Breast feeding aid and method of using the same

Abstract

A breast feeding aid for retaining a shirt up above the breast during feeding includes a strap having a first end and second; a shirt anchor operatively coupled to the first end of the strap, and a shirt attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the second end of the strap. During use, the breast feeding aid is attached to the lower edge of the user's shirt. The breast feeding aid is then pulled upward and over the shoulder of the user so that the shirt anchor rests on the user's back. This pulls and retains the shirt up above the breast during feeding.

1 . A breast feeding aid, comprising:
 a strap including first and second ends;   a shirt anchor operatively coupled to the first end of the strap; and,   a shirt attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the second end of the strap.   
     
     
         2 . The breast feeding aid of claim of  1 , wherein the strap has a length in a range of 5 to 15 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is about 8 inches long. 
     
     
         4 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , wherein the strap has a width in a range of ½ inch to 5 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is an adjustable strap comprising an adjustment clip. 
     
     
         6 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is an adjustable strap comprising at least a first portion, a second portion removably coupled to the first portion, and a third portion removably coupled to one of the first or second portions. 
     
     
         7 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , wherein the strap further comprises an adjustment strap to allow for adjustment of the length of the strap. 
     
     
         8 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , wherein the strap comprises at least a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion using adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , further comprising a blanket attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the strap. 
     
     
         10 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 9 , wherein the blanket attachment mechanism is disposed at substantially the center of the strap. 
     
     
         11 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 9 , wherein the blanket attachment mechanism is disposed adjacent to the shirt anchor. 
     
     
         12 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 9 , further comprising a blanket having a breast feeding aid attachment mechanism removably attached to the blanket attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , wherein the shirt anchor has a weight in a range of ¼ ounce to 10 ounce. 
     
     
         14 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , wherein the shirt anchor comprises a slot for receiving the first end of the strap. 
     
     
         15 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 14 , wherein the first end of the strap is operatively coupled to shirt anchor by passing the first end through the slot and attaching the first end to a portion of the strap. 
     
     
         16 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , wherein the shirt anchor comprises:
 a mass; and,   a housing comprising an internal pocket for receiving the mass.   
     
     
         17 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises a slot for receiving the first end of the strap. 
     
     
         18 . The breast feeding aid of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate attachment ring for attaching the second end of the strap to the shirt attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a breast feeding aid for retaining a shirt of a user up above a breast of the user, the method comprising:
 providing a breast feeding aid comprising a strap having first and second ends, a shirt anchor operatively coupled to the first end, and a shirt attachment mechanism operatively coupled to the second end;   attaching the shirt attachment mechanism to a shirt; and,   placing the shirt anchor over a shoulder of the user to retain the shirt up above the breast.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising attaching a blanket to the strap and covering the breast with the blanket.