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Is there a breastfeeding etiquette ?
Obviously I'm not gonna be just whipping them out but is like to know what others do In public so i can gain a bit of confidence as I'm not fussed about sitting in a feeding cubicle every time my baby decides to feed especially with a toddler to handle as well .
I just try to be discreet, more for my own comfort than anything else. I would usually put a wrap over my shoulder while attaching.
I do "whip them out" in the sense most people mean it - lift one boob out the top of my shirt, feed baby (well, toddler now!). Most of the time I couldn't care less what other people around me think. It's more comfortable for me that way, and I'm less self-conscious of a few inches of breast being seen than a big strip of my flabby tummy. I hate lifting my top and feeding that way. I'll try to pull some of my shirt up and across to cover more boob once she's attached, in some situations, but I'm always somewhat exposed. It simply doesn't bother me anymore.
The only ettiquette I believe in is do whatever feels comfortable for you :)
My etiquette is get my baby fed in the most comfortable way. Sometimes that involves whipping out the boob, sometimes putting a wrap over because I'm cold, or finding a quiet spot. IMO a bit of boob even though awkward for some is better than a howling, hungry baby.
Breastfeeding Etiquette 101:
1: Find comfortable position.
2: Find your child.
3: Remove breast from where ever they are, in any manner you choose.
4: Attach child how ever you both find comfortable.
5: Relax.
Congratulations, you have now fed your baby.
Yep, I feed anywhere! I do try to wear tops I can feed out of the neckline of as I get cold with my belly exposed. I also make an effort to be 'discreet' in that I put my boob away when bub has finished and when I was still working on attachment I would throw something over my shoulder, mostly for my own comfort! Honestly, when bub is attached and feeding, you can't see any more than you can in a normal low-ish cut top!
My etiquette is ignore everyone else and just get on with feeding bubs. I've only once or twice 'covered' up an that was because 'I' felt uncomfortable because of a lecherous looking man who was staring way too much (and who made me feel uncomfortable regardless of actually feeding), and because baby was doing her uttermost to completely undress me in the process of feeding and my outfit was pretty revealing even without my boobs out to feed.
This is pretty much what I do, depending on where I am.:
Now that DS is a bit older and totally distractable, I usually put a hand over my nipple if (when) he pulls off and twists away in such a way that my nipple is really visible... as much for my own modesty as to avoid making others unnecessarily uncomfortable.
I've never had anything but positive comments, though the odd curious teenage boy has been seen lurking around!
Marry me?? :rofl::
There's no etiquette to breastfeeding IMO. I have 3 methods...honestly, it's dictated by what I want to wear, as I found it frustrating trying to stick to clothes designed for feeding.
1. Boob over the top of my shirt. This is what I do 100% of the time at home. It's quick, easy, and most of the time the boob will just stay out for the next feed lol! In public, obviously it doesn't stay out :lol: I did this one a lot more with DD1, mainly because my boobs are a lot saggier this time around and it makes me a little self conscious. When they were fuller with DD1 I was happily popping them out anywhere.
2. Breastfeeding panel tops. So one bit goes down, one up. They're generally not very fashion forward though, but they work.
3. My fave because I can wear any top I like. Wear a singlet under whatever top I choose that day, lift my top up and pull the singlet down. Warm, easy and fashionable :lol:
I just whip em out. I dont care whos looking or might be uncomfortable. Its not mine or my baby's problem. And a screaming baby is much more uncomfortable for everyone than a bit of tit. I won't sit there with it hanging out and will try to cover any nipple flashes but I don't stress about it.
I am a bit prudish I have a wrap thing with pockets :) at home I just whip them out of course :)
At home I got them out whenever wherever :)
But if we had male visitors, or out in public, used a thin Wrap.
Everyone will have their own opinion, but having a little Grace in being modest in public areas, I know my husband appreciated it, let alone everyone else's ;)
I could have written that exactly! I tend to just keep my hand at the ready in case I need to place it over my nipple while one of the DD's are distracted and detached. I often wear a singlet under a lot of my tops, so if I'm out and about I tend to lift the outer top so that the singlet is still covering my tummy, and then my breast comes out the top of the singlet. Then the top of my breast is still covered by one of the tops and most people would never even know I was breastfeeding. If I just pull a breast out the neckline of my top then I tend to just rest a hand on the exposed part of my breast. It's not really for other people, manly just for my own sense of modesty and comfort. I'm more than happy to breastfeed most places though (and probably have, lol).:
I feed in the ergo because then I don't have to stop to feed and I can just pull my boob out over the top of whatever top I'm wearing. It's easy, comfortable and bub is less distracted when he's in there.
I'm a big fan of the thin tank top under whatever I am wearing and the tank goes down and the top up so I have very little boob exposed. DD is very distractible and on/off these days so I can easily pop the boob back in until she latches back on. Happy to feed where ever but these days try to find a quiet spot purely due to DD being so distractible
I usually break eyecontact during the conversation, while I undo bra/lift shirt/attach baby, then i go back to chatting :D