Should I Inform Parents I Breastfeed?

[Unregistered]

I can get a bit overly opinionated on this subject so I will keep it sweet and short. I breast-fed both of my children. One during my daycare career. Every time I used a cover, IMO children should not see their daycare providers breast. Breast feeding or not. In your situation I would inform the parents.

[blandino]

I would want to be told, if it was my child. For the simple reason, that I would want to talk to them about it, if they had not witnessed someone nursing before.

[TheGoodLife]

I nursed my DD3, who was 1 month when I started my daycare. I never went out and directly explained that I breastfed, but I would throw it into conversation during the interview- usually around pick-up/drop-off conversations. "If you are going to be early/late, please let me know as I schedule activities, nursing, and letting the dogs out around those times " I did have a couple older boys (3/4) that I tried a lot harder to stay out of direct view but I was lucky to never have an awkward moment with nursing and DC. Good luck happyface

[Lil'DinoEggs]

I was breastfeeding when I starting my dc. I used a cover at first then when he got bigger i just used my shirt (I wore nursing tank underneath so very little skin was showing). I honestly never thought to tell my parents I would breastfeed in front of their kids with or without a cover. I am pretty sure I breastfed during an interview.


I have a mom that comes an breastfeeds and she uses her cover loosely around the kids. Again, I never thought before to tell the other parents. Some of them have seen her and they never say anything.

My first thought is that if you think it makes you nervous not telling the parents, then just tell them.

[jenboo]

That's the thing, I probably won't.

I mean, I'm not going to walk around shirtless or what not, but I won't have a cover. I'll just use my shirt to cover the top of my breast. The're going to see something, sooner rather than later. And kids are curious creatures, so unless they've seen someone nurse on a regular basis, they're going to be all over, asking questions.

Here are my thoughts:
If you think the children are going to see something, I would let the parents know that I will be breastfeeding around the children. I wouldn't mention a cover/no cover unless they asked. I would just make them aware of the fact. That way, if little johnny comes home and says I saw Miss Moose's boobie, you could avoid the parents freaking out and making calls to report you for indecent exposure....that may be a little extreme but I would rather be safe than sorry.

My personal opinion: I would use a cover regardless of how pro i am towardsvbreastfeeding or how natural i think it is. Because of society being the way it is, I do not think a DCK should ever see their providers boob....or any other private area.

[AnneCordelia]

I wouldn't tell them. I nursed in front of my dcks and didn't use a cover. When the kids asked I simply said, 'I'm nursing baby. He's having lunch.' They never saw more than the back of baby's head. What would they say to their parents? I saw baby's head while he nursed. I only use t term 'nursing' so there was no language they might have disapproved of. If breastfeeding isn't seen as normal around toddlers then it will never be normalized in adult society.

[TwinKristi]

I wouldn't tell them. I nursed in front of my dcks and didn't use a cover. When the kids asked I simply said, 'I'm nursing baby. He's having lunch.' They never saw more than the back of baby's head. What would they say to their parents? I saw baby's head while he nursed. I only use t term 'nursing' so there was no language they might have disapproved of. If breastfeeding isn't seen as normal around toddlers then it will never be normalized in adult society.

If people didn't view breasts as sexual objects and "shield" their children from it more people would probably succeed at breastfeeding the recommended year. Instead women are shamed into covering themselves as not to expose everyone to their breasts! I have BF in public, at my daycare, in front of daycare parents and whoever happened to be around when my DS needed to eat. I was very shy and timid about it with my first kids, I didn't even actually breastfeed but pump for 6wks with my twins. I wasn't able to nurse my 3rd because of life-saving heart meds I needed to live after going into heart failure. My 4th was a struggle to nurse and I was always very uncomfortable and it didn't last long. With my 5th I was much more comfortable about it but sadly lost my supply at 4mos. I was bound and determined to BF my 6th until a year and I did. I had to go outside my comfort zone and was after a few weeks I was a pro. I nursed just about every place I went. If someone was against my nursing my child, I wouldn't be the right fit for them. I have a mom who wants to come nurse her baby on her lunch break (if I end up watching her baby) and I see nothing wrong with that. SHE may want to cover up for her own sense of privacy but there's no expectation of her having to do so nor should there ever be. Children who are raised to think that breastfeeding is NORMAL and NATURAL are more likely to have a successful breastfeeding relationship as adults whether that's as a mother or a father. My mom was NOT. She never breastfed my sister or I. My grandma didn't either. It was just generationally discouraged for many women. I am thankful to live in a time that breastfeeding is encouraged and promoted!

[Blackcat31]

If people didn't view breasts as sexual objects and "shield" their children from it more people would probably succeed at breastfeeding the recommended year. Instead women are shamed into covering themselves as not to expose everyone to their breasts! I have BF in public, at my daycare, in front of daycare parents and whoever happened to be around when my DS needed to eat. I was very shy and timid about it with my first kids, I didn't even actually breastfeed but pump for 6wks with my twins. I wasn't able to nurse my 3rd because of life-saving heart meds I needed to live after going into heart failure. My 4th was a struggle to nurse and I was always very uncomfortable and it didn't last long. With my 5th I was much more comfortable about it but sadly lost my supply at 4mos. I was bound and determined to BF my 6th until a year and I did. I had to go outside my comfort zone and was after a few weeks I was a pro. I nursed just about every place I went. If someone was against my nursing my child, I wouldn't be the right fit for them. I have a mom who wants to come nurse her baby on her lunch break (if I end up watching her baby) and I see nothing wrong with that. SHE may want to cover up for her own sense of privacy but there's no expectation of her having to do so nor should there ever be. Children who are raised to think that breastfeeding is NORMAL and NATURAL are more likely to have a successful breastfeeding relationship as adults whether that's as a mother or a father. My mom was NOT. She never breastfed my sister or I. My grandma didn't either. It was just generationally discouraged for many women. I am thankful to live in a time that breastfeeding is encouraged and promoted!

I absolutely agree. But that isn't your choice to make.

Since OP doesn't plan on covering up, she has an obligation to tell her daycare parents. The daycare parents can choose what, if anything they want to do with that info.

[MotherNature]

I tell people at the interview that I'm very open about breastfeeding. I still nurse my 3 year old. As I put it, you, your child, your spouse, etc...will see my breast eventually I'm sure. :: 3 year olds do not always nurse while cradled in your arms lovingly.. Gymnurstics! I refuse to use a cover, & I'm with the others who say that breasts need to be normalized in society, and not seen as a purely sexual body part. (Don't get me started on the patriarchal issues our society has with the perceived modesty and innocence of women.) I cater to a niche clientele, the majority of whom breastfeed & have done so on my couch. If they are not cool with it, it will not be a good fit. I'm not going to cover myself in my own home, especially since it's something I never do otherwise. My son won't even wear hats. So yes, inform the parents that you will breastfeed, without putting the baby under a blanket.

[Meeko]

I would either tell parents that you will be nursing openly, or don't say anything and make sure you cover up well. It's not your decision as to what their child sees when it comes to your breasts.

People like to say that society needs to stop sexualizing breasts. But the fact is they ARE sexual too...like it or not. And are not just viewed that way by men.

Some of the same women who say nursing is not sexual are the same women who will wear a low necked dress and a push-up bra when going out for the evening. Why? Because they KNOW their breasts look good and want to flaunt them. That IS sexual.

If it were me, I wouldn't say anything to the parents as that conversation could be a difficult one depending on their views/upbringing etc. But I would cover well and if a child asked what I was doing I would casually say that baby is having a snuggle. No need to "educate" a toddler any more than that.
Any education about breastfeeding should come from the parent when and how they choose.

[cheerfuldom]

I think if it is that big of a deal for prospective clients, they should say something. obviously you are a mother of a young one and if they really feel horrified at the thought of their child seeing a mother breastfeed, they should bring that concern up at interview. That is always how I have handled it and i have nursed four kids. I dont cover but I also dont expose myself unnecessarily. i dont have any of the kids ever be curious at all. The kids dont care and if they ask questions, I keep it very vague and direct them to ask mommy later on. i dont bring it up at interview. I personally feel it is the parents responsibility to ask about anything outside of the what is covered in the contract that they might have a concern with. I cant have the sole responsibility of discussing everything that may offend someone. They need to speak up at interview. I will say though that I do not nurse at drop off or pickup or in front of parents. I find that I can easily get baby on a loose routine where it is not at all hard for me to have baby otherwise occupied during the times that parents are here. I have done daycare for 6 years and have nursed four children, my one year old is currently nursing and no parent has seen me nurse.

[Cradle2crayons]

I would either tell parents that you will be nursing openly, or don't say anything and make sure you cover up well. It's not your decision as to what their child sees when it comes to your breasts.

People like to say that society needs to stop sexualizing breasts. But the fact is they ARE sexual too...like it or not. And are not just viewed that way by men.

Some of the same women who say nursing is not sexual are the same women who will wear a low necked dress and a push-up bra when going out for the evening. Why? Because they KNOW their breasts look good and want to flaunt them. That IS sexual.

If it were me, I wouldn't say anything to the parents as that conversation could be a difficult one depending on their views/upbringing etc. But I would cover well and if a child asked what I was doing I would casually say that baby is having a snuggle. No need to "educate" a toddler any more than that.
Any education about breastfeeding should come from the parent when and how they choose.

couldn't agree more. I'm completely pro breast feeding, however, I would still not want my very young child to see their providers breast. Normalizing breast feeding and educating my child about it isn't the job of the provider. I would certainly NOT be happy if my child came home and said they saw their providers boob, even if it was during breast feeding.

Personally, although I believe there is nothing more natural than nursing, asking someone to cover while MY child is in view, shouldn't be an unreasonable request. Using a cover doesn't DEVALUE the experience.

[Nellie]

For myself I was never able to breast feed with a cover/blanket. It was more logistics that couldn't be worked out. Therefore I never nursed in public. Nursing tank tops used with a shirt let little to no skin show. When babies were tiny I would cover myself and baby with a blanket(throwing a nomal sized blanket over my entire body)to get attached then take it off. My babies seemed to dislike a blanket over there head and I almost needed to see baby to figure what was going on. My husband comes from a very pro breasteeding family and while they don't use covers I have never seen a boob or even skin. I think it is how you go about it. I always told my families that I would be nursing no one cared. I know a few prepared there child for it. Kids under 2 hardly make a big deal over it. 3 and 4 year olds are more courious.

[Maria2013]

Then I would mention it. Not because it's wrong but because some parents rightly or wrongly won't be comfortable with that. It's not like being at the mall where they can choose to move their child away if they don't like it. I breastfed while doing daycare but all the parents knew, plus I used a cover. If you know there is a good possibility someone else's child is going to see your breast then I feel their parents have a right to know. It may cause problems down the line if it is something they are not comfortable with and Jonny comes home telling them he saw Miss Blue's boob.

[cheerfuldom]

Then I would mention it. Not because it's wrong but because some parents rightly or wrongly won't be comfortable with that. It's not like being at the mall where they can choose to move their child away if they don't like it. I breastfed while doing daycare but all the parents knew, plus I used a cover. If you know there is a good possibility someone else's child is going to see your breast then I feel their parents have a right to know. It may cause problems down the line if it is something they are not comfortable with and Jonny comes home telling them he saw Miss Blue's boob.

see I think that if a parent is that concerned about the possibility, THEY should speak up before enrollment. Even if the provider is not nursing an infant, other moms could come in and nurse at many places so if a parent is that concerned, they need to speak up. I have nursed four kids here and no daycare child has ever seen my breast and I do not cover either. but it is very easy and simple to do something discreetly without having to be covered. really, the kids never care or talk about it anyway.