Comments on: Nursing in Public: To Cover or Not to Cover

By: The Poor Husband

The Poor Husband — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:42:04 +0000

For a hilarious breast-feeding story about nursing in public, check out this account of my wife at http://lifewithrachael.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-used-to-hate-camping.html

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:36:19 +0000

I think you presented some compelling reasons to cover, Angela. They can be weighed against the reasons one might hold to not cover. It’s a personal choice, of course. In the end, every woman is different, with different values and a unique cultural perspective that affects her decision to cover or not.

I personally have never used a cover manufactured for that purpose, but have been more discreet about my public nursing at times, depending on the situation and my intuition.

By: Nursing around Disapproving Family Members : Breastfeeding 1-2-3 - Breastfeeding Information, News and Support

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:30:08 +0000

[...] friends — are the ones who are uncomfortable seeing her nursing. In the comments for the last Carnival of Breastfeeding on Nursing in Public, Jenny raised this very issue: Unfortunately, I have been faced with the choice of covering [...]

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:02:29 +0000

It’s so easy to get caught up in the “It’s all about me” thing. There are some people who are just very uncomfortable when they see a woman breastfeeding uncovered. I’ve gone both covered and uncovered depending on the company I’m around. If I know it makes someone uncomfortable I just go ahead and cover up. Why cause strife over something so simple. Every person is different. If we show courtesy to those around us chances are the courtesy will come back.

By: aka Alice

aka Alice — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:23:33 +0000

I hate nursing covers with a passion and I’m ashamed that anyone in our culture uses them. I nurse my children openly in public and have never had anyone say anything. I am discreet, but I never cover. It’s only natural!

By: Olivia

Olivia — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:48:58 +0000

I don’t cover up both for comfort and to normalize NIP.

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:09:20 +0000

I usually did not cover up when I nursed, mostly because I felt I could be more discreet when I wasn’t covered. When using a nursing cover (or even just a blanket thrown over your shoulder and the baby), I always felt like it was a big red flag (look at me! I’m nursing my baby under here!). But if I just pulled up my shirt and nursed, most people didn’t even know what I was doing. Plus, I agree with the other commentators that I don’t like the idea of nursing covers being viewed as a necessity now by some people.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:48:05 +0000

I have covered up in the past. I do own a Hooter Hider cover and did use it in the very early days. I am a larger breasted girl, so I needed to practice with my son in order to get it right. I eventually ditched the cover when he was 2 months old and went coverless from then on.

I did keep the cover in use for pumping while driving in the car though, it was very good for that (with a hands free pumping bra too)!

I’m all about whatever is best for that mom and that baby. If it is easier for the mom to relax to get a let down, then the baby is getting what they need. If they feel comfortable going without a cover, go for it. Either way, it’s saying that hey, I’m breastfeeding – cover or no cover – and that’s the goal, right?

By: Elisa @ blissfulE

Elisa @ blissfulE — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:03:36 +0000

One of the things I love about nursing is not having to carry extra stuff around like families with formula/bottles do. A nursing cover would be something extra to carry and the time it would take to get it in place would reduce my ability to respond immediately to a young nursling’s signals. I find it’s much more discreet to nurse without a nursing cover and before baby starts to fuss.

That said, in very specific circumstances (e.g. in my in-laws’ living room *sigh*), a lightweight nursing cover specially designed to let me see what I’m doing and not give them an excuse to eject me from the room would have been handy. Though since I was completely unprepared for their reaction to my very discreet nursing of their grandchild, I doubt I could have had the foresight to have such a cover on hand just for them.

Elsewhere in the world, I’ve had zero problems with not having a cover.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:14:03 +0000

Instead of declaring that covering up is a step backwards, why don’t you pat the nursing mom on the back for being strong enough to nurse in public? If more people acknowledged that accomplishment, I bet more ‘covered’ moms would become stronger and remove the cover to try it without.