Told to cover up

40+ years ago I fed my babies on planes, in meetings, here, there and everywhere . Never got a bad comment.
Of course my grandmother fed her 8 babies while keeping a shop, travelling around factories buying leather etc etc. No one apparently objected .....I guess working mothers had to then if babies were to survive. Maybe it was the arrival of 'artificial' milks to buy that altered things?

I think it’s the level of outrage about how wrong this is - especially from another women!!!

I wish you’d told her to shove off. It’s absolutely ridiculous to tell a bf mother to cover up. It’s a joke. 🤬

I got one complaint (BF 5 DC!) but I was with other people so we just laughed at her - yes, it was a woman over 45!

I spend a lot of time in Mallorca and have, many times, seen local women (looking glamorous) feeding their babies as they walk down the street. So fabulously no-nonsense.

I can’t believe in 2026 this is still happening to mothers who are just trying to feed their babies !
NOONE could see your nipple because it was in the baby’s actual mouth. Thats how breastfeeding works.
you should be proud of yourself and you have a legal right to feed your baby anywhere without abuse and bullying. Shame on that woman.
are you a member of your local LaLecheLeague for coffee mornings and support. Or breastfeeding network? Also breastfeeding FB groups too.
keep on boobin on mama! You got this !

I am absolutely amazed that you would think it acceptable to tell a stranger - albeit a rude one - to fuck off. In fact I am amazed at 95% of the rude responses on this thread.
Why do MNetters think they sound strident and confident when they tell strangers to fuck/piss off or call them a bellend/cunt? I can only imagine this is what they would do in their head when really they would say nothing of the kind.
Two wrongs do not make a right.

It doesn’t f ing matter if you can see your nipple!!!

anyone says again just tell them don’t be so misogynistic and carry on

I’d say ‘stop staring you perv’, cannot be doing with busy bodies

No and no. Even on this thread we have examples of men and young women.

But keep on with the ageism and misogyny.

Because the OP said she was told to cover up but she wasn't.

The woman told her you can get nursing covers and pointed out her nipple was on show.

Perhaps she thought the OP didn't realise there were "gadgets" to cover yourself if you want to? I had no idea a nursing cover was a thing til I had to do battle feeding DS in public.

THIS! Breasts number 1 function are for feeding, simple as that! Anybody who has a problem with that is the problem! When my dds were tiny I would have loved it if anyone took me on..... I had a whole speech lined up, I was genuinely sad I never got to use it. I loved feeding my 2, it was literally the only time in my life I have ever got my boobs out in public, it was v liberating! My finest moment was clearing the tables around me in a service station in a snow storm when there wasn't a table to be had! My most memorable was the first time I fed in public alone, this amazing older lady came and say at my table and kept me company while I fed, she chatted to me and told me I was doing an amazing job...... my dd is 19 now, I'll never forget her

You’re doing amazingly and your baby is so lucky to have you. Well done 👏

She really might be the last.
I breastfed both of mine out and about in all sorts of places and never had a single comment. I think the vast majority of people didn’t even notice.
I was once feeding very newborn DD1 and the Sainsbury’s food shop arrived. Because she was only about 3 weeks old and I didn’t really know what I was doing, I was trying to unlatch her and sort my top out as I answered the door. The delivery man very nicely said I should go and sit down, and he brought in all my shopping, and put all the fridge and freezer stuff away for me so I didn’t have to get up to sort that either.
Most people are nice. And most of the nasty people won’t notice. And most of the nasty people who do notice, won’t actually say anything.

I wish I had cultivated a better attitude when I was trying to breastfeed my children in the 1970s. Women have a better normal attitude today towards natural good feeding practices. It's dreadful that some older women castigate a women for doing the best thing for their children.

Wow, she was a rude cow. I breastfed my son 24 years ago anywhere and everywhere and half the time I was too knackered to bother with discretion. I must have a resting bitch face as very few people ever commented negatively. A member of m&s staff once informed me there was a mother and baby room “that you might be more comfortable in”. I brightly informed her I was fine where I was.

you’re doing a fine job, especially in the face of bitchery. Hopefully, next week a little old lady will tell you hue lively it is to see a baby being breastfed.

She might well be the last, I have breastfeed out and about on an almost daily basis for the first year and continued to breastfeed in public when DC was a year old, less frequently but still regularly even when they were 2. I've fed in shops restaurants, planes, cinema, wherever we happened to be. I've never had one negative comment in the UK or Ireland or France, Spain, Italy. Which is great, maybe curiosity but never negativity.

I was encouraged to feed DS in a nuns' convent! The other two babies were happily having their bottles and DS was getting restless and the Sister realised I was holding back and encouraged me to feed him.
It was encouraged in church too.
(Good enough for Mary and her son )

I'm sorry you've got unlucky with a shitty comment. I fed my two for about 3 years and didn't get one. Many knowing smiles and some "good for you" type comments.

Wtf???????? Id would have told her exactly where to go. Vile piece of work that she was. How dare people comment on mothers breastfeeding???????

I used to live somewhere quite conservative where BFing in public was illegal until relatively recently. I made a point to BF as much as I needed to wherever and whenever the baby needed to! Actually, never got a comment, but certainly got some double takes. I didn't use a cover either (as almost all people did there), because cover plus nipped shields AND holding baby's head correctly and body = too much faff!

I would use this as fuel to expose (not yourself 😂 but ) even more people to the natural, normal purpose of women's breaststroke. Not that this is your responsibility, of course - I mean just 'think what an archaic point of view' and continue with your day... do not modify your behaviour to fit with this ridiculous narrative.

But hopefully this hasn't knocked your confidence, you're doing great. 💐

It's always women who complain isn't it? And it's never women under 45.

Was she with her husband @marudersmap ???

I've come to the conclusion that women complaining about mothers breastfeeding their baby is rooted in jealousy. And many can't bear the thought that their husband is looking.

My DH and I are always fascinated to see a mother breastfeeding in public, as it's so unusual to see it. Probably because of arsehats like the woman who had a go at the OP. We only glance briefly by the way, we don't stare!!! It is lovely to see though.

.

My only query would be if it was said in a “letting you know I can see, you can get cover ups if that bothers you” kind of way, or a “I don’t want to see that, get a cover up” kind of way- especially if it was an older lady.

I breastfed my daughter, now breastfeeding my son, and I remember one of the first times I breastfed my daughter while in a cafe with my gran she made a similar comment basically saying do you know I can see your breast, and offered me her scarf to cover up. She wasn’t being nasty or critical of me, she would personally have been bothered by people being able to see her breast and so she assumed I felt the same and was trying to help by offering that suggestion. I told her it didn’t bother me and I’d prefer not to cover my babies head while she fed, I wouldn’t hide a bottle so I’m not going to hide a breast that is fulfilling exactly the same job, my gran totally accepted that and was happy as long as I was happy and never mentioned it again.

I loathe the way breastfeeding is rammed down the throats of vulnerable first time mothers like you’re teeing your child up for a life of disaster unless you comply. Having said that it’s very handy to breastfeed if you’re lucky enough to find it pain free, and maternity leave can be very isolating for some mothers. Getting out and about is important and part of that is being brave enough to feed in public, no matter how intimidating you might find it.

For this reason I find comments like this lady made the absolute lowest of the low. What scummy little bitch tried to make a breastfeeding mother feel intimidated? Fuck her.