To think breastfeeding covers that look like giant shopping bags are a bit odd

[Muse84]

That's it really. Always draw the eye. It's like they've put the baby in a giant IKEA bag and hung it around their neck!

Just a light hearted observation. I am FTM who breast feeds and I always found that two tops and an occasional strategically placed small muslin do the job perfectly. Nobody sees a thing, even when nosy baby looks around.

I'm not judging anyone here, I struggled at the beginning too. I just wonder who invented these bags then sold them to poor women who may not realise how much they stand out.

Maybe they feel super happy and confident using them, in which case I'll shut up and support them

I love mine! I’m perfectly happy breastfeeding anywhere and everywhere, but my nosy baby loves unlatching and looking around.. and when we’re on family holidays or have relatives visiting I don’t want my dad or brothers-in-law to see my nipples hanging out.
I don’t care so much about strangers, but the cover makes it so much easier for me to have face to face conversations with male relatives and make eye contact without them feeling super awkward and wanting to walk away.

I guess some people are just more relaxed wearing one? I couldn't imagine still wearing one more than a month in though, I think that's how long it took me to get used to feeding anywhere and in front of anyone. I think by the time you have your second child you care even less about people looking, so the chasing a toddler thing isn't really an issue, I usually either chase still feeding or unlatch and pull my top down, easy.

I just hope any first time mums reading this don't feel like this is something that is necessary, it really isn't. I've never encountered anyone looking at me feeding, in fact barely anyone ever notices. I've always found it funny whenever anyone does notice and they say "oh sorry I didn't realise you were feeding" and do a dramatic look away like you are trying to put your PIN number into a machine at a shop !

I use one because I live in the Middle East and I have to (also because we are permanent nipple shield users - baby won’t latch without one). So when I go to England I use it out of habit. Nice to know I’m being judged for it, OP!

Who gives a shit about being discreet? It's about comfort. If women are comfortable waring one or not wearing one it's up to them. Surely we've evolved past all this need to be discreet while breastfeeding bullshit?

Surely it all depends on what you personally want?
For some, they want discretion so they can feed and not feel embarrassed. Some may just want the privacy without having to leave the room every hour or so. Some have to pop on nipple shields which is hard to do discretely. Some so it to stop their DC getting too distracted and actually eat! If you're looking for discretion, then I agree that's the bag/cover thing draws more attention than it detracts but not everyone is arsed about that

Breast fed my DKs even when it wasnt "fashionable" (yes, it has gone in and out of fashion every few years!) you used to have dresses that buttoned right down the front, ridiculous, and maernity bras were awful, so in the end I wore, my "normal type bra allbeit in a bigger size, usual clothes, no flesh showing. Lots of debate about breast feeding in "public" so to speak, not neccesary to hoist massives mams out in a restaurant, even if you feed on demand which I did, feed then went shopping,whatever, couple of times, found a quiet corner in a park, etc, talking to folk, who were either impressed, or said "Oh, I didnt even realise thats what you were doing". People have tried to go too far the other way, got the "its perfectly natural" etc, so is going to the toilet and having sex, I dont want to see anyone doing those things in public (or a restaurunt either)

I kept one in my bag when my 3 were babies. I only used it a handful of times, but found it invaluable. Some examples that spring to mind - in a train carriage surrounded by teenage boys, in a motorway service station surrounded by truckers. Of course we should be able to feed anywhere, but in those situations I did not feel comfortable and without the cover I would have moved carriage/fed in the car.
I don't see them as an issue at all when people choose to use them of they make them feel more comfortable. However, I do acknowledge that women feeling obliged to use them is problematic. The post about all women using them in the US did make me sad

Ah Jesus FUCKING Christ

We can’t win can we ? What a mean post

That said mine was black so nicely matched my outfits !

But how mean to start this . Some
Women don’t want their breasts out and want a life . I loved my cover

I used one - it was my choice to. I felt much more comfortable in public. Of course everyone around me know I was breastfeeding. No one cared. The only comment I ever had when feeding was the kind offer to open the packaging of a cake i was trying to eat when feeding. No one else gave a shiny shit. No pearl clutching, no fireworks and celebrations. Unlike the nasty women who has a massive go at me for ffing dd1 after I'd been diagnosed witg lactation failure.

Lots of debate about breast feeding in "public" so to speak, not neccesary to hoist massives mams out in a restaurant, even if you feed on demand which I did

What horrible language. Presumably you think you're 'pro' breastfeeding. Well you aren't with attitudes like that. And why shouldn't mothers feed in restaurants?

Yet another way to judge women when they’re just trying to do the best for their baby in a way that is comfortable for them.
Some of the comments on here are disgusting. I used one because it made me more comfortable when feeding my child. End of story.

Well I had never seen these before but after a quick Google I think I'll buy one. Thank OP.

Places they are useful (for
Me anyway)

Airports
Massive queues
The tube
Hospital wards
Large get togethers

I wasn’t a very confident feeder and am
Quite well endowed which made discretion a challenge .

It honestly never crossed my mind that other mothers would feel pity for me when I was using one! You may have meant this to be light hearted OP but I don't think you realise you have caused another group of mothers to now feel judged.

I've bought one for my first baby.. getting my boobs out in public or the stress of accidentally flashing is too much stress for me to handle!

For the record. I don't feel pressurised or a poor woman in any sense of the word. I have a friend who gets hers out anywhere. It's not for me.

Ridiculous thread live and let live.

I wouldn’t breast feed in public because the minute you do, someone will judge you for breast feeding without covering up / using a cover / being in a restaurant / showing off / not showing off enough / being female / being a mother / having the audacity to be alive. And most of it seems to come from other women.

And most of it seems to come from other women

So true.

I'm a first time mum to be and think they look like a great idea. The arguments made against it are fairly contradictory - they seem to be saying covers shouldn't be used as women should be confident to breastfeed in public but also saying that covers shouldn't be used because they make breastfeeding more obvious. If the aim is to normalise breastfeeding then surely more obvious/visible methods can only help with that?

The arguments made against it are fairly contradictory

Because they’re just another way to bash women for doing the best they can in a way they feel comfortable.

Oh come on really? People get bashed for FF, they get bashed for BF and now apparently it’s ok to bash them for HOW they BF?! Seriously?! Feed your baby. I couldn’t give two shiny shits how you do it or what you look like so long as your baby is fed and you’re both happy.

No one is forcing you to join in OP- just move on by instead of ripping the piss out of someone.

I have one. I'm not trying to be inconspicuous when feeding, I don't feel the need to hide away, but nor am I trying to draw attention to myself or basically flop my bare boob out in public.

For me, quite often using a feeding cover like this is easier, depending on what I'm wearing. Mine also allows me to look down at baby whilst feeding to check latch etc whereas a muslin wouldn't and I don't want to wear two tops.

I alternate between this, a muslin and tops depending on what works for me at the time. Your post however has made me feel a bit self conscious about using my cover now as I don't want people to think I'm using it to draw attention to myself. Thanks for that.

I had DS1 in Canada and had a couple of people offer them, but the last thing I wanted was another bit of tat to carry around.. TBH, despite my massive boobs, once I'd got the hang of it I didn't really have a problem with flashing - and then my militant side caught up with my nervous side and screw anyone who had a problem anyway (not that anyone ever did - well except for a friend who rushed up to drape a towel on me as I sat on the garden furniture in Costco - everyone else had just looked at me in that dazed shopper manner, realised what I was doing, got a little smile and wandered off again, but she was worried for my dignity)

Having said that - like anything, everyone should do what they want - the only problem comes if the cover becomes expected or reviled.