GB2399485A

GB2399485A - Breast-feeding bib

Info

Publication number: GB2399485A
Application number: GB0404967A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Melanie Harding
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-05
Filing date: 2004-03-04
Publication date: 2004-09-22
Also published as: GB0404967D0; GB0305030D0

Abstract

A bib 10 for breast-feeding a baby is attached to the mother's neck and hangs down to cover the breast and the feeding baby. The bib may have a semi-transparent portion 14 in the upper part of the bib, so that the mother and baby can see each other, while protecting the privacy of the wearer from others. The semi-transparent portion may be in the form of an open mesh. The bib may be diamond shaped. The bib may comprise a tape 13 for attachment around the wearer's neck and may also include means for attachment around the wearer's waist. The bib may be weighted along its bottom edge 16 and pockets may be included in its lower regions.

Description

Garment for Baby Feeding s The present invention relates to garments for

baby feeding.

The majority of mothers of young babies breastfeed their babies. Most of these mothers will take their babies with them when they go out, and are quite likely to find that for a variety of reasons, they will at least occasionally want to lo Red their babies while they are out.

Many of these mothers will feel embarrassed at feeding their babies in public, since it involves exposing their breasts. Although there is an increasing trend Or restaurant and shopping centres to provide baby Ceding rooms, these are not always readily available. Further, they tend to be adjacent to toilets, and they are also necessarily isolated and have at best an unfriendly atmosphere (in bow senses).

There are a number of garments available for breastteeding mothers.

These consist generally of a brassiere or some other form of breast support or upper body garment, with flaps which can be undone to allow the baby access to the breasts. However, although they reduce the exposure of the breasts, Hey are not designed primarily for that purpose and they do not eliminate such exposure.

The object of the present invention is to provide a garment for baby feeding which substantially eliminates exposure of the mother's breasts.

According to the invention there is provided a garment for baby feeding comprising a bib which can be attached to the mother's new and is adapted to -so hang down to substantially cover breast with a baby feeding therefrom. The garment preferably includes a semi-transparent portion, preferably in the form of an open mesh, in its upper region through which the mother and baby can see each other but which obscures me breast fiom the sight of third parties. The garment may be provided with tapes for tying around the waist of the mother, and/or with weighting means for preventing it Dom rising in wind or draughts.

s A garment in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawing, which is a diagrammatic repre sentation of the garment.

Referring to the drawing, the garment 10 comprises a generally diamond o shaped piece of cloth or cloth-like material 11. The main body of the material is substantially opaque, but it has inset into it a region 14 at its top formed of open mesh material, preferably of relatively fine weave. This serves as a viewing panel or window through which the mower and baby can see each other, and also as a breathing area for the baby if the sides of the garment should become too closely Is attached to the mother. It should be semi-transparent, so that little or no detail can be seen through it by third parties at a significant distance from the mother' A ribbon or collar 13 is attached to the top edge of the material as shown; this collar extends beyond the material, to form two ties which can be passed e around the mother's neck to tie the garment in place. Obviously other fixing means can be used, eg strips of hook and loop material attached to the ends of the ties, or clips which can be clipped to the top of the mother's upper garment.

The garment is preferably relatively large, extending below the mother's as waist and allowing the mother to hold the baby substantially completely beneath the garment, with the garment being a kind of cape in reverse, covering the mother's arms.

If desired, further tapes or ties (not shown) may be attached to the cloth at so the outer corners 15, so that it can be tied around me mother's waist. Alterna tively or additionally, the garment may have weights attached along its bottom edge 15 to obviate the danger of the garment being blown about in high winds when it is used in the open air.

If desired, pockets may be included in the lower regions to accommodate associated articles such as baby feed bottles.

To use the garment, the mother ties it round her neck and then holds the baby close to her breast while spreading the garment out. The mother can then undo her upper clothing and feed the baby without any danger of undesirable lo exposure. The garment is thus typically used in combination with a standard breast-feeding garment of the type described above.

The garment may of course be made in a wide range of colours and patterns. The material can easily be lightweight so that the garment can easily be Is folded or rolled up into a compact package. A sleeve or bag to contain the garment may be provided if desired.

Claims

Claims 1 A garment for baby feeding comprising a bib which can be attached

to the moer's neck and is adapted to hang down to substantially cover a breast win a baby feeding therefrom.
2 A garment according to claim 1 at least a portion of which is semitrans- n parent.
3 A garment according to claim 2 wherein the semi-transparent portion is in the form of an open mesh.

Is
4 A garment according to either of claims 2 and 3 wherein the semitrans- parent portion is in the form of a "window" in Me upper region.
A garment according to any previous claim including tape means for attaching it around the mother's neck.
6 A garment according to any previous claim including tape means for attach- ing it around the mother's waist.
7 A garment according to any of claims 1 to 5 including weighting means in as along its lower regions.
8 A garment according to any previous claim including pocket means in its lower regions.

so 9 A garment for baby feeding substantially as herein described and illus- trated.

Any feature of novelty or combination thereof within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Crib Mention (Paris Convention).