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Infant feeding

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

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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:

StewieGriffinsMom · 22/07/2010 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

StarExpat · 22/07/2010 22:49

I used a bebe au lait one from Mothercare. I didn't care if people knew I was bf. I just have issues with exposing my breasts (seems silly I know but please don't say so because there's a real and reason for it).
Also, as ds got older, I used it more for his comfort and it enabled me to feed anywhere - without it he was very distracted. Big hole at the top for him to get plenty of breeze and fresh air, light fabric and because of that wire at the top I could still see him and look at him (but no one else could because I was blocking it quite easily, from view).

I felt a bit that people would make fun of women using them. It helped me to keep feeding for a little over a year... I'd say that's worth it - especially since I struggled so ouch with cracks latching...etc for several months to start...

StarExpat · 22/07/2010 22:52

Xpost helly! We used the same one. I have small breasts, but didn't feel comfortable with being exposed. And same her about the on off thing!

MummyBerryJuice · 22/07/2010 22:54

Trillian42 don't let some loons posters on here make you change your purchase. Like I said earlier, I have used one and have found it very useful. The rigid edge on the top helped to keep the fabric off DS's face and prevented it from disturbing him. Large muslins an pashmina's would fall onto his cheek and wake him up (which was entirely counter productive, as at the time he would only feed while asleep)

Madigan · 22/07/2010 22:55

I use a "bebe au lait" - why shouldn't I?
BF is not some huge political statement. It is just feeding your baby ... and why shouldn't a mother use whatever makes her feel comfortable when BF? Sorry, just don't get the problem here.

scottishmummy · 22/07/2010 22:56

no problem with the product.just some sneery posts

StarExpat · 22/07/2010 22:57

Yes muslins don't allow you to see the baby the whole time and they get hot on the baby and you have to keep readjusting whereas bebe au lait is just easy stays in place and there's even a little Terrycloth bit on one corner with a pocket (where I stored my silverettes whilst feeding).

ruddynorah · 22/07/2010 22:57

yes i was in a cafe the other day and saw a woman settle down for her food then tied a massive bib round her neck. then when she put her baby in underneath it i realised she was trying to discreetly feed. only, everyone was looking at her thinking why the massive bib lady?

StarExpat · 22/07/2010 23:02

Trillian I urge you to keep it. I used mine loads. The pashmina thing is just too much faff (the wire bit at the top is a great idea!) and actually, I had loads of compliments on my bebe au lait. Obv non MNers...

StarExpat · 22/07/2010 23:02

hairymelons · 22/07/2010 23:05

Anything that makes a woman feel comfortable enough to feed whenever and wherever the need arises is a good thing. I spent a lot of time feeding in grotty toilets when DS was really little as it took some manoeuvering to get him latched on properly and again when he was older and would leave my boob hanging whilst he had a look around!

I have never been ashamed to breastfeed, just very self-conscious about exposing boob & nipple. I don't care about the politics of it, or being right-on, and will be looking into getting one of those apron thingies for DS2's arrival in October.

StarExpat · 22/07/2010 23:07

Same as you ruddy, I don't care if anyone is staring at my "bib" ds and I were comfortable. I'm not out to please others while I bf.

scottishmummy · 22/07/2010 23:07

if a product makes mum feel more relaxed bf,fair enough.these products sell because there is a demand.dont get what the consternation is.if mum choses to bf like this ,is her choice

the insidious implication going on this thread is a proper bf mum would be liberated,and languid at releasing her breasts in public

StewieGriffinsMom · 22/07/2010 23:08

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Message withdrawn

StarExpat · 22/07/2010 23:12

Thank you to those who support the mothers who choose to use them. Those with judgy pants ridiculing women who use them, suggesting they draw too much attention to themselves...etc - I just don't understand why it is so important to you. Don't women have a choice about how they bf? Or are those who use a cover somehow inferior to those who don't (in your mind)?

katiepotatie · 22/07/2010 23:15

never used one, and have never flashed my boobs to anyone whilst bf my s dc's, loose top and vest combo works the best imo

StewieGriffinsMom · 22/07/2010 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

hellymelly · 22/07/2010 23:18

Yes starexpat.I am not shy but I wanted to be relaxed feeding my dds and I found the bebe au lait much easier than trying to sit sideways or drape something around us.I did use a ring sling to carry dd1 but I never got the hang of feeding in it.I have now been bf for five and a half years solid,one baby and then the next without a gap,so I think anything that helps with bf is a good thing.And I had several mothers come up to me and say they would have been happier feeding out and about if they had had one.I agree that women shouldn't feel in any way as though they have to cover up,but I lived in the centre of London when the dds were tiny and everywhere was so crowded that I felt better having a bit of cover,especially if it was tricky to get her to latch.

NonnoMum · 22/07/2010 23:24

I used one and found it v useful, especially when getting over mastitis and having a baby with a very small mouth who liked to latch off a lot leaving dripping boob exposed.

Think you should congratulate the mother on breastfeeding, not beat her with her (lime-green) metaphorical stick.

And the name - think the company prefers to call them "Nursing covers" but doesn't translate well over here as UK tends to use "breastfeeding" over "nursing".

thatbuzzingnoise · 23/07/2010 03:34

I totally understand if a woman feels she needs one to be comfortable with feeding in public as some women have body image issues as well as feeding issues. But OTOH, some women do seem to feel like they ought to wear one which is regrettable.

The only time I saw a hooter hider was on a Westerner in a park in Abu Dhabi. A bit of scene setting is relevant. The park was nearly empty, about 10 am on a working day. The only people nearby were the woman she was talking to, myself and our toddlers and babies. She was using a hooter hider while chatting to her friend about curtain fabrics.

For my part, I went over to where she was sitting with a crazy grin on my face because I recognised the fabric from a distance as one that Hotslings pouch fabric and being a sling slut addict, I thought I was meeting a like mind.

About 5 minutes after they blanked me kept talking to each other despite my attempt at pleasantries and after I wandered sheepishly off, still in the park, I came across 2 or 3 Emirati women complete in their full black abayas and head scarves sitting on park benches with their babies and toddlers. Right there with not a second thought it seemed, one woman picked up a hulking toddler, exposed an entire breast and latched him on.

Just the strangest coincidences.

NotQuiteCockney · 23/07/2010 07:32

I did a BF peer supporters course last year. Most of the women on the course felt that breastfeeding anywhere public (cafe, friend's house with men in the room, park bench) was completely socially unacceptable.

These are women who are pro-BF, who are taking a course to help other women to breastfeed.

The fact is, depending on your background/social group, breastfeeding in public, even with a hooter-hider, may not be at all acceptable to you.

And that's ok. Women should breastfeed in public if they feel comfortable.

StarExpat · 23/07/2010 08:32

It is indeed sad that it is thought of to be "unacceptable" to bf in public by some. But that's no reason to condemn someone for using a nursing cover.

Fwiw I think women should bf anywhere they want because it's natural and nothing wrong with it but if they want a cover, who cares? I want a cover - I'm not hiding the fact that I'm bf.... In fact I think the cover probably makes it more obvious that's what I'm doing. But I don't care - I just wanted a cover. I could have an intimate bf anywhere with an undistracted baby and it was comfortable for both of us.

The OP, along with some others, openly pokes fun at women using them. It's not "sad" or ridiculous. It's just one way some women choose to bf. Get over yourself!

Mayandbump23 · 23/07/2010 09:57

Excellent, lets now be judgemental over people's choice of breastfeeding attire... If anyone wants to use one of those hider things, for whatever reason, let them, for goodness sake. I have never worn one myself but can see how they might come useful when feeding in public (e.g. keeping the baby focused on the job in hand, not pulling on the breast to look at lights, passers by etc) and would never criticise anyone for using one. Next time I see a mum breastfeeding in public in an outfit I dislike, shall I post on mumsnet?? There are, after all, some pretty awful vests and loose tops out there...

Morloth · 23/07/2010 09:59

I never said that women should not draw attention to themselves when BFing, I said that the Hooter Hider would draw the eye. Which if you don't want to draw attention (and I totally understand why not), would be counter productive.

If it helps then it helps, but it looks weird so people are going to look over and notice, the same way that bright pink hair draws the eye or an Hawaiian shirt does. It is different, big and often colourful.

If they help then great use one, but they do attract attention.

PrivetDancer · 23/07/2010 10:06

But why does it matter if they draw attention?

The point of them is surely to make it easier to get the baby latched on / stop you worrying if your baby is the type to latch off and have a good gawp round leaving you completely exposed. A lot of people understandably feel a bit uncomfortable at the idea of sitting in public with a boob hanging out, in my case it's certainly not a flattering look.

Initially it can take a bit of time to get the latch right and these covers can help the mother relax and get it right rather than rush because she feels exposed then they are a good idea.

They are not designed to hide the fact that you're actually breastfeeding

Agree the sneering superiority on here is not pleasant at all.

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