I asked this question in the “etiquette” section earlier today so I could get the perspective from non-parents, but now I’m interested in hearing from other mothers.

I am breastfeeding my two-month-old son, and we’ve started spending a fair amount of time out and about, which means I often end up feeding him in public — in cafes, restaurants, parks, etc.

I generally prefer not to cover up when I’m breastfeeding, especially since my son won’t eat as well with even a light blanket over his head. I’m fairly discreet about it — I usually wear nursing tanks under my shirts so only a small portion of breast is exposed, but it still ends up being the part many people might feel uncomfortable seeing. After my son latches on, you can’t really see anything, but it sometimes takes a while to get him to latch correctly.

My husband isn’t quite comfortable with me breastfeeding uncovered… he feels that part of my body should only be seen by him and other close family members.

What do you think is proper etiquette regarding breastfeeding in public? Does it change depending on where you are or who you are with? If a mother thinks those around her will be uncomfortable with seeing her breasts exposed, should she cover up?

Thanks!
K — That’s exactly how I feel about the nursing covers. I don’t mind gently draping a light blanket around the baby (not over his head) if I’m around people I know who would be uncomfortable seeing me exposed (like my very conservative brother-in-law), but going out and purchasing one of those apron-meets-shower-curtain contraptions seems somewhat silly.

Okay, I am just not real comfortable with this, maybe I am just being selfish?

My husband, whom I love dearly, and he loves me the same, at least he tells me, has quite a few female friends he also does things with.
Last weekend I had to have dinner alone while he took a female friend out for a nice dinner at a restaurant, he was gone for an hour and half. I asked him where he had been. He said not to worry that they were eating and got to talking. He has several that he just likes to talk on the phone with, which. and one that he goes bowling with every other Wednesday. He says they are all just friends and that he doesn’t have feelings for any of them like he does me, but I just don’t like it. Him and I do things together as well, but sometimes I feels he takes too much time out for these other friends that it isn’t needed, He only has one male friend, and about 7 or so female ‘friends’, not counting me of course. Am I just being selfish and jealous, or am I being reasonable for not feeling comfortable with this all the time?

Sometimes they’ll do it from far away, other times like tonight when I was eating they’ll find a table and sit right next to me when there are tables everywhere around me open. Doesn’t matter the place: grocery stores, restaurants, etc I catch girls all the time out of my peripheral staring at me. And I mean like long glances..5 seconds. Then if I turn my head and our eyes meet, most the time..immediately will look away. Very rarely will I come across a girl, but it happened tonight, that will hold eye contact. Anyone able to shed light on this whole topic. Why they’re staring when they think I don’t notice..why they look away…