Nursing in Public

Hello! I used to always seek out a public restroom, most places you can find a decent one where they have at least one nice chair to sit in. Or basically just somewhere quiet and not to busy.
Some ppl like to flaunt breastfeeding, but the majority of the public feels uncomfortable with it. I even feel uncomfortable myself when I see someone not acting to discreet about it.
Good luck :)

Look up Hooter Hiders! They come in cute colors and patterns and roll up small to put in the diper bag!

I found a little fleece blanket best -- big enough to cover well, let me peek inside to say hi or see what the prob was, I could tuck it in my neck or coat to hold it in place if there was wind and yet light enough the 11 kids never suffocated! hahaha!

You could try getting a bigger nursing cover (I make them, you can visit my ETSY.com shop here:
www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5877154 )
or I've also heard ladies having success with a sling. You have the baby in the sling and supposedly no one can even tell your nursing.

Hi T.,

Wow, I couldn't read all the great responses! You are at a tough age, your little one being 4 1/2 months and wanting to see the world, but nursing in public is definitely doable and VERY worth the effort to get comfortable with. Nursing tops are very helpful. What I found works, although it depends on how much support you need, is the tank tops with built in shelf bra. I get two for $13 from Costco. I wear that under my regular shirt, (no bra, because I just count on the shelf bra) and when my son wants to nurse, just pull it down around the breast. There are also nursing tank tops specifically. If you're in the Denver area, Bosom Buddies has all kinds of nursing shirts and tanks to try on and buy.

I love nursing in public in my Ergo baby carrier. It can be a front, back, or hip pack, and it is really easy on my back, as well as VERY discreet.

You may also want to find a local La Leche League meeting,(http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html) where you can meet and see other mothers nursing. It can give you a better sense of how much (really, how little) one can see when nursing. The extra benefit is you get to ask your question in person. :) Good luck to you!
H.

I think that the first problem is that you are anxious about nursing in public and that probably makes your baby nervous. He may also just not be used to your shirt touching his cheek while he is nursing and may be why he wiggles and pulls away. Start now to try to cover yourself most of the time when you are nursing so that he can get used to it. Once he is used to it he will probably just settle down and not care how you do it as long as he is getting it!!! A trick to covering up if all that is showing is your back it to just drape a blanket over the chair you are sitting on and tuck it under your baby's head. You know when I had my first child he was only a month old when we took a trip to Universal studios in California. It was so hot while we were there that I had to take all of his clothes off and there was no way to cover him while he ate without him roasting. I was not about to take my baby into a public bathroom and sit on the toilet to nurse him. I sat outside with nothing covering him and nursed him. I was definitely not a practiced veteran at that time, and I am sure it was not pretty. I just smiled at people when they gave me a funny look. Who cares if others look at you funny. You are doing what is best for your child! Hang in there and don't worry so much. Just relax and enjoy nursing your baby wherever you are!

Have you tried nursing shirts? There is a store that specializes in Maternity clothing and nursing clothing. Also online. They have special ports where you are able to open up just so the baby can nurse and nothing is shown. There are a ton of different styles and accesses to nursing. Such as cross-over, on the side, in the front, etc. I wish I had my catalog so I could tell you the name, but google nursing shirts and see what you get. Good luck!

I used a hooter hider and sometimes felt the same way. I would recommend double layers. Wear a tank top under your normal shirt (possibly a nursing shirt). This way you can pull up your normal shirt and only pull down the front of your tank top around your breat so your back/stomach doesn't show.

Good luck. Nursing has many benefits, but can definitely be challenging!!

I know how you feel I was so self concious about this as well. FIrst off let me say congrats for nursing your baby that is great! When I went shopping in the mall or walmart I would just take a break and go to a store that had a dresing room it is usuly quiet and most have a spot to sit. Also I would layer shirts, wear a tank top and a light jacket I felt so much more covered because you can pull the tank up and your back and sides are still covered by the jacket. I hope that this helps!

I have a nursing cover by Hooter Hiders that I take everywhere- you can find them online and in some boutiques. It adequately covers my baby and stomach and has a wire at the top that creates an opening so you can see your baby. Makes it a lot easier for helping baby latch on, etc. My daughter pulls on it and squirms, but I have not had any problems with feeling exposed.

Good luck!

Jenn (mother of Zach, 2 years and Talia, 6 months)

I love these nursing tanks I got at target, I like them because if i nurse in public and don't have a button down shirt all people see is the tank top.

They didn't have these types of cover-ups when I was nursing. http://www.target.com/Cover-Style-Nursing-Wasabi/dp/B0015... If you look closely, you'll see that it had a piece of flexible plastic on top so that you can see your baby, but you're still covered up (I had the same problem with my baby suddenly unlatching and providing a free peep show to anyone who was looking). Also, you can buy special nursing shirts that are dual layers, so that you pull up or move to the side the top layer, but the second layer stays down so you're not exposing your belly or back.

Honestly, I think some women are just better nursers in general. I, too, have seen women who are nursing but it looks just like they are holding their baby and those who could do it one handed and shop with the other. I was always a sit down, had to have my nursing pillow. I could never manage discreet nursing and either resorted to bottle feeding in public, excusing myself to a more private area or just nursing and giving up on modesty.

I hope you get some great advice that really helps!

I would often find a quiet place and just turn a chair around and face into a corner. A quiet park, behind a tree also works well. All you need is some kind of barrier between you and passersby. I got very good at knowing where was a mom-friendly locations to go - like the malls, parks. Or at restaurants, I'd always ask for the booth in the back in the corner. Also, it just requires a little planning ahead - knowing you need to be at a certain location by a certain time. Don't be so self conscious. It's totally natural. No one is going to stare at you while you're nursing anyway.

Everyone had given you great advice on clothing! I also had an "apron" cover up,m but I ordered it from ebay and it was a bit larger because I am so tall, so that helped.
I went through this too, and I also recommend changing rooms, or nicer malls/stores that have couches in the bathroom (Nordstrom's, Cherry Creek, etc), but the main thing I did was nurse in the backseat of my car! I needed the extra walk, so I would just park in a less busy space and then if my daughter needed to nurse I would just go out to the car and be back in 15 minutes. This also helped because I had trouble nursing discreetly without a boppy, again because I am tall and so is baby, so it felt like her limbs were all over and I could not use my lap at all to help support her because my midsection is too long.
ALso, it will just come with time. At 4 months I still was paranoid even though it was easier, but now that my daughter is 11 months nd way wilder, I don't really care, since I have had to nurse her at the airport and on planes next to strangers! (FYI - DIA has dog walking areas and smokers lounges, but no where for mother's to nurse in private!)

It takes practice. Plus, wear clothes that make it easier. There are nursing bras and nursing shirts that make your breasts easily accessible, yet discreet. Also, button down shirts are conducive to breast feeding. Although I haven't used one, I think slings are conducive to breast feeding. At a restaurant, we would sit in a booth. It's difficult for anyone to see what you're doing in a booth. Sometimes you can go to a separate room or an inconspicuous place in a room. You can go to your car. Take a blanket and cover yourself and your baby. Most people aren't paying attention to you. You're just supersensitive to it. And those who are paying attention to it are being rude and need to mind their own business. You have every right to feed your baby in public. You shouldn't have to avoid going places. I think you're worrying too much about what other people think. Get over it. What's great about breastfeeding is that the food is portable and always available. You don't have to mix or chill or heat anything. Practice. You'll get better at it.

One thing that I have noticed after nursing 4 babies is, some nurse good in public and others don't. Most of my babies get distracted in public and want to see what is going on. I think that is probably the issue with yours. It is not that you aren't doing it right, but your baby just likes to see what is going on. My babies also don't like to be covered by a blanket when they nurse. So when I nurse in public I make sure I have a loose long shirt so I can cover myself with that. Good Luck, I know it is definately convenient to be able to nurse wherever, but you may just have to find a quiet corner or the car.

Wear layers - a tank top underneath that you can pull down and a loose shirt on top that you can put over his head or all the way to his mouth.

It's harder as he gets older because he'll want to look around more and play with your shirt.

If it's really important to you, try nursing at home with a baby blanket over your shoulder and his head...so he'll be used to it.

also...wait an extra 5 minutes to feed him than you normally would. then he'll be more interested in gulping down food than looking around.

I have 7 children and with my 1st I gave up nursing at about 7 weeks because I was so uncomfortable nursing in public but with the next ones I swore I would keep doing it and I do until 12 months. My kids have done fine with just finding a corner (if possible) and throwing a blanket over us. I just lift the blanket a little and look in if I need to help my daughter who is 5 months old, latch back on if she lets go. I don't like most of those nursing blankets because they are a little square and they seem too small. I like the baby blankets that are more rectangle because they are bigger. If you feel like you need to go off where you don't have to cover then just go to a bathroom stall and close the door, or go to a dressing room and sit in there. At Walmart they are very nice and will let you sit in there to nurse in complete privacy. I have seen people carrying their baby in a sling in the store and nurse while walking and you can't really tell they are nursing. I personally don't like to walk and nurse so if you can just find a private area if you can. I have also gone and sat in my car in the back seat if needed. I also like to be covered so I bought some ModBod undershirts and I cut slits in them for my bra to show through and I wear them under almost all of my shirts so I am always covered. They are cute and some have lace on the bottom so they are cute with most shirts. I hope this helps.

Get some nursing tops, that way all is covered except the milk despenser. Also, you can go to a nursing room or fitting room to feed him. Bathrooms are nasty. Gap and Babies R US always have nursing rooms. I also stop into a furniture store to borrow their chairs since they are usually quiet. My daughter has a hard time nursing since she was that age because she wanted to see what was going on....

I didn't read through all the responses so I hope I am not repeating. First, he is at a squirmy age. He is becoming more aware of his enviroment, so that's why he is pulling off and on. That should calm down soon.
Second, I couldn't stand my tummy or back showing so the first thing I did was buy mens undershirts, the "wife beater" (sorry, couldn't come up with a better word) and cut wholes so my bra would come through. Then I would tuck it into my pants so all I had to do was lift up my shirt and open my bra. That worked great. I also had bella bands from when I was pregnant and used those. I liked those better cause they also bad my tummy look smaller! Hope this makes sense! Good luck!

You should try finding some nursing shirts they are designed with that in mind! or you can always try layering cloths. I had the same problem with my daughter and so i started wearing a button up shirt over my other shirt and then keeping the bottom few buttons buttoned when i nursed and i didn't feel like i was falling out all over the place! Best of luck!

I always just wore a regular cami (with a built in bra) under my shirts and simply pulled down the side my baby was nursing on. (They're usually cut pretty low, or have adjustable straps that make this super easy... also, they're probably cheaper than special nursing tanks.) It'll keep your stomach and back from showing. Also, if you're not too busty you can put the nursing pad into the built in bra, instead of wearing a nursing bra. They didn't have those 'tent' type things when I was nursing, but some of my friends use them and they seem pretty great. Good luck!

I bought some really nice nursing tops from this website (they aren't cheap - but definitely worth it, for me, to be able to nurse anywhere)
http://www.figure8maternity.com/viewCategory.cfm?subcateg...

...and this Hooter Hider is the best cover around...
http://shop.bebeaulait.com/

I was able to nurse when out in public with both of my children--it does take practice and a little readjusting, but be patient. I got so that I only took my biggest baby blanket with me just so it would cover more. I have never tried the Mommy Cover, but have wanted to--perhaps a blanket would work better, though? I tied it around the back and on the shoulder of whatever side they were nursing on and I did hold them a little more securely so they wouldn't squirm as much--if they are hungry enough to be nursing, they will usually comply. Be patient and practice being as discreet as psooible at home so that when you are out, you will feel more comfortable. Good luck and don't give up!

Nursing shirts! Seriously, it helped me a lot. Keep with your cover-up, but add a few nursing tops to your wardrobe. Motherwear.com usually has some great clearance prices and the tops are nice. Motherhood also has some nice tops. Ebay is a great option (I sold my nursing clothes there).
Good luck!

You can check out online or in a mall, a store (& magazine) called Motherhood. They have shirts designed specifically for nursing in public and bra's you can wear to bed to be able to nurse also (very comfortable).
I totally get the back/belly showing....I went through that also. I also used one of the baby blankets to cover that area as well as me nursing.

A. :)

I too was a nursing mom loose baggy shirts when going in public work real good. My father in law thot it was horrible, till my second one and I told my then husband I didn't care she was going to be nursed in public and that was that. I was 34 with the first one 37 with the second. I finally got to the point the baby is more important than what people say especially when you are discreet about it.
Good luck and enjoy your babies and nursing.

Target has great nursing Tank Tops that will cover your belly, the rest will be easy after that. I love them. They are like $12 and they make it like you aren't even nursing! Your nursing blanket/cover will be easier with these nursing tanks (in the underwear department)

Oh - and the Nordstrom Women's Lounge is the greatest place to nurse in the mall.

Those nursing shirts are great. You could also try a button up the front shirt and then just undo a couple of buttons to nurse so your back and belly aren't exposed. Another thing to consider is if your shopping somewhere with a dressing room nearby. That works well to nurse... sometimes they even have couches or something in the waiting area which is still public but not as busy and probably only other women would see you. If that isn't an option take him out to the car to feed him. You may be seen but not much, especially if you have tinted windows. Some restrooms have little sitting areas as well. Hope this helps! You can do it!

A couple other ideas besides the great ones here so far:
First, I actually use a sling, she's in the sling anyway & you can just adjust where she's sitting to get her in just the right spot and nurse her. I know a lot of people don't realize I'm nursing when I'm in stores or restaurants because she just lays in the sling and the sling covers up almost everything. Some of them are even made with long tails that you can throw over them if you're feeling especially self-conscious.

The bella band that you can buy to support your belly when you're pregnant is great. I actually still wear my maternity pants sometimes because the top of the pant comes up almost to my boobs and is like a shirt from the bottom!

Also, I know it's hard, but you DO have the law on your side. We are allowed by law to nurse ANYWHERE we would be able to go normally so feel confident that if anyone ever says anything, you can just tell them what they are saying is against the law. I actually keep a copy of the law in my diaper bag just in case and that helps me feel more confident too!

Finally, good for you for breastfeeding and giving your baby the best!

You are probably the only one who even notices that you're nursing. I've breastfed my daughter all over the place and so many times, people will talk to me for a while before they realize my daughter's nursing. Hang in there! I was so nervous until someone came up to comment one time when I was nursing in public. She said "That's so cool! You're nursing in a pumpkin patch! I want to feed a baby in the pumpkin patch!" After that, I nursed her without ever worrying. Best of luck.

i take my boy to the bathroom and nurse either there or in our car. when i'm in the car, i cover his mouth a little with my shirt. where a loose enough shirt.

Hi T.,

It can definitely be difficult! What I would suggest is getting a couple of nursing tank tops. You can wear them under other tops or by themselves. What's great about them is that it will keep your belly and back covered while nursing and it only will expose a small area of your nursing breast. Target and Motherhood Maternity have them. (cheaper at Target)

And, it just takes practice. In the beginning, I felt very clumsy but recently realized that it's getting a lot easier and soon you can be that mother nursing at the grocery store.

Good luck.

Don't give up!!! It gets easier. Like many of the women said, a nursing top might help you. I know another Mom mentioned that she makes them too. I also make them and I can make one a little bigger for you to cover more if you are interested. You can email me at ____@____.com if you want.

I hate nursing in public too. It depends so much on the baby, both of my boys have been impossible to nurse in public. My baby girl let me nurse her in a front pack carrier while covered with a blanket, that was cool... I could hike or whatever and take care of her. With my current baby boy, I really need to be at home on a specific couch with him on a pillow, or I feel after pain. If I have to go out, I nurse him in the car. The only other place I will nurse is at church in the mother's lounge where I apologize if there are other women since my baby will not let me cover him up and I can't stand nursing clothes. I just remove my shirt and pull my bra off my shoulder on the side I'm nursing, what a pain.

Good luck, just know that you are totally normal, do what is comfortable for you, and don't worry if you have to show a little skin, babies need to eat wherever you happen to be when they are hungry. All babies and all moms are different, what works for some doesn't work for all.

Invest in some nursing shirts and dresses. Try Motherhood stores and look online. They will help you be more discreet. Don't worry about other people. Most will advert there eyes and not want to look. Just focus on your baby and try your hardest not to be stressed. He will notice your feelings. If he squirms, he might not want to nurse, maybe too much is going on.

You might have gotten a lot of responses already, but this is what I did and it helped. I am very small chested (even while nursing) so I was able to wear shirts that I could pull down instead of up. This made it so my back never showed. I would just cover my top of breast with a burp clothe. Also I would walk around with a snuggle pack and lower the baby on the one said it was nursing on. Best of luck!

I never got the hang of nursing in public either. I discovered that dressing rooms were great places to nurse. Also, I often nursed in the backseat of my car with baby blankets in the windows. It just made me feel more comfortable and less stressed about trying to keep covered when my baby girl loved to yank off the blanket. Good luck!

I'd try getting some shirts that you could pull down from the top. I like this the best and often feed like this without and cover. You will need a nursing bra if you don't already have one. There are also certain clothes that are made for nursing moms that probably would really help, but I have just worn clothes that have a V neck that is steatchy so I can pull it under the breast. I hope this helps.

Good for you! Be proud to nurse your baby!
Nursing cammies are awesome! Perfect solution for back and stomach. Also, for a good cover up blanket that doesn't smother baby, buy a muslin blanket. My mom bought one for me and WE LOVE IT!! Hannah doens't get too hot and I am complelety covered. I too have nursed in my car many times.
Good luck! =)

try wearing a pancho
also try to start feeing babyfood when you go out
plus kepp offering bottles or try a nuby sippy with a soft spout.

Hi T.! If you have a good nursing top, you don't have to completely cover up. Just hold a blanket kind of up from under the arm holding the baby with your other hand. That way you and baby can see each other and nobody else can really see. Check out Motherwear on the internet for some really great nursing clothes. Also, something no one else suggested.... practice at home! I know it is so tempting to always just relax and nurse exposed when you can, but take the opportunity of not being worried to try to figure out what can work for you. Nursing is one of the sweetest things in life, and it is so worth figuring out!!!

When my daughter was little, she was a wiggle worm when it came to nursing in public, so I would always have to find a corner to nurse her in, or I would go into a changing room, or even back out to the car. My son is a little better. He has a little bigger blanket, and I tuck it under my chin when he gets wiggly and seems to calm down when he relizes he cant flip the blanket off. I know that it takes some getting used to, but it does get easier. I also introduced a sippy cup with water at about 5-6 months so my kids wouldnt get dehydrated when we were out in the sun during the summer months.

Most shopping centers have a family room for nursing, as do kids places. Before those were around, I did a couple of things. One was keep a button down nursing shirt on hand to throw over what I was wearing to make sure everything was covered in back. With my last, who hated to be covered and refused a bottle, I ended up getting squares of baby fabrics, the really light cotton, and hemming them. I had a 45"x45" sheet, that was light enough he didn't mind to much. I sat with my shoulder on the side he was nursing on holding one corner, the next two corners were under each of my legs, and the last corner was tucked under my opposite arm. He couldn't pull it out of place. The nice thing, was I could check discreetly and help him as necessary since my free arm could tuck back under the blanket while still holding the blanket. I also have used nursing shirts with my second, but he was a horribly messy eater, so I was always drenched if I used the holes. I did continue to use them, but by pulling them up. They have extra fabric for the post-partum period, so it wasn't difficult to keep sides and back covered. I will tell you, it gets easier the more you do it. It might help to practice nursing covered up at home occasionally, so that the only experiences aren't when things sound really exciting.

One thing I found very helpful was wearing nursing tanks. They have front flaps that open just like a nursing bra. I just wore them under all my shirts and whenever I had to nurse everything was still covered. A lot of the time depending on what I was wearing I could just use my shirt to cover my boob and the tank top kept everything else concealed. Then I could just drape a light blanket over my sons head and had plenty of privacy. I have large breasts so you can only imagine how awkward it was when I was nursing, I always envied those mothers I would see just walking about their business nursing like it was no big thing. I didn't figure out to use the tank tops until my second son so needless to say with my first son I spent a lot of time in the car feeding him.
Target carries the tank tops I am talking about and they aren't too expensive, other places like Motherhood Maternity have them but they can get really pricey.

Here is a link:

http://www.target.com/Gilligan-OMalley-Nursing-Tank-Ebony...

My first advice is to not be too stressed about it. You will figure it out as you practice more. Second it helps if you have layers of clothing possibly the same color. What this does is give the impression that the shirt on top is actually not moved anywhere. The last thing is that you want to practice at home where you feel safe just nursing as if you are in public. The trick is to only expose the nipple and to latch baby on as quickly as possible. I never quite got to the point of walking around while breast feeding but I would nurse anywhere. Don't let people make you uncomfortable, nursing is completely natural.

You might try, as has been suggested before, a two layer nursing shirt. The top layer lifts up to expose the breast, and the lower layer stays down to cover your back and sides. I really struggled with that as well--from the front I looked OK, but I felt like baby fat was showing on my back and side. Yuck! So the two layer shirts are appealing to me. Also, I like the nursing tanks with a button up shirt over. Just your breast is exposed, and baby's head pretty much covers that. That, especially with a cover, should work. Just make sure you get one that fits properly. I am tall, and found I really needed a tall size to not have two inches of skin showing between my pants and the bottom of the nursing tank.

Good Luck! And at any mall, go to Nordstroms to nurse. They have a baby feeding area in their bathrooms that is great! So helpful to have a private place like that!

First of all, ther is nothing improper or immodest about breastfeeding, no matter if it is in public or at home and no matter if skin is showing or not. But if it makes you feel uncomforatble, the best way to get good at nursing without showing much skin is just to practice. Practice at home in front of a mirror if possible. Also, try wearing layers. like a tee shirt under a button up shirt, or you can even cut holes for your breasts into an undershirt so that when you nurse your tummy and sides are well covered. When unbuttoning a shirt to nurse, start from the bottom up, that will give you better coverage then unbuttoning from the top down. Babies squirm, there is no getting around it, and they sometimes pop on and off the nipple, and when they get old enough they want to grab any blanket that you are trying to cover up with and pull it off of you! Just try to relax and don't worry about what ignorant onlookers may think, your first priority is to your baby and you are doing what is best for him by nursing him when he is hungry. Good luck, just remember that you are being the best mom that you can be and your children will benefit from it!

I don't know if you are doing this already, but I wear extra loose shirts while I am nursing. This way they can still cover my back and sides while I nurse. I know there is also clothing designed especially for nursing moms. You may want to check it out.

Target makes some very comfy nursing camies. They look just like a tank but have a panel that flips down all while still supporting your breast. I just wore a shirt over that so that nothing showed while my shirt was pushed up. With my first 3 I could have been that woman in the grocery store but my 4th was so wiggly I could never nurse anywhere but home. She would pull any type of cover off or scream and not latch if I secured the cover. We just learned to go on quick trips with her until she was older, go with people that would understand, or go places that had nursing rooms.

I use a light jacket with hook. Instead of wearing the jacket when it is cold, I put the jacket hook on my head that the jacket covers my chest nicely. I see some moms have bigger blanket that kind of look like an arpon in side look.

A nursing shirt or a button down shirt where you only have to unbutton a couple buttons instead of lifting the entire shirt and a light weight blanket, I nursed in the grocery store once and when my son was finished and I uncovered him he was bright red because the blanket over him was too warm.
Good luck,
SarahMM

I nursed our 3 girls and had a few mishaps in public... they're funny memories now (like the time I was in a diner and my daughter popped off without my knowing it, and milk was literally squirting across the table...)

sounds like your little guy may just be a little more difficult than some babies, as far as having to latch on again and again - you may not be able to do much about that, although maybe as he gets bigger that will become less of a problem. I have more encouragement than advice to offer, I guess - don't lose heart, just do what you need to do. I'd suggest just trying to find quiet spots to nurse, perhaps where you can be facing away from people if needed, and don't worry if you feel clumsy - all of us have our moments. I've seen some women nurse while wearing their babies in slings or carriers - don't know if that could be an option for you.

Good luck!

I would suggest wearing a nursing cami (I liked the ones that Target sells)- under another shirt. They work just like a regular nursing bra, just in a camisole style. This way when you lift your shirt to nurse, your belly, sides & back are all covered by the cami. Good luck :0)

I'd start practicing the discreet methods you're going to try in public, while you're home in private. My son hated being covered when he was nursing - he'd get too hot, then he'd get fussy and not want to eat. So, I started acting like I would if we were out and he eventually became acustomed to the process. It took several days for him to get used to it - but then nursing ouside our home was easier, no matter where we were. Practicing while you're home to do it when you're out will make you more comfortable with it too and when you are comfortable with it, your baby will be too!

Good luck!

I'm going to go out and buy some nursing tanks from Target! Thanks for asking this question. Great advice everyone! I am always at my inlaw's and uncomfortable whenever I try to nurse my 2 month old. I don't want to go in a back room because I feel secluded and like I'm missing out on the fun. So, Target here I come!

The 2 greatest things I found for nursing in public were nursing tank tops from Target, just wear them everyday under you clothes, instead of a bra, and a Hooter Hider. It is a big apron that goes around you neck. It sticks out a little on the top so you can see the baby and he can see you but he can't pull it off. They made our lives much easier.

Congratulations on your baby, and good for you for being a nursing mama and giving your baby the ultimate luxury. (No wonder he doesn't want any substitutes when he cn have his meals straight from the tap!)
Yes, this age is squirmy. The squirminess may fade. In the meantime, practice makes perfect! I was always apalled at how much skin I was showing when I looked down because I could see a lot of my chest, but then my friends at a La Leche League meeting suggested I try nursing in front of a mirror, and I realized I wasn't really showing much at all, and I could adjust my hold to stay covered. The mirror practice really helped me, and a nursing cami or other tank-style undershirt is also a great idea. . . I was more self-conscious about revealing my postpartum squishiness than my breast! ;)
My babies were always squirmier with a big cover over them, so I had to practice to stay modest without one. I sometimes used a little blanket around my middle or held it by my baby's face--but not covering him--and that would help us stay comfortable in public but keep him from squirming in protest. Nursing covers do keep you covered, but they also make it obvious that you're nursing, so you'll have to decide what kind of discretion you're going for. Just keeping covered no matter what? Nursing so smoothly no one even knows you're doing it? It's up to you--and Baby.
I highly recommend going to a La Leche League meeting. All their services are free. Everyone is nice and they will have lots of ideas for how to meet your baby's needs comfortably no matter where you are. Their Web site is www.llli.org.
Good luck!