Sucking is a necessary restorative for rapidly growing little people, so much so that most children who do not nurse seek an alternative such as a bottle, pacifier, thumb, fingers, hair, or blanket. Sucking on these alternatives can force a child's permanent teeth out of alignment, while nursing actually improves the dental arch and may minimize self-comforting techniques.
In addition, the benefits of breastfeeding a baby extends to a toddler for as long as a mother nurses. For an ill toddler, the ability to keep him hydrated and happy is a definite boon. Offering comfort is such a fundamental part and advantage of nursing a toddler -- an aspect of the nursing relationship that is seldom understood by those who haven't done it.
I actually would love to get to the stage when we stop calling it breastfeeding, and just call it feeding. That’s all it is. You’re not feeding a breast, you’re feeding a baby. It’s babyfeeding. Should women have to cover their babies to feed them in public? That sounds a little silly, doesn’t it?
There are several reasons why moms might not cover up in public:
1) It actually is hard to cover up and feed a baby at the same time. Especially when you’re a new mom, and you’re trying to wrangle a squishy baby into a comfortable position where they can latch on correctly. Even with my third baby, keeping a cover over my shoulder while latching on wasn’t easy. And really, the only time one would “need” to cover up due to possible nipple exposure (if that’s the reason you think moms should cover up) is during the latch-on. And balancing a blanket on your shoulder while trying to see what you’re doing to get the baby latched is a big pain in the butt. Truly.