Your right to breastfeed your baby in public is legally protected in all 50 states. Not only do you have a right to feed your baby in public, but you also have the right to choose whether or not to use a nursing cover.
So, what do you do if passersby tell you to cover up? Carry on! If you're comfortable engaging back, here's a short list of sample scripts to better educate onlookers:
"I have the legal right to nurse my baby in public, and this includes nursing my baby covered or uncovered."
"Not all babies latch effectively under a cover, which is why all breastfeeding mothers are legally protected to feed in public with or without one."
"How to feed my baby isn't up for debate, and the way we are feeding is protected by law."
"Please respect the fact that I am actively feeding my baby. If you are unsure about breastfeeding rights, I encourage you to research it on your own time and not in a way that disrupts a crucial feeding session between a mother and baby."
"Your personal feelings about breastfeeding do not trump that breastfeeding is protected by law. I will continue to feed my baby because it meets an immediate need for him to thrive."
"In the same way, I have no right to tell you to chew food with a blanket over your face; you cannot tell a mother to put a blanket over her baby's face while eating. Nursing uncovered is protected by law."
You've got this! And remember, breastfeeding in public is not, by default, a confrontational experience. These scripts are in the rare event that you encounter a naysayer. Many breastfeeding mothers encounter plentiful support and encouragement in public, too.