My friend has a great thing she hangs round her neck so she feels really comfy bf in front of people. She can see baby but it eliminates the awkwardness some people feel. So many options out there for us. It's called bebe au lait. She loves it as it works for her.
Breastfeeding in public
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Lisasmith
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I know all about Elizabeth shopping centers. You can't let a bunch of bogans turn you off women feeding their babies in public. Having said that they are well within their rights to feed that way should they so choose.
Breastfed in public 3x today. Once on a bus, once at a protest (to improve quality of midwife care here) and then again on the bus.
When you are mother, and your baby is hungry, you just feed your baby. It's not that complicated. If you'd like to tell a 3 month old to wait until you can find a suitable bathroom or "parent's room" (which doesn't really exist here), good luck with that. You'll attract a lot more attention with a hysterical baby.
A lot of comments on this thread come from a lack of education about breastfeeding. That's fine, many of you are pregnant, but it's time to learn if you want to breastfeed.
1. Not all babies will take a bottle
2. Not all women can pump milk (you can pump, barely an ounce may come out)
3. Baby hunger goes from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds
4. When you make a baby wait to eat, they panic, thrash about, and can become inconsolable to feed
5. Weaning onto solids is a process that can take YEARS, you do not just give a baby a spoon of rice cereal and suddenly they aren't nursing a few weeks later. That's why it's called weaning and not switching to full solids.
6. Some babies will not feed with a cover.
When you are mother, and your baby is hungry, you just feed your baby. It's not that complicated. If you'd like to tell a 3 month old to wait until you can find a suitable bathroom or "parent's room" (which doesn't really exist here), good luck with that. You'll attract a lot more attention with a hysterical baby.
A lot of comments on this thread come from a lack of education about breastfeeding. That's fine, many of you are pregnant, but it's time to learn if you want to breastfeed.
1. Not all babies will take a bottle
2. Not all women can pump milk (you can pump, barely an ounce may come out)
3. Baby hunger goes from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds
4. When you make a baby wait to eat, they panic, thrash about, and can become inconsolable to feed
5. Weaning onto solids is a process that can take YEARS, you do not just give a baby a spoon of rice cereal and suddenly they aren't nursing a few weeks later. That's why it's called weaning and not switching to full solids.
6. Some babies will not feed with a cover.
Dk1234
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Well I don't know if I 100% agree. I was very uncomfortable with nip the first 4 months or so with my son and it was never really an issue. I fed before I left the house and I kept watch of time and usually headed him off before he got angry hungry. While I understand it may not be that easy for everyone, and not that easy if you have another child, ill know soon enough about that, I don't want to scare people who are scared of nip out of breastfeeding. It is def possible to not nip and still be sucsessful at BFing. I went out all the time when LO was young and I was just usually strategic about when I fed him and being around a place I felt comfortable nursing.
jenniferttc1
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Idk, my son was a constant feeder. I fed him before we left to the store, and most of the time couldn't make it 20 minute drive without him screaming for more milk. He was a huge titty baby
So it was impossible to go around his schedule, I never would have left the house.
jenniferttc1
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That is just disgusting. Don't let one man speak his mind for all men. My husband doesn't think like that, even his own wife feeding, let alone a strange woman and baby. That has to be the grosses thing ever.
Dk1234
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Idk, my son was a constant feeder. I fed him before we left to the store, and most of the time couldn't make it 20 minute drive without him screaming for more milk. He was a huge titty baby
And every mom will get to know her chikd's general habits. My son was fairly predictable feeding wise but I did have a few times I had to slip in a bathroom unexpectedly or stay in my car before going I. Somewhere. I have nothing against nip and I have done it now but for those who don't want to nip you don't have to. You can at the very least be near a restroom and while that would bother some people to feed in a restroom it never bothered me.
jenniferttc1
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Idk, my son was a constant feeder. I fed him before we left to the store, and most of the time couldn't make it 20 minute drive without him screaming for more milk. He was a huge titty baby
And every mom will get to know her chikd's general habits. My son was fairly predictable feeding wise but I did have a few times I had to slip in a bathroom unexpectedly or stay in my car before going I. Somewhere. I have nothing against nip and I have done it now but for those who don't want to nip you don't have to. You can at the very least be near a restroom and while that would bother some people to feed in a restroom it never bothered me.
My child was missing the habit, there was no time frames. I was lucky to get 60 mins between feeds, even at 9 months old he ate almost like a newborn. I would feed in my car a lot if I was there, but there were times I had to feed in a public place, and nobody noticed, except the one time I did try to use a cover and he was flapping his arms and crying and wouldn't stay latched. You guys must have some awesome bathrooms, texas bathrooms are disgusting, and I refuse to even pee in one most of the time, so for sure wouldn't feed my son. But then again, I have small A cup boobs, you aint gonna see nothing from my chest. I personally think breasfeeding in public is beautiful an so happy they are sharing it and making it more normal. We have to start somewhere to normalize it. I think it's sad that we have made breast into something that is so sexualized instead of using them for their real purpose. I honestly think next time around, I will actually make my way to go out and feed in public more. It's negative comments that people hear that get women scared to feed in public, then they stay inside all day behind 4 walls, become depressed and resent their babies. I'm not sure about Kentucky laws, but texas has some strict pro breast feeding laws, so I doubt anyone would say anything.
Dk1234
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Idk, my son was a constant feeder. I fed him before we left to the store, and most of the time couldn't make it 20 minute drive without him screaming for more milk. He was a huge titty baby
And every mom will get to know her chikd's general habits. My son was fairly predictable feeding wise but I did have a few times I had to slip in a bathroom unexpectedly or stay in my car before going I. Somewhere. I have nothing against nip and I have done it now but for those who don't want to nip you don't have to. You can at the very least be near a restroom and while that would bother some people to feed in a restroom it never bothered me.
My child was missing the habit, there was no time frames. I was lucky to get 60 mins between feeds, even at 9 months old he ate almost like a newborn. I would feed in my car a lot if I was there, but there were times I had to feed in a public place, and nobody noticed, except the one time I did try to use a cover and he was flapping his arms and crying and wouldn't stay latched. You guys must have some awesome bathrooms, texas bathrooms are disgusting, and I refuse to even pee in one most of the time, so for sure wouldn't feed my son. But then again, I have small A cup boobs, you aint gonna see nothing from my chest. I personally think breasfeeding in public is beautiful an so happy they are sharing it and making it more normal. We have to start somewhere to normalize it. I think it's sad that we have made breast into something that is so sexualized instead of using them for their real purpose. I honestly think next time around, I will actually make my way to go out and feed in public more. It's negative comments that people hear that get women scared to feed in public, then they stay inside all day behind 4 walls, become depressed and resent their babies. I'm not sure about Kentucky laws, but texas has some strict pro breast feeding laws, so I doubt anyone would say anything.
It wasnt about other people for me and I'd say its the same for a lot of people who aren't comfortable nip. Breastfeeding was just a very personal thing to me. I was new at it and I didn't feel comfortable doing it in public for a while. It never really bothered me to see people nursing discretely in public and now I think it's awesome. So it was never anything I had against nip. I just think some people have different comfort levels and that's totally fine. Just because some people are comfortable nip and some people aren't doesn't mean either one is wrong. I think we should celebrate anyone who bf. BFing is amazing and people can do it however they want really. Just like I will stand by a woman's right to nip, I won't look down on someone who doesn't want to nip. And it was completely possible for me to never mip with my newborn.
jenniferttc1
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Idk, my son was a constant feeder. I fed him before we left to the store, and most of the time couldn't make it 20 minute drive without him screaming for more milk. He was a huge titty baby
And every mom will get to know her chikd's general habits. My son was fairly predictable feeding wise but I did have a few times I had to slip in a bathroom unexpectedly or stay in my car before going I. Somewhere. I have nothing against nip and I have done it now but for those who don't want to nip you don't have to. You can at the very least be near a restroom and while that would bother some people to feed in a restroom it never bothered me.
My child was missing the habit, there was no time frames. I was lucky to get 60 mins between feeds, even at 9 months old he ate almost like a newborn. I would feed in my car a lot if I was there, but there were times I had to feed in a public place, and nobody noticed, except the one time I did try to use a cover and he was flapping his arms and crying and wouldn't stay latched. You guys must have some awesome bathrooms, texas bathrooms are disgusting, and I refuse to even pee in one most of the time, so for sure wouldn't feed my son. But then again, I have small A cup boobs, you aint gonna see nothing from my chest. I personally think breasfeeding in public is beautiful an so happy they are sharing it and making it more normal. We have to start somewhere to normalize it. I think it's sad that we have made breast into something that is so sexualized instead of using them for their real purpose. I honestly think next time around, I will actually make my way to go out and feed in public more. It's negative comments that people hear that get women scared to feed in public, then they stay inside all day behind 4 walls, become depressed and resent their babies. I'm not sure about Kentucky laws, but texas has some strict pro breast feeding laws, so I doubt anyone would say anything.
It wasnt about other people for me and I'd say its the same for a lot of people who aren't comfortable nip. Breastfeeding was just a very personal thing to me. I was new at it and I didn't feel comfortable doing it in public for a while. It never really bothered me to see people nursing discretely in public and now I think it's awesome. So it was never anything I had against nip. I just think some people have different comfort levels and that's totally fine. Just because some people are comfortable nip and some people aren't doesn't mean either one is wrong. I think we should celebrate anyone who bf. BFing is amazing and people can do it however they want really. Just like I will stand by a woman's right to nip, I won't look down on someone who doesn't want to nip. And it was completely possible for me to never mip with my newborn.
I do think a majority of the ladies that don't believe in nipping will eventually change their whole attitude on it once baby is here. There was just SO many things I disagreed with, bedsharing, nursing past 6 months, nipping, tv, etc that I have completely done a 180 on. It's all just so different once you do have the baby here and not in the womb. I was pretty respectful nipper. I kept to myself as much as I go in corner spaces, cars, back of the restruant, but there is still only so far I would go to make others comfy, cause I'd like me and my baby comfortable too, so I don't think it's that much to ask. But in all seriousness, I really hope for you previous newborn next time
I counted and he was on the breast 18 hours total in a day. He was a "bad" baby, but he's so freaking easy now!
Dk1234
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Idk, my son was a constant feeder. I fed him before we left to the store, and most of the time couldn't make it 20 minute drive without him screaming for more milk. He was a huge titty baby
And every mom will get to know her chikd's general habits. My son was fairly predictable feeding wise but I did have a few times I had to slip in a bathroom unexpectedly or stay in my car before going I. Somewhere. I have nothing against nip and I have done it now but for those who don't want to nip you don't have to. You can at the very least be near a restroom and while that would bother some people to feed in a restroom it never bothered me.
My child was missing the habit, there was no time frames. I was lucky to get 60 mins between feeds, even at 9 months old he ate almost like a newborn. I would feed in my car a lot if I was there, but there were times I had to feed in a public place, and nobody noticed, except the one time I did try to use a cover and he was flapping his arms and crying and wouldn't stay latched. You guys must have some awesome bathrooms, texas bathrooms are disgusting, and I refuse to even pee in one most of the time, so for sure wouldn't feed my son. But then again, I have small A cup boobs, you aint gonna see nothing from my chest. I personally think breasfeeding in public is beautiful an so happy they are sharing it and making it more normal. We have to start somewhere to normalize it. I think it's sad that we have made breast into something that is so sexualized instead of using them for their real purpose. I honestly think next time around, I will actually make my way to go out and feed in public more. It's negative comments that people hear that get women scared to feed in public, then they stay inside all day behind 4 walls, become depressed and resent their babies. I'm not sure about Kentucky laws, but texas has some strict pro breast feeding laws, so I doubt anyone would say anything.
It wasnt about other people for me and I'd say its the same for a lot of people who aren't comfortable nip. Breastfeeding was just a very personal thing to me. I was new at it and I didn't feel comfortable doing it in public for a while. It never really bothered me to see people nursing discretely in public and now I think it's awesome. So it was never anything I had against nip. I just think some people have different comfort levels and that's totally fine. Just because some people are comfortable nip and some people aren't doesn't mean either one is wrong. I think we should celebrate anyone who bf. BFing is amazing and people can do it however they want really. Just like I will stand by a woman's right to nip, I won't look down on someone who doesn't want to nip. And it was completely possible for me to never mip with my newborn.
I do think a majority of the ladies that don't believe in nipping will eventually change their whole attitude on it once baby is here. There was just SO many things I disagreed with, bedsharing, nursing past 6 months, nipping, tv, etc that I have completely done a 180 on. It's all just so different once you do have the baby here and not in the womb. I was pretty respectful nipper. I kept to myself as much as I go in corner spaces, cars, back of the restruant, but there is still only so far I would go to make others comfy, cause I'd like me and my baby comfortable too, so I don't think it's that much to ask. But in all seriousness, I really hope for you previous newborn next time
My son was the easiest newborn ever. He is pretty difficult at the moment though but just at night, teething is absolutely awful! I'd almost take 18 hours on the breast to not have to deal with 4 hours of screaming at night ha ha. That has luckily only happened once though but he is seriously the worst teether ever. I agree with you in changing your tune, once you experience something and in e you become comfortable with something, it changes for you.
jenniferttc1
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Idk, my son was a constant feeder. I fed him before we left to the store, and most of the time couldn't make it 20 minute drive without him screaming for more milk. He was a huge titty baby
And every mom will get to know her chikd's general habits. My son was fairly predictable feeding wise but I did have a few times I had to slip in a bathroom unexpectedly or stay in my car before going I. Somewhere. I have nothing against nip and I have done it now but for those who don't want to nip you don't have to. You can at the very least be near a restroom and while that would bother some people to feed in a restroom it never bothered me.
My child was missing the habit, there was no time frames. I was lucky to get 60 mins between feeds, even at 9 months old he ate almost like a newborn. I would feed in my car a lot if I was there, but there were times I had to feed in a public place, and nobody noticed, except the one time I did try to use a cover and he was flapping his arms and crying and wouldn't stay latched. You guys must have some awesome bathrooms, texas bathrooms are disgusting, and I refuse to even pee in one most of the time, so for sure wouldn't feed my son. But then again, I have small A cup boobs, you aint gonna see nothing from my chest. I personally think breasfeeding in public is beautiful an so happy they are sharing it and making it more normal. We have to start somewhere to normalize it. I think it's sad that we have made breast into something that is so sexualized instead of using them for their real purpose. I honestly think next time around, I will actually make my way to go out and feed in public more. It's negative comments that people hear that get women scared to feed in public, then they stay inside all day behind 4 walls, become depressed and resent their babies. I'm not sure about Kentucky laws, but texas has some strict pro breast feeding laws, so I doubt anyone would say anything.
It wasnt about other people for me and I'd say its the same for a lot of people who aren't comfortable nip. Breastfeeding was just a very personal thing to me. I was new at it and I didn't feel comfortable doing it in public for a while. It never really bothered me to see people nursing discretely in public and now I think it's awesome. So it was never anything I had against nip. I just think some people have different comfort levels and that's totally fine. Just because some people are comfortable nip and some people aren't doesn't mean either one is wrong. I think we should celebrate anyone who bf. BFing is amazing and people can do it however they want really. Just like I will stand by a woman's right to nip, I won't look down on someone who doesn't want to nip. And it was completely possible for me to never mip with my newborn.
I do think a majority of the ladies that don't believe in nipping will eventually change their whole attitude on it once baby is here. There was just SO many things I disagreed with, bedsharing, nursing past 6 months, nipping, tv, etc that I have completely done a 180 on. It's all just so different once you do have the baby here and not in the womb. I was pretty respectful nipper. I kept to myself as much as I go in corner spaces, cars, back of the restruant, but there is still only so far I would go to make others comfy, cause I'd like me and my baby comfortable too, so I don't think it's that much to ask. But in all seriousness, I really hope for you previous newborn next time
My son was the easiest newborn ever. He is pretty difficult at the moment though but just at night, teething is absolutely awful! I'd almost take 18 hours on the breast to not have to deal with 4 hours of screaming at night ha ha. That has luckily only happened once though but he is seriously the worst teether ever. I agree with you in changing your tune, once you experience something and in e you become comfortable with something, it changes for you.
Poor bubs! How many teeth does he have now? My son was just pure hell, like I caught myself wondering what the hell I got myself into. He was that baby that literally cried all day and night long no matte what.But 6 months he started crawling and he was better, 10 months started walking and no running and think the worlds his
I had the worst time getting him to sleep till 9 months old, but finally the past 2 weeks now sleeps through the night
From 9 months till 12 he woke up at midnight which I didn't mind I was usually up, and about 70 percent of the time again at 5 for milk. He handled teethin horrible at first, but as he's getting more and more I don't know they are there till I see them. He's been working on tooth 9-12 for a month now, they are out and cut, but they are molars so they are all taking forever to push all the way out.
QueenMummyToBe
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With my first when she finally managed to latch I would feed in the one decent feeding room where we live but after a couple of trips into town it was silly to run from one side of town to the other with a screaming baby so I fed her anywhere, benches, parks, buses, around friends houses, cafes, restaurants, walking around supermarkets (dh would be pushing trolley) & walking down the street, if she needed feeding then she needed feeding. I got a couple of looks but any comments were positives.
With Tristan we fed anywhere from our first outing, friends & their partners would come to visit us & no one ever had an issue with a baby having a meal.
If I see a lady feeding all I think is good on her, and with number 3 I want to feed for longer and I will once again do it anywhere, for the first month I have Dh here to support me and entertain Amelia & Tristan especially when we are out & about
X x
With Tristan we fed anywhere from our first outing, friends & their partners would come to visit us & no one ever had an issue with a baby having a meal.
If I see a lady feeding all I think is good on her, and with number 3 I want to feed for longer and I will once again do it anywhere, for the first month I have Dh here to support me and entertain Amelia & Tristan especially when we are out & about
X x
Anderson8
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After being on b&b for over 2 years now, I've seen many threads go this way.
There is no right or wrong, just what is right for you and your baby.
One of the most ridiculous things I've read though is comparing nip to walking around topless!
Breasts are for feeding babies, like it or not that's what they're there for
There is no right or wrong, just what is right for you and your baby.
One of the most ridiculous things I've read though is comparing nip to walking around topless!
Breasts are for feeding babies, like it or not that's what they're there for
Some babies allow you to 'wait' and some lifestyles/locations allow you to 'time' your feedings with leaving the house, others don't. If I did so, my toddler would not be allowed to go to his toddler groups, to not go to the pool, to possibly not even go to the park or the local fun centre, because his brother simply won't feed with a blanket on his head and doesn't take a bottle.
If someone can get away with doing those things, then that's fine for them, but we can't all do that and live our lives normally. It is either my choice to nurse my son with one arm while supervising the other out in public, or staying in my house for another 6-12 months while waiting for him to start liking a cup.
THAT is completely unreasonable and a sad existence for us, so yes, I will nurse in public without a cover. And with my A cup breasts, you'd have a better time finding Where's Waldo than spotting any skin on me. I use a line of shirts here in Canada called Momzelle, you can't see a darn thing unless the baby pulls the shirt.
https://www.urbanmoms.ca/marketplace/assets_c/2009/06/Nursing%20with%20Momzelle-thumb-400x598-8197.jpg
If someone can get away with doing those things, then that's fine for them, but we can't all do that and live our lives normally. It is either my choice to nurse my son with one arm while supervising the other out in public, or staying in my house for another 6-12 months while waiting for him to start liking a cup.
THAT is completely unreasonable and a sad existence for us, so yes, I will nurse in public without a cover. And with my A cup breasts, you'd have a better time finding Where's Waldo than spotting any skin on me. I use a line of shirts here in Canada called Momzelle, you can't see a darn thing unless the baby pulls the shirt.
https://www.urbanmoms.ca/marketplace/assets_c/2009/06/Nursing%20with%20Momzelle-thumb-400x598-8197.jpg
There's nothing wrong with wanting to be discreet, but suggesting that NIP is somehow comparable to indecent exposure is insulting.
Do whatever you feel comfortable with. Maybe that means being a bit restricted in your outdoor activities for the first couple of months, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you've got the "luxury" of it being your first LO, make the most of the relative freedom.
I was pretty nervous about NIP when LO came along, thanks largely to ignorant, offhand comments I've heard here and there which I should have ignored. With LO #2 I will be NIP all over the place I imagine. I've got the logistics sorted out and I'm far more confident than I was with LO #1.
And not all men perve over BFing mums, so please don't tar them all with the same brush.
Do whatever you feel comfortable with. Maybe that means being a bit restricted in your outdoor activities for the first couple of months, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you've got the "luxury" of it being your first LO, make the most of the relative freedom.
I was pretty nervous about NIP when LO came along, thanks largely to ignorant, offhand comments I've heard here and there which I should have ignored. With LO #2 I will be NIP all over the place I imagine. I've got the logistics sorted out and I'm far more confident than I was with LO #1.
And not all men perve over BFing mums, so please don't tar them all with the same brush.
I breastfed my daughter for 8 months before I started to wean her on to formula, I found it very difficult feeding in public, more so as time went on, I had a very fast let down and my milk used to spurt out and some times choke my daughter which made her pull off and expose my boob all the time.. I don't have little boobies! Lol.. Family members made me feel like I had to go upstairs, and my bf didn't like me feeding in the same room as men, he's quite protective of me, so this also made me uncomfortable to feed her.. I felt restricted when going out and in company in my own home.. I intend on breastfeeding just the same this time though, as it's best for my baby.
DLA
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I wasn't comfortable BFing in public, so I just pumped and brought a bottle. It's totally up to you. A lot of people don't like doing because it's a hassle and they don't want to introduce a bottle because it could potentially cause latching issues. I know the nursing covers are pretty popular and is probably just something you need to get used to. If I did want to BF in public, I would definitely used that but I just was not comfortable with the idea at all. Go with your gut and I wouldn't worry about people staring.
Reminds of the Luvs commercial where the lady if BFing in public and says to a server, "hey eyes up here". haha.
ETA: Also a lot of people don't pump because it can cause supply issues!
Reminds of the Luvs commercial where the lady if BFing in public and says to a server, "hey eyes up here". haha.
ETA: Also a lot of people don't pump because it can cause supply issues!
This ad is soooo true. With my first I had the bras that snap down in the front, and I'd run to my car and still hide my baby under a blanket and feel so uncomfortable....
This time around, I don't give two you know whats about who sees me.... LOL
Overall, it's something you are doing for the betterment of your child, so I wouldn't worry about people giving you weird looks. Do what you feel is best for you and your new bundle.
