nursing cover necessity?

newmomlife · February 2014

I'm a FTM, and my man and I are debating on how necessary a nursing cover is. He thinks that it might not be necessary because we have bottles? I'm not sure, but it sounds like it makes sense! Help! LO is due in a month and we're scrambling to finish our shopping.

BootsOrHearts · February 2014

If you plan to breastfeed, you may need to introduce a bottle at some point but to do so because you don't want to nurse on public is not a great reason in my opinion. If you are worried about flashing people then yes invest in a nursing cover. If that isn't enough, then find a private place to nurse when you are out and about. Trust me, nursing is much easier than lugging around bottles and bibs and formula and distiled water, cooler packs and all that nonsense.

JackieP1023 · February 2014

I'm EBF and have a cover, altho i have found nursing in the backseat of the car way easier!

flummadiddle85 · February 2014

Giving bottles while out is more work, even if you pump. And there's no guarantee your LO will take bottles well, DS never did. In the early days, you will either need to pump or feed ideally. It's not great to skip a feeding when your supply is getting established. Plus,I would just leak if I went too long.

NIP is way easier than bottles IMO. Plus, you never run the risk of running out of milk with nursing. Or deal with warming.

surpriseaddition · February 2014

I always just used a receiving blanket. I never bought an official nursing cover.

Valancyy · February 2014

I have never bought a nursing cover (I bf my 2nd for 16 months). I nursed in public a lot. A few times I tried to use a blanket, but it was cumbersome and baby didn't like it, so I ended up not using anything.

If you're comfortable nip without a cover, there's no need for one. I never had anyone say anything to me, and the more I did it the more comfortable I become.

=Lee=B · February 2014

I had 2...used them the first month or so...then switched to receiving blankets...then just used my sweater or hand or whatever. Now I just nurse and will put my hand over boob if people are standing right over me.

I remember those first weeks. I was mortified. I would drive to the far end of parking lot to ensure NO ONE would walk by the car. It did not take long before I stopped caring and just covered up. Then stopped caring so much about covering.

If you are nervous about it...get a cover for sure. You may not use it for long but it will allow you to nurse in public and start to get comfortable. They are sold used all the time online or at kids used sales etc.

ncbelle · February 2014

Way easier to just nurse that baby (keeping in mind that you need to pump when a bottle is given). I don't personally use a cover but if it makes you more comfortable, go for it!

DahliaFlower · February 2014

I am apparently in the minority here. I usually bring pumped BM when out and about, just for ease of access. When LO was very young, he would sometimes unexpectedly meltdown in the car, and would want to be fed NOW, so we just got in the habit of having bottles with us. Yes, sometimes we would pull over so that I could nurse him, but it wasn't as practical. Also, we often take long walks where there may not be anywhere to sit down, it is just easier to have a bottle ready to go. Not that I have not nursed in public, I have, but I just find for us it's more efficient and practical to have pumped milk in bottles. My DS takes bottles very well b/c I am a working mom, so he feels quite comfortable with breast or bottle.

Nursing covers are fine, I have one a friend gave me second hand, but I didn't bother to invest in a new one. I think the thin muslin swaddling blankets work best.

Roxie5739 · February 2014

I just used a scarf/shawl, no need for extra things IMO

Chichigo · February 2014

I have a ring sling, which makes eating while nursing much easier. The tail of the sling can be used to cover the exposed part of my breast.
I most frequently use a muslin receiving blanket (like aiden + annais) tucked into my bra strap to cover my breast. When I was first figuring out how to NIP, I would cover both of our heads with the blanket until he latched on.

newmomlife · February 2014

Thank you guys so much. MIL said she used recieving blankets and was fine. I thinkmi'm going to go that route for now.

mexicolombiana · February 2014

=Lee=B said:

I had 2...used them the first month or so...then switched to receiving blankets...then just used my sweater or hand or whatever. Now I just nurse and will put my hand over boob if people are standing right over me.
I remember those first weeks. I was mortified. I would drive to the far end of parking lot to ensure NO ONE would walk by the car. It did not take long before I stopped caring and just covered up. Then stopped caring so much about covering.
If you are nervous about it...get a cover for sure. You may not use it for long but it will allow you to nurse in public and start to get comfortable. They are sold used all the time online or at kids used sales etc.

Exactly all of this. I had a cover w/my 1st. I hardly used it. I remember I was at a football party at one of DH's friend's houses and it was mostly guys at the party. I sat on the couch around all these men and used the cover that one time and it worked really well. Then if we were out at a zoo or something I would sometimes use the cover but eventually I moved on to a receiving blanket because I would forget the stupid cover, and then I would just wear a big wrap/shawl around myself every time we went out and would use that. Then as I got more comfortable w/NIP I would just kind of turn away from people and that was that!

It's all a matter of your comfort. Many moms start out with a cover and go to the car or somewhere private to nurse at first. Then they realize how awesome it is to NIP and just do it wherever they are sitting

Either way, good luck but don't over think it.

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