Nursing garment

Abstract

A nursing garment for wearing when breastfeeding an infant, the garment comprising a first garment layer having a front surface that leaves breasts uncovered when worn, a second garment layer connected to the first garment layer, the second garment layer overlying at least a portion of the first garment layer and covering breasts when worn, and at least one support member moveable between a non-breastfeeding position and a breastfeeding position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of co-pending United Kingdom Intellectual Property Patent Office Patent Application No. GB 1506242.5, filed on Apr. 13, 2015, entitled “NURSING GARMENT”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a nursing garment, and more particularly to a nursing garment for breastfeeding an infant in public.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0003]Breastfeeding is a natural way for a mother to feed her child during the first months of its life. Some mothers choose to bottle-feed their babies, either using breast milk collected via a breast pump (which can be impersonal and uncomfortable) or using so-called ‘formula’ milk. However, whilst it is socially acceptable to bottle-feed a baby in public, it is often considered much less socially acceptable to breastfeed in public. Babies need to be fed often, and if a moth...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]The second garment layer may be connected to the first garment layer by one or more fasteners. The fasteners may include one or more central fasteners to connect the upper end of the second garment layer to the first garment layer. This prevents the second garment layer from sagging relative to the first garment layer, which might otherwise allow the wearer's breasts to be exposed when the support member is in the non-breastfeeding position.

[0018]The fasteners may include one or more side fasteners to connect the sides of the second garment layer to the first garment layer. The side fastener(s) prevent a gust of wind, for example, from blowing the second garment layer aside and exposing the wearer's breasts. The side fasteners may be toggles or Velcro (®), for example. Alternatively, the layers may be stitched together along a portion of the sides where they meet.

[0019]The body-facing side of the second garment layer may be formed of or covered in a soft and / or low-friction material. This reduces irritation and chafing on the exposed breasts below it, which may be tender before and / or after breastfeeding. Preferably, the body-facing side of the second garment layer is an auxiliary water-absorbent layer of the second garment layer, to conceal wetness arising from uncontrolled lactation, for example.

[0020]The internal chamber may be substantially at least 10 centimetres in depth. This is the minimum depth needed to provide space for the baby to suckle (i.e. breastfeed) comfortably when held within the internal chamber by the mother. Preferably, the internal chamber is substantially 20 centimetres in depth, providing more room to accommodate a larger baby, for example, without being particularly conspicuous.

Problems solved by technology

Some mothers choose to bottle-feed their babies, either using breast milk collected via a breast pump (which can be impersonal and uncomfortable) or using so-called ‘formula’ milk.

However, whilst it is socially acceptable to bottle-feed a baby in public, it is often considered much less socially acceptable to breastfeed in public.

Babies need to be fed often, and if a mother is away from home with her baby, it can therefore be difficult and stressful to find a place to breastfeed discreetly, without drawing unwanted attention.

Currently, several options are available to mothers who wish to breastfeed when not at home, but all have drawbacks.

Washrooms (or baby changing areas, if available) offer a secluded space to breastfeed, but these are typically unhygienic.

Alternatively, breastfeeding in a car may be private, but anti-social if the mother and baby must return frequently, interrupting a day trip, for example.

However, these still leave the mother's breast(s) or midriff publicly exposed, even if temporarily, which may be embarrassing and draw unwanted attention, and some of these options can be restrictive to the baby, causing distress.

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