Hooter Hiders
I suppose that I am lucky in that my Latino background is heavily supportive of breastfeeding, so my outlook on breastfeeding in public has come to rely more on practicality than modesty. I spent most summers of my childhood with my grandparents in Guatemala. There I saw the women selling tortillas at the outdoor market breastfeed their toddlers, the women on the bus breastfeed their infants, women waiting in the airport lounge breastfeed their cranky babies—it was all very normal and practical, so much so that I didn't even really pay much attention. Why would I? No one else did.
It wasn't until I had my own son that I realized how little we see breastfeeding moms and kids here in the US. And for some reason when we do it causes strong reactions in people. Many women feel the need to cover up. I've read articles by angry mothers who don't breastfeed calling those who do so in public the “nipple brigades”. Really, is it that horrible to see a child getting his food or comfort in the way Mother Nature intended?
Now there seems to be a solution available which puzzles me. One breastfeeding mom brought a nursing cover to our play group recently. All of us were curious, so she directed us to hooter hiders for the latest-must-have for breastfeeding mothers. The fact that anyone breastfeeding needs to hide her hooters is more than bizarre to me, especially if she is with a group of other breastfeeding mothers.
First of all it is a visible barrier which I know is the intention, but it makes breastfeeding seem like something sexual or deviant. A natural process need not be hidden just because others may be offended. Secondly, it is an extra thing to tote around with the diapers, wipes, spit up cloths, extra change of clothes, toys and other paraphernalia that abound in a diaper bag. Where's the practicality in the nursing cover then? Thirdly, I am surprised that any child would tolerate being underneath that hood. On airplanes, my own son played peek-a-boo each time I tried to cover him up with a cotton blanket. I covered up mostly to keep him focused on the breastfeeding and not on all the people walking down the aisles to their seats—he's an avid people-watcher—but it never worked and I ended up having to turn my back away from the aisle to get him to breastfeed.
Yet when I saw another mom with a nursing cover at the next play group, I asked why she had gotten it. She said that it allowed her to breastfeed without giving up her modesty, that it made the balancing act easier. I hadn't thought of that. I saw the issue from a social perspective: breastfeeding is natural whether in public or in private. She highlighted the personal one: she preferred to breastfeed modestly and in private even if it was in public.
The main objective of the cover-up is to breastfeed a child and that shouldn't be lost in the confusion of the nursing-in-public debate. All children are entitled to enjoy that special bond with their mother. However, wouldn't it be grand if the women's movement of the 21st century helped us burn our nursing covers? It might be more liberating than burning our (nursing) bras.
I too was a modest nursing mother, and typically carried a blanket with me for such occasions where I needed to nurse my son in public. I think the concept that nursing women “have” to cover up is unfair. It should be the choice of the nursing mother and child – not those around them – that determines whether they use a “hooter hider” or not.
I agree that it should be the mother’s choice as to whether to use a cover or not. I believe that more women would nurse their children for longer periods if they used covers. People in general like to avoid conflict and most women want to avoid the whole ‘nurse in public’ controversy. The covers give them a chance to continue breastfeeding and not sacrifice their modesty or lifestyle (by nursing in cars, bathrooms etc.).
I think that the hooter hiders are nice in the sense that we may still have our modesty and nurse our children. I am a believer that breastfeeding is a part of nature and is not something to be ashamed of. I nursed my son for 18 months and he hated to be covered. Not only that but adding the cover in an already hot environment made the experience uncomfortable. I believe that nursing is not something to tread softly about and should be done proudly and as needed. I walked around stores nursing if I needed to and I will not be forced to sit in a filthy bathroom and nurse because the public looks down on it.
We have breasts for a reason, and that reason is to nurse our children. However, doing so with modesty is not the same as being ashamed. It’s nice for yourself as well as others around you to make it a tad private. While it doesn’t offend me, it may offend others and that is something to consider.
I have been seeking a nursing cover of my own. The thing I don’t understand is why most of the fabrics offered on the hooter hider “covers for modest nursing” are so loud and dizzying.
A good question. One that the manufacturer might want to hear.
I think hooter hiders are great if they will help more mothers to nurse who might otherwise feel too embarassed to do so in public. For those mothers who wish to use them, they are a wonderful product.
However, I dislike the notion that I should have to cover up in order to make other people feel more comfortable when I feed my baby. I need to feed my son to keep him happy, secure, and well-nourished, whether in public or not. He will immediately latch off if a blanket is over his head, its hard to keep an eye on him, and I dislike feeling like I am doing something lewd. My meals are not private acts, why should my baby’s meals be private?
A woman should not have to go to such lengths to change what is simply an act of feeding. If others are bothered by it, they need only look away. Mothers have enough concerns without worrying about offending others over a normal, necessary, legal act.
Response from Hooter Hider, Bebe Au Lait, the company. We are very proud of mothers who choose to breastfeed. We found that using a nursing cover was the best solution when feeding our own children (we’re all moms here). It not only helped the baby to focus on the task at hand but also provided us the ability to feed anywhere, any time in a society where modesty is expected. The patterns we’ve chosen are based on feedback and our style sense but if they are too vibrant for you then you might like our new Organic cotton line coming out that’s solid or our new silk covers that reverse to solid black. We also carefully designed the covers to be multi-purpose for the already crowded baby-bag, aka luggage. It can be used as a lightweight blanket or as a sun shield over a front carrier or stroller, and has a built-in terry cloth patch for clean-ups and a small item storage pocket. The rigid neckline allows mom and baby to have excellent eye contact and air flow unlike a blanket thrown over your shoulder. We hope our products make being a mom a little easier and a little more stylish. Thank you for the feedback.
I was not able to breastfeed my first child but am loving the experience the second time around! I personally love the idea of the hooter hider, because I think it puts women; especially myself; at ease with breastfeeding in public and is multifunctional. I think breastfeeding is beautiful and natural but I don’t need to share it with everyone. I have never thought it was that tasteful when women made no attempt to cover themselves during latch on or the breastfeeding session. When in public I think breastfeeding should be kept a little more discreet and to myself and my son especially considering it is our special time. With the design they have now you can keep eye contact at all times and since the entire neckline is held open there is plenty of ventilation. On top of all that, for the first few months after childbirth I especially don’t mind having the extra coverage over the midsection and the coverage and privacy while I am getting the hang of public breastfeeding. Almost every nursing mother I know feels the same also, when we are sitting in a 10×10 room with 15 other mothers and fathers and children at dance rehearsal we would appreciate some modesty or discretion.
I would like to point out that while it is extremely nice to be able to cover yourself for modesty, this isn’t the only good reason to cover up while nursing. I have found that while nursiing in public there is too much going on around us and my daughter wants to look at it all. Under the cover the only thing she can really see is me and my face (she can’t see my face under a blanket), and it keeps her from becoming as distracted.
Oh and as for the loud colors, I got the white eyelet and absolutely love it. Pretty, goes with everything, and can be bleached when it gets stained.