As I have mentioned before, I am fortunate enough to be able to visit my 5 month old daughter every work day during lunch at her daycare. This gives me the opportunity to feed her myself and to have some special time with her in the middle of the day. I’ve also mentioned before that her daycare center does not have a private place where I can take her to nurse so I have to breastfeed in public. In December I was using a resource room. I think I fed her in that room 9 times, and I was only left uninterrupted 1 of those times. Seriously! There were even a few times when I had to use the room while other women who work there were cleaning and organizing in the room. Everyone has been very nice to me, but my need for privacy does not seem to trump their need to access the room.
This month I have just decided to nurse Darah in the room she stays in. If I have to make small talk with other adults while I’m feeding my baby, it might as well be with the women who are actually watching my daughter! I’ve tried a couple of things in an effort to be at least a little bit modest. I’ve tried using her swaddling blankets as a cover. This only works if she is too exhausted to pull them down. I’ve also tried using a nursing cover (the kind that goes over your head). Darah seems to be really annoyed by this contraption, and she frequently will stop nursing and try to move it out of her way. She just doesn’t like being covered, which makes sense, because she is never covered when I nurse her at home. The issue of how to breastfeed in public has been quite a challenge for me, to say the least.
So, what to do? There actually is a really cool solution to this dilemma! It’s called Baby Bond, and it is a nursing cover unlike any other that I’ve seen! Baby Bond is designed
to provide mom with a bit of privacy, but it doesn’t cover up baby at all. It does require you to be a little bit more brave, as it is possible for you to be exposed if your little one suddenly stops nursing and throws her head back to talk to you (as mine sometimes does), but if you are prepared for that scenario, you can quickly move the fabric over your breast when that happens. The Baby Bond comes in 3 different styles. I was sent the Flex style to review. This is a really great product for me to use at daycare, as privacy is not an option and the nursing covers and blankets just aren’t cutting it. I wear the Baby Bond like a sash, and then just unbutton my shirt with the sash over me. I separate the two panels of fabric when Darah is in position and ready to eat. She covers up some of my breast, and the Baby Bond covers the rest. I am able to keep my shirt on to keep my belly and back covered. It’s great! Darah seems to like it, too, because she really does enjoy looking at me while she eats, and this doesn’t cover her up or obstruct her view of me in any way. Another terrific feature of the Baby Bond Flex nursing cover is the fact that it has a loop meant to hold the burp cloth that comes with it. This has been an absolute lifesaver for me. Before I had this product, I probably forgot to bring a burp cloth with me to nurse Darah at least 75% of the time. Now it is built in to my nursing cover so there’s nothing to forget. Leave it to a mom to think of such a great invention, and then add such a great bonus feature!
Speaking of the inventor, let me tell you a little bit about why Missy created this product. She says, “My determination to incorporate breastfeeding into my lifestyle meant nursing in public everywhere. It also taught me a lot about myself. I discovered that refusing to cover my baby’s head while nursing did not leave many options. I did not feel attractive when I lifted my shirt to nurse because I found myself slouching forward and it revealed my postnatal stomach and back. I also felt that by exposing my breasts, the intimacy shared between my husband and me was somehow compromised… I wanted to keep some things just for us.” I can certainly relate to all of these feelings, as they have caused me to really shy away from breastfeeding in public, which totally stinks. I also want to highlight the fact that Missy is a business owner with a heart for others. She regularly donates her products to various organizations and individuals who have need for them. I am always impressed with a business that gives to others on a regular basis. Check out some of recent donations here. Baby Bond also comes in two other styles. The Original cover is similar to the flex, but has a built in burp cloth. The Couture can be worn like a belly band or a nursing cover. This makes it a terrific option for moms of newborns who need the coverage a belly band can offer, and who need to nurse so often that they shouldn’t even take off their nursing cover!
The only difficulty I have had with the Baby Bond has nothing to do with the product, and everything to do with my wardrobe. It is designed to be worn with shirts that allow you to nurse from the top down (button up shirts or nursing shirts). A good chunk of my work wardrobe requires me to pull up my shirt, so on days when Darah is at daycare, I have to strategically plan what I’m going to wear if I want to use the Baby Bond. Hopefully you are smarter than me and already have a wardrobe that is more conducive to nursing!
Buy It! Baby Bond is available at a variety of online and retail outlets, and you can also buy it on the Baby Bond website! This product provides the means for you to nurse anywhere, anytime without sacrificing that important eye contact with your baby. It’s also great for those squirmy babies like mine who refused to be covered up! Get yours for $35 today.
EDIT: This giveaway is closed. Congratulations to #30!
Win it! Missy and Baby Bond want to give Stuff Parents Need readers the chance breastfeed in public once again and to win a Baby Bond cover! This contest will run until Thursday, February 4th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be drawn via random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my winning notification email. Open to residents of the United States. Make sure that your email address is either listed in your profile or listed in your entry.
How to Enter:
Mandatory Entry: Tell me which Baby Bond nursing cover (including the color and size) would work best for you. Choose wisely, as you will win what you select!
Additional Entries:
1. Follow my blog on Google friend connect (find it on my sidebar) (2 entries, so leave 2 comments)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email or RSS
3. Add my button to your blog
4. Become a Fan of Baby Bond Nursing on Facebook
5. Follow Baby Bond Nursing on Twitter
I was provided with a sample for product review purposes. The views expressed in this post are strictly my own.