Breastfeeding in Public
Nursing Your Baby in Public Doesn't Have to Be a Peepshow
Babies have to eat. That's a rule of nature. Whether they are bottle fed or breastfed, babies will eventually have to eat while Mom and baby are out and on the go. How does a non-exhibitionist mom feed her nursing infant without sharing too much of herself with innocent bystanders? It can be done - with some planning and strategy.
To start with, the clothes Mom wears can make a difference between feeding without showing skin or baring all to the public at large. Nursing clothes are available in a variety of styles. Nursing flaps make public feeding a bit more discreet and go a long way toward curtailing embarrassment.
When not wearing shirts sewn with nursing flaps and openings, wear shirts that are loose and easily lifted from the hem. Better yet, loose button-up blouses can be unbuttoned from the hem upward when it is feeding time and still keep Mom's modesty intact.
My personal favorite trick has always been a nursing shawl or blanket. These can be purchased or homemade. To make one - find a lightweight, cotton baby blanket. The blanket needs to be large enough to drape across one shoulder and fasten over the other shoulder while allowing baby plenty of room for feeding. Sew snaps or hook and loop tape on two corners.
The nursing shawl can be used as a light covering for baby and also as a privacy shield during breastfeeding. Most Moms feel as though they must isolate themselves in a bathroom or a back room when nursing in public. That doesn't have to be the case. Try one or more of these tips and tricks, and you'll be able to feed baby without embarrassing yourself or those around you.
Published by Tammy Lee Morris - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Tammy Lee Morris is a lifelong resident of southern Illinois where she enjoys a quiet life in a rural area. After working for a local newspaper while studying journalism at a local community college, she dev... View profile
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- Breastfeeding in public doesn't have to be embarrassing.
- With a little planning, nursing in a public place can be accomplished without sacrificing modesty.
- The right clothing or accessories can preserve privacy while breastfeeding.
5 Comments
Post a CommentI'm a pretty modest person, and not the type to even wear short skirts or lowcut tops in my pre-mom life. But am I the only person who thinks the obsession with breastfeeding "discreetly" in public is ridiculous. Babies need to eat! There is nothing weird or sexual about a mommy feeding her baby. In my opinion, people who think it's indecent need to think carefully about why they would have such a weird - and frankly unnatural - reaction to the sight of a mother using her breasts for what God created them to do. Like I said, I'm all for discretion ... but come on people, let's get out priorities straight. Isn't an innocent baby's health and comfort more important than the "discomfort" of adult strangers ... who, after all, wouldn't be looking in the first place if their own mothers had taught them that polite people don't stare!
The only times I have ever gotten negative reactions to breastfeeding in public was when I was covered with a receiving blanket. Using a blanket, shawl, or some other such contraption draws as much attention to what you are doing as baring an entire breast. I have found it is much more discreet to just lift up a normal shirt and nurse my baby--this way she appears to be laying down in my lap/arms.
Good advice, but it doesn't always work. My oldest would always pull off the blanket/shawl when I tried to cover him up! (We wound up giving him bottles when we were out in public.) My second child is willing to eat with a shawl over her, but we still often take bottles because my husband is embarrassed if I nurse in public.
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