while, but when they get stronger and a little older, they'll pull it right off! At least that's been my experience.
At the Galleria at Mimi Maternity, they have a small but really cool section of nursing tops, and they are rather stylish and seasonal. Check out the sales racks (that's where I got all mine). I really love them! If you would prefer, go to Goodwill or something and pick up snug-fitting tanks so you can cut out the breast area. Then just put another shirt on top for layering. Keeps you covered and is just really cheap and practical.
Good luck!

I also went to the car when I needed to but when I planned to use a bottle, I would heat a thermos of water in the morning and it would stay warm all day. The first few bottles would be a little hot and would put in the bottle a little time ahead before I knew the baby would be hungry so it would cool a bit so please double check and make sure the water isn't too hot before giving to your baby but the thermos of hot water works great. If you do need to cool it down quick then run cold water over the bottle, it's always easier to cool a bottle down than to find hot water everywhere you go. With our first baby I didn't bf very long and used that thermos method for the whole day so every morning we would heat the water and fill the thermos and had instant warm bottles for the day and carried that thermos everywhere we went with a small can of powdered formula to add when needed. Those sample cans you get from the hospital are great, we refilled them for the diaper bag instead of carrying the big cans around. I always told the nurses I was going to bf and formula feed and they would give you the gift packs for both.

Dear S.

I LOVE this question! I am a mother of four... I have nursed a total of 56 months. When I was a young mom, I was the women that went to the bathroom stall. Today, I am proud to say, I DON'T!!! I purchased a Modest Mommy Cover... it's also called other things, but it straps around your neck and covers up your baby and your breast. People have NO idea what you are doing. I was onced asked a question by a women while standing in the bathroom at a restaurant, "Do YOU eat in the bathroom? Why should your baby?". Now, my hubby does not love this because he is a very modest person. However, I don't whip out my breast and leave it out. I descreetly put on my very sassy cover, you can pick the fabric, and open up my shirt underneath the cover. It is so easy and you and the baby are happy!!!

Just google, Mommy Modest Cover, and you will find several sites. If not, you can sew one yourself. But I am guessing you would rather have that time with your babe instead of the sewing machine.

Best of luck & praise God that He gave this amazing opportunity to not only feed our child, but bond with him/her!!!

I also used fitting rooms in department stores. There may be less traffic than perhaps a Target or Walmart, maybe a little more spacious for a stroller, bench, etc. and maybe a little more relaxing for you. I agree with the other mamas - just do it and be proud that you are. It is less hassle than a bottle. Good for you!

S.,
I always just put the blanket over my shoulder and covered myself and the baby. This works really well with young babies especially. They don't pull on the blanket at that age. If people really pay attention, they might realize what you're doing, but they can't see anything.

I've always used the lightfabric fashionable poncho-like (I think that's what it's called) it was very popular about 4 or 5 yrs. ago.That way I can wear it and easy to put it on with one hand. I also liked it because I don't have to keep holding onto it worrying that it might fall off and I could still see my son's face through the neckline without anyone seeing him nursing. In fact alot of people didn't realized I was nursing until I burp him. Hope this help.

Nikki

Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing, I did it with both of my children. When I breastfed in "public" I usually just covered the baby's head with a receiving blanket, but I usually didn't do it much out in public b.c it made ME uncomfortable. I was at the mall the other day and there was a woman there with an infant and a child around 2 or 3, and she was with what appeared to be her parents as well (the children's grandparents), so there was plenty of adult supervision around. Rather than excusing herself and going to the family lounge where she could sit in a nice comfy chair and have some privacy and one on one time with her baby she chose to breastfeed in PUBLIC-public, like, not trying to cover herself at all, and she was moving around and walking and bending, etc. and the baby kept coming off the breast so there was essentially a grown woman in the play area with her breasts exposed! My male friend of course was loving the situation, but I was appalled by it b/c I know very well from my own experience with doing it she could have been a little better at keeping herself from being completely exposed. That may have been a rant more than any sort of advice, sorry.... I have a friend that would always wear a nursing top and bra when she knew she wold be doing it in public and she would cover her baby's head with the blanket and feed the baby with such skill you never even knew what was going on! haha! So, it can be done and I don't think you should worry as much as I did about what others thought b/c it IS a natural thing, but at the same time (in the case of the crazy naked boob lady) show a little respect for those around. Everyone has to give a little, I guess. You have to be comfortable doing it and do it respectfully and everyone else has to respect that you are doing it as well. Good luck.

No need to hide just sit on a bench at the mall and put a blanket over you, as long as nothing is showing its cool to BF in public. Some malls, if at a mall, have family bathrooms, where you can sit in an area in a room and breastfeed.

I would BF in public. It's a normal, natural thing that is beautiful. I would wear a cami underneath all of my shirts, so my back and belly would be covered even with my top shirt being lifted to expose the breast. I put a blanket (a thin one since it gets hot under there) over my son's head and my breast to cover us and not show anything. Most people wouldn't even pay attention to what was going on. Also, there are some shopping areas, restaurants, and stores that have a "mommy" area or sitting area in the restrooms that allow for breastfeeding and not having to hide in a stall.
Just a tip - I would try to get away from warming up a bottle. We would thaw out the frozen breast milk and he would get it at room temperature. It makes things a LOT easier for the baby to get the milk at room temp to avoid the need for it to be warmed.

Congratulations on your little one! My son is a year and a half and I am still breast feeding him. I never worried about nursing in public because I believe it is my right to be able to give such a nutritious meal to my son. If you'd like more information about the laws regarding breastfeeding (it is not only legal in IL and MO, there are laws protecting a mother's right to breastfeed in IL), this is a great site: http://www.llli.org/nb.html

Good for you to want to breastfeed! I breastfed both of my children, and I did it in public when it was necessary. You feel a little awkwarda nd modest at first, but after a while, it becomes second nature. I always made sure that I had a thin blanket of some sort with me (those breast-feeding covers seemed like a waste of money to me). I woudl drape the blanket over the shoulder of the side I was going to nurse on. Then I would reach up inside of my shirt and get completely "ready" before I grabbed the baby and then I would make sure that the blanket was completely covering any bare skin and I would lift the baby up into position and they you go. It takes a bit of pratice to get it, but once you find a wayt hat works for you, you will look like a seasoned pro. Also, I was afraid that people would be staring at me or giving me weird looks for doing it in public. Actually, it was the exact opposite. For the most part, and I mean like 99.9% of the time, people would see what I was doing and give me privacy. If I did get people watching me, it was usually with a look of contentment and happiness that they were able to witness something like feeding a child, even though they couldn't see anything. Like I said before, it is a little weird at first, but you will see that it really isn't that big of a deal to do it in public. Good luck!

Hi! I struggled with that a lot - as my daughter did not take a bottle very often. One trick I found - if you are at Wal-Mart or another store with a dressing room - use the dressing room for a feeding room. MUCH cleaner than a bathroom (which I could never bring myself to use), in the summer you stay in the air-conditioning, and you don't have to go out to the car. I also used a "Hooter-hider" - if you haven't seen them, check e-bay for good deals. They look like an apron, attach around your neck and have boning in the neck area so it holds the "apron" out so you can see down to your daughter but no one else can see in. :) With that you can even use a corner seat in a restaurant - as long as you are comfortable and your daughter doesn't eat too loudly. :)

Hope this helps!

My daughter fights underneath the nursing cover I have so it is pretty much usless. I wouldn't invest in one, try borrowing one first to see if it works for you. I wear the nursing tanks from Target, and wear a button down shirt for easy access. A good friend suggested using the fitting rooms at Target, Walmart etc. which I have done on several occasions. My daughter is easily distracted so it's just easier to do it in a less busy place. At a restaurant, try and get a booth away from a lot of people. You can turn into the booth to get the baby latched on and be discreet. It gets easier as the baby gets older, can latch on easier, and doesn't need to nurse as frequently. Good luck.

Hi! Me again!
They sell these things at Target, they go around your neck and comes down like a blanket you so dont have to worry about it falling down and showing the girls. Its light weight and breathable for baby. Dont worry about what people think, most probably wont even realize what your doing, and those that do shouldnt mind. They pretty much sell them everywhere but here is a link to one at Target.

http://www.target.com/Peanut-Shell-Nursing-Cover-Retro/dp...

I loved the toothless smile too! I will say, the one with teeth is just as wonderful.

I breastfed my daughter in public...I'm sure you'll get many opinions on this. I would just drape a blanket over my shoulder and "get to work". They make breastfeeding drapes too that are designed to hang over your shoulder. I tried the bathroom stall thing once and my daughter would scream if someone flushed the toilet next to us (understandable reaction) so I gave up trying to hide it so much. I wasn't flaunting my breast and it is a very natural thing so I just concealed what I could and nursed when and where I needed to.

If it helps, you can also purchase a bottle warmer that is designed for the car. There's one that uses the ac adapter in the car, but I bought one that didn't require any additional power. You boil the bag to get it ready for use and put it in an insulated holder. When you need it you just bend the bag and it heats up (sort of like the hand warmers technology). You have to anticipate when your child will be hungy when you use it because it will take about 20 minutes to heat the bottle up.

Good luck!

I have nursed 3 children and understand what you are saying! I refused to go in a bathroom also! I always wore loose tops and just put a blanket over the baby's head/my shoulder and no one knew most of the time. Sometimes my husband even would sit next to me and then less people could see. I breasfed everywhere I needed to - church (I just didn't sit in the front row!!), restaurants (ask for a table in the back where less people are) and shopping malls -- the fitting rooms are great -- I used the handicapped stalls when available b/c they often had a bench to sit on and room to pull my stroller into the room. Some malls have 'family rooms' with couches for moms to nurse also -- loved that! I will tell you that people see way less than you think they do. If you have a blanket over baby and your shoulder, baby's head covers most anything else and you shouldn't worry. I'm a very modest person and after the first couple of time, I just got over worrying about it. Breast is WAY EASIER than a bottle anyday! Good luck!

It seemed like I always needed to nurse when I was at the mall. I would go into the dressing room (preferrably a large, handicapped room) or our mall has a Von Mar with a room to nurse or they have couches outside the bathroom area and I nursed there.
Some people can nurse with a sling which is very discreet. I never could. I did have one nursing top which worked pretty good. For the most part I just hid the baby with a blanket.
This was my silly rule, I felt comfortable nursing in front of people who had nursed or husbands whose wives had nursed but not in front of people I knew had never considered it (like my in-laws).
A girl at bunco had a "hooter hider" that was like a bib. It was TOTALLY obvious but hid everything so that's an option.