Parenting

Video Proves Telling A Breastfeeding Mom To 'Cover Up' Is Pointless

by Valerie Williams
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Image via Instagram

Breastfeeding mom shows exactly why it’s ridiculous to tell a nursing mother to “cover up”

In the never-ending debate about breastfeeding in public, there are many who think the simple solution is for a mom to “cover up” while nursing their baby. Even fellow moms will chirp smugly about how when they nurse, they cover up so no one is scarred by the sight of a sliver of boob while their baby eats (eye roll).

But here’s the thing — even if it weren’t totally offensive to suggest it, it wouldn’t matter for some moms anyway. Because not every baby will allow it to happen, as one breastfeeding mom awesomely proves with a short video that will shut down all the jerks who insist nursing moms “just cover up.”

Jasmine Lane shared a video on Instagram recently showing exactly why it’s 500% ridiculous to tell a breastfeeding mother to cover up while she feeds her child. Aside from the gigantic balls it takes to say such a thing, it’s not even a possibility for some nursing pairs, as not every kid wants to eat with a blanket over their head. And honestly, can you blame them?

Her caption reads, “For the people that say you should always breastfeed with a cover…lol ok sure….#breastfeeding #freethenipple #stopsexualizingbreastfeeding #extendedbreastfeeding #coveryourheadwithablanket.” In the short clip, Lane keeps covering her son, he keeps rejecting the cover. Violently, even. Because eating with fabric draped over your face is pretty much bullshit. Imagine a grown person doing that. It’s not OK. So why does anyone think it’s acceptable for a baby?

Once a baby is old enough to notice his world, he will want to see it instead of the underside of a blanket. And sure, it might be easy to lightly drape a thin blanket or use a nursing cover when your child is only weeks old and too little to fight it, but even then — the poor things get sweaty. I know my son did. The first (and last) time I used a cover for him, he was barely two months old and we were at a park. I felt his face heating up almost immediately and when I took the cover off, his fluffy, baby hair was matted to his scalp, soaked with sweat. No thanks!

In that moment, I decided I no longer cared if strangers saw my whole boob as long as he could eat comfortably. Because when it comes to my child, I’m a lot more concerned with his ability to nurse without sweating to death than someone else’s delicate sensibilities.

This is all aside from the fact that it’s puritanical and shame-y to tell a woman to cover her breasts. Breasts aren’t just sexual. Breasts are primarily for feeding babies, and it’s really not a big deal if someone sees them. Particularly when it’s in the context of feeding a defenseless infant. Like the old saying goes, if you don’t want to see a mom breastfeed, put a blanket over your head.

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