To not wear a mask when breastfeeding my baby

[Catsdogsandfoxes]

Was feeding 3 mo DS on the train through London this afternoon and took my mask off so he could see my face properly and we could interact. I find BF weird with a mask on. AIBU?

YANBU. There's been some research that mask wearing by adults may have negative implication on child development (especially speech) and that it should be kept to minimum.

@Antsinmypantsneedtodance

YANBU breastfeeding with a mask on is a pain. Especially when breastfeeding a toddler...they just ping it.

People who are saying you dont need to interact with your child when breastfeeding obviously haven't been doing it right! Breastfeeding is all about nurturing and bonding. In addition to obviously the feeding part.

Good grief. Listen to yourself! Do only breastfeeding mothers bond with and nurture their children? And only during breastfeeding?

@PheasantsNest - and there is the first mention on this thread of the most over-used word of the whole pandemic! How is it selfish for the OP to put her baby’s needs above others for a short period of time but it’s ok if you want to eat and drink for the whole journey?

The ´whilst taking public transport’ bit should probably have been in the thread title don’t you think OP?
I think you could have kept the mask on while on the train. Yes, it’s important that your baby sees your face and that you interact with them and feeding (breast or bottle) is an excellent time to do this. But as a one of on a train it’s not a big deal to keep the mask on for fellow passengers comfort and safety.

I guess others take masks off when eating and drinking so it's not like OP is the only one without a mask at all times? I'd say fair enough at the start of the feed if it helped with latching on and getting baby settled and then put the mask on? No mask for a whole feed if it's a long one seems a bit much though.

@JuergenSchwarzwald - cross-posted 😅

If the carriage was totally empty and window open then I would have taken my mask off if this scenario. But if there were other passengers there I would have kept mine on.

You have every other feed for 'magical mummy bonding' one feed on the train could be 'a feed'.

YABU

BUT so are the people who take food & drink on the train to get out if wearing a mask.

They could/should just say 'no eating or drinking on the train' people will live!

Can I take my mask off when I bottle feed my child? You still bond when feeding either way 🙄

People who are saying you dont need to interact with your child when breastfeeding obviously haven't been doing it right! Breastfeeding is all about nurturing and bonding. In addition to obviously the feeding part.

Or for crying out loud. It was one feed. YABU OP.

@JuergenSchwarzwald @Inastatus I am CEV the behaviour of the OP and others could kill me. It is selfish behaviour.

Am the only one whose babies just cracked on with the feed rather than interacting at the same time?

Of course YABU. I just don't get why you'd make an issue out of this. Seems silly.

@Legomania

Am the only one whose babies just cracked on with the feed rather than interacting at the same time?

No

People who are saying you dont need to interact with your child when breastfeeding obviously haven't been doing it right! Breastfeeding is all about nurturing and bonding. In addition to obviously the feeding part

Anyone that manages to breastfeed at all in any way shape or form, and for whatever length of time is doing it right! It’s bloody hard, and not every feed needs to be some lengthy staring into one another’s soul session lol!

When I was BF DD I either read a book or watched TV.

Why do you need to "interact" with your baby while breastfeeding? Isn't it rather boring?

Also, I don't think that breastfeeding, or even feeding your baby, bonds you any more to your baby than just spending time with them.

YANBU op. I remember feeding with a mask on, it’s harder to see what you’re doing. I think I might have taken mine off too but can’t remember.

@Legomania

Am the only one whose babies just cracked on with the feed rather than interacting at the same time?

Mine were bottle fed so I purposefully ignored them at all feed times so they knew I wasn't the nurturing type.

YANBU but the Covid authoritarians are in full force on this thread.
I personally wouldn't bother wearing a mask at all on a train.

Sorry, but I think YABU. I had to feed my 3 month old when out today and wore my mask the whole time. I was still cuddling her, talking to her and looking at her while she fed so to me it was a non-issue. Perhaps if it was the majority of feeds with a mask on I would see it as an issue.
Do you give your baby 100% attention during every feed at home or do you watch TV, look at your phone, drink a cup of tea, eat something? In my mind it's similar.

I think you were fine to take it off.

Young ones need to see faces.
Throw away your masks, OP. You’ve got more important things to do than to please randoms to your child/your own detriment.

As far as I’m concerned it’s an exemption. If your baby is awake then you shouldn’t be covering your face. They are constantly reading your expressions and this an important way in which they learn about communicating and about the world.

Surely the actual feed is the bonding part?!
What do you normal do with your mouth that makes you bond with them?

Sounds like you’re just being difficult for the sake of it.
If you don’t want to wear a mask don’t wear one but don’t blame your poor kid.

I had to breastfeed my twins with a mask on when they were in NICU in a room virtually on our own