Homesteading: A Woman's Journey

Nursing Shawl / Poncho

Have any of you ever made a nursing shawl or poncho for discreet nursing in public?  I am trying to find a pattern for something lightweight enough to be used on a hot summer day, yet discreet enough that I would be able to nurse the baby in public without anyone noticing.

In teh meantime, I an trying to come up with something myself.  I will post here when I find a solution.  Until then, and suggestions would be appreciated.

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02:38, Saturday, February 16, 2008 .. Posted by Sara

If it's something you really would like, I'd be happy to make one for you, unless you just wanted to make one for yourself. I have made a crocheted one and sewn one, I just sorta winged it. What kind of material were you wanting to use, a cotton fabric or something like crocheted cotton? Let me know.

nursing shawl

07:30, Saturday, February 16, 2008 .. Posted by wstoller

I too made my own. I made one out of thin cotton for summer & one out of flannel for winter. I made it double layer. One time I was nursing my baby when I had gone to visit at my place of previous employment. My old co-worker approached me as I chatted with a friend and as he got closer I thought I knew what he was going to do and I quickly said, "I'm nursing!" And he jumped back. He thought I was just snuggling the baby and she was sleeping. Another friend told her husband she wanted to make a nursing cover such as the one I use so she could nurse in SS like I did and not have to leave and miss anything. Her husband looked at her and said" She nurses during SS?" (He'd never noticed) She looked and him and said, "Exactly! (why she wanted one)" We'll see if I can explain this. Take a piece of material and basically drape it over yourself nursing. Size it up (and a little room for the baby to grow. Basically it will be a little larger than a small baby blanket. Cut it out and I round the neck area and the bottom a little for appearance. Then I make a nice neck ring (like an apron has - basically a strap that you would pull over your head) and then when I invert the material of the main cover body - I tuck the strap in both sides of the neck area and sew it in at the top. Make the strap just long enough that if you need to pull the cover out slighly you can peek at the baby, yet if the baby yanks on it, it will not go low enough to reveal anything. Make sure the cover is wide enough to cover the baby - but not super huge and attention grabbing. Make sure it's deep enough that it will cover the baby's body - but not flow down onto your lap. (The idea is soemthing that blends in with you...) The neck strap is especially nice when they get old enough to grab, they can't pull it off you. I had 2 and used it as a burp cloth when I was done then. It did double duty that way. I made mine femenine looking - a pretty floral print, but not something that calls attention to you. Something that will generally blend in with you and look as though you are just snuggling your baby! Maybe this will help!! e-mail me if it doesn't and maybe I could snap a picture of it and send you.

How are you feeling?

05:34, Friday, April 4, 2008 .. Posted by Lancelot

Hi mama, I see you are at your due date and I was just wondering how things are going. I hope all is well!

Hugs,
Lisa

nursing coverup

12:13, Wednesday, April 16, 2008 .. Posted by maxine

Hi, I just happened to see your website. I had seen one in a catalog when I was nursing babies so I decided to make one instead of buying an expensive one. I made it from a receiving blanket. On the long side, find the center. I then sewed in some boning for about 6-7 inches or so with the blanket edge folded and sewed over it. From the ends of the boning, I sewed on pieces of material with velcro on the ends to fasten it around my neck. the stiff part was not tight around my neck but was loose enough that I could look down in to see the baby if I needed to without lifting the edge of the blanket. It worked out very well. I did have to lift up the stiffened part to peek down it but it worked out great. You would want to try it on before placing the velcro that way you can find where it is comfortable for you to be able to look down in but not so loose that it hung down too far. I used this in many times when I was around other people. God bless you!