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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

i saw a real life hooter-hider

316 replies

wahwah1270 · 12/07/2009 22:35

in an uber baby friendly south london pub today, the sort of place where no one bats an eyelid that i feed one year old dd, a woman put this ridiculous lime green hooter hider on to feed her young baby son. if she hadnt worn the hooter hider i doubt i'd have noticed her feeding. i sooooooooo wanted to tell her not to bother with it but bit my tongue. am i alone in not getting the hooter hider concept?

OP posts:
angelene · 12/07/2009 22:43

HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

I thought they were an American gift to the world invention.

Honestly, you'd think in South London that hooters are the last thing that should be hidden.

Shooters, maybe... [sorry, sorry, sorry...]

Cryptoprocta · 12/07/2009 22:46

I hate the thought of them. It's so sad when you think of the reason behind them. But I understand why you'd want to use them. But if you want to be discrete, the best thing is to get one without it without the use of a hooter hider/massive pashmina, which seems advertise to the world what you're about to do.

usernamechanged345 · 12/07/2009 22:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BouncingTurtle · 13/07/2009 07:38

Yes I wouldn't use them myself. But some women really don't feel comfortable feeding in public without a cover up. And if it means using one of these things enables to feed everywhere then why shouldn't they?
Perhaps the outfit they wanted to wear doesn't allow them to feed without flashing more flesh than they feel comfortable with? Or baby has habit of pulling off and nebbing around occasionally, thereby flashing nipple off to the world.

Yes it is sad that someone will feel they have to cover up, but that's not her fault, that's the fault of the fucked up parts of society that are obsessed with boobs as sexual playthings rather than what they are primarily designed for - i.e. feeding our babies.

MIAonline · 13/07/2009 07:46

If it encourages people to feed in public, then lets not use it as another stick to beat people with, there is enough pressure already without adding to it by judging someone for using it.

Thandeka · 13/07/2009 08:59

I agree with MIAonline. Am pregnant with my first and hoping to breastfeed but I have had a previous breast reduction so may not be able to- also I have quite scarred breasts which i prefer not to flash to all and sundry. My friend has one and I think they are a great idea and would make me more likely to feed in public while I get my confidence up.

Don't bash people for using them thats mean. And Hooter hider is a horrible name too!

SoupDragon · 13/07/2009 09:05

If it makes a mother comfortable to feed her baby out in public what does it matter?

I prefer the equally stupidly named slurp and burp which seems less obtrusive and covers the breast not the baby.

SoupDragon · 13/07/2009 09:06

I actually used an artfully draped muslin square with DS1 & 2. By DD I'd lost all fear of feeding in public.

OmicronPersei8 · 13/07/2009 09:13

I've seen more of them recently and they do stand out. It always seems strange as it is quite easy to show nothing in public and breastfeed (the vest and t-shirt combo was always a winner for me - one under and one over your boob). And the name is pretty offensive. A muslin would do the job fine if you wanted something like that.

I know in the early days it can be difficult getting latched on and sometimes you need the whole thing out though, but I had coffee with three mums of 6-weeks olds the other day and they were all so cool with bfing. I was really impressed.

GreenMonkies · 13/07/2009 09:24

I have never used anything other than a muslin, generally to cover my belly rather than my boobs!

Thandeka you don't have to flash your boobs, so don't worry about it, and there are lots of on-line resources for BFAR and of course most of the BF support organisations will be able to help too, so don't struggle alone!

On a gut reaction level I hate Hooter Hiders, I think they imply that we should hide what we are doing, and also draw attention to what you are doing, when a quick turn away whilst you latch then turn back once you've got everything sorted is much more discreet and less apologetic.

But I guess if it makes women feel comfortable about BFIP then they are ok, as long as we are not made to feel like we should be using one...

WoTmania · 13/07/2009 09:28

Maybe it's a kind of 'passive-agressive discretion'?
They are letting the world know what they are doing but they are doing it discreetly. Lets face it: mostpeople who think it you shouldn't BF in public are bothered by the mere idea (actually I think they dislike the idea of BF full stop rather than in public but they can't do a anything about it in your home) so by using a hooter hider you are advertising what you are doing but they can't actually complain that you are exposing your self.

Did that make sense? I'm very tired.....

WoTmania · 13/07/2009 09:28

FWIW, I would never use one...

Celery · 13/07/2009 09:30

The idea of them is fine with me, but they are so damn ugly! Great big 1950's housewife flowery apron looking things.

sweetkitty · 13/07/2009 09:37

Hate them too

I saw a Mum at a dance show recently use a shawl and her helicopter mother held it over her to feed, the two of them drew so much attention to themselves, I almost wanted to give 1yo DD3 a feed just to show her it can be done without flashing anything but DP wouldn't let me and DD3 didn't need a feed!

I don't want to cover my beautiful babies head with a fugly pair of curtains, what's wrong with pulling your top down so the top of it is resting on the top of your nipple, bra nad baby hide the rest

Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa · 13/07/2009 09:54

I think they're bloody awful things but if they make a woman feel she can bf in public what's the harm? I personally use the 2-top strategy.

What's worse, Hooter Hiders or one of these stupid things?

BouncingTurtle - I love the word 'nebbing'

tiktok · 13/07/2009 09:54

sweetkitty, I've seen that happen, too - in the case I saw, the grandma was holding a huge cloth up like a screen and standing in front of the mother and baby. Crazy.

It's like the contortions people get into when they are trying to change clothing on a beach - doing it without showing an inch of bum just looks comical and draws more attention.

sweetkitty · 13/07/2009 10:06

So sad isn't it tiktok, they were drawing so much attention to themselves the Grandma kept readjusting the shawl and fussing about, and she took the baby off her daughter to wind her and took her off to change her too.

maybe we should just have breastfeeding tents and be done with it, can't have people fainting with disapproval in case they may glimpse a bit of a breast!

see more boob down my high street on a Summers day

it's not the boob it's the sucking, the fact the baby sucks to get the milk out that many people cannot get over because it could be seen as (shock horror) sexual

SoupDragon · 13/07/2009 10:31

What does it matter though? If the mother is happy & comfortable and the baby is breastfed what does it matter? Chances are that, without these props, those mothers would shut themselves away to feed. That is surely worse.

allaboutme · 13/07/2009 11:00

good on her for feeding in public even though she obviously feels very self consious about it
anything that makes breastfeeding easier for women who find it hard for whatever reason is good surely

LeonieSoSleepy · 13/07/2009 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TamTam29 · 13/07/2009 20:48

LOL! loving those hat things!! thanks for cheering me up, DH has gone away on a course for 3 nights leaving me with 2 under 2's!

akaprincess · 21/07/2010 23:30

Well Im looking into getting one since im going on a 12 hour flight and since im not confident feeding in public i feel this would be perfect. At the moment i feed in the bathroom and dont feel this would be best on a plane.

I have tried the Muslin but my son doesnt like to be covered and keeps playing during feeding, so will be difficult to feed on the plane. I dont want the person next to me looking.

So i feel Hooter hiders are a good idea.

ClimberChick · 22/07/2010 00:18

akaprincess: We just did a 11 hour flight. Because we had the skycot, we had non aisle seats where the side bars didn't lift up, consequently feeding was a right faff. Plus, we were next to the toilet. tbh there wasn't enough room to feed her, let alone use anything to help 'hide' the fact that I was. Not wanting to disappoint you, but forewarned etc. I believe it depends on the airline though, so you might get a window seat.

Our flight was full, but you can ask the stewards whether there is an empty seat you can migrate to, just for feeding.

I don't mind feeding in public, but I do try and sit somewhere more discrete e.g. corner as I don't want to make a big show if all possible. I never used any coverings as they seem to make it so much more awkward. It's a good thing, as we had to change to switch feeding, then a cover would just have been hugely impractical.

Also agree, once you've got elaborate covering, then it is just a big shiny arrow saying "look at me". However, each to their own, and I guess does depend on what your wearing.

Morloth · 22/07/2010 10:07

Meh whatever floats your boat, it does seem counter productive though, is kind of like putting a flashing sign on your head saying BFing HERE. Which is also fine if that is your thing. If it makes the mum happier then it doesn't matter.

IMO the best part about BFing is the lack of special equipment needed. Baby? Check, Breasts? Check, right lets go...

pumperspumpkin · 22/07/2010 10:21

I love, love, love the hats. Never seen anything like that before and the very concept has made me giggle out loud. Like either of my children would wear a HAT.

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