Breastfeeding in Public: Tips for New Moms
Are your terrified of the idea of nursing in public? Or are you already doing so but need some tips? Whatever your reasons, new moms often need some help when learning to breastfeed in public. Here are some tips for new moms.
1. Prepare…to Be Unprepared
Please don’t misunderstand – preparation is a good thing, and learning as much as you can about breastfeeding in public before you have your baby is a very good (and essential) thing. However, it’s important to recognize that all babies and moms are different, and what works for the moms in the books may not work for you.
In other words, there are some things you just won’t know until your baby is born. And even if you already have a newborn, your baby will grow and change rapidly. New challenges come up all the time. So be prepared, but also be realistic – you’ll have to roll with the punches sometimes!
2. Blankets
Some moms have luck with covering baby and Mom with a blanket. A simple Velcro strap can be sewn onto a baby blanket to make a non-slip cover (the Velcro strap goes around Mom’s neck). Some babies won’t stand for the blanket treatment, though, and in the heat of summer it can be uncomfortable. Some moms prefer to use a baby sling like the Maya Wrap for breastfeeding in public. The baby isn’t likely to “fight” the sling since he associates it with comfort and security. See tip #7!
3. Hats
Nowadays, they make nursing hats – and they’re not for Mom. Nursing hats (or bonnets) go on the baby’s head, and the super-wide, soft, floppy brim covers the business areas.
4. The Right Nursing Bra
When going out in public with baby, make sure you have on a nursing bra that fits well and is easy to open and close. You don’t want to have to fiddle with your bra with a hungry baby in public! Make sure it’s a bra that you can open and close easily with one hand.
5. The Right Clothing
If you are able to, invest in some nursing clothes. Some of these breastfeeding-friendly clothes are in layers; you lift the top one while the bottom layer covers your tummy below your breasts. Other styles have zippers cleverly sewn into seams, making them almost impossible to notice. And still other styles simply have expertly-positioned slits in the front that stay closed when you’re not nursing. A few examples: the Glamourmom nursing tank and other breastfeeding shirts
6. Where to Hide
Sometimes, you have the kind of situation (or the kind of baby) where you just need to get to some place private to nurse. This might be the case if you are using nipple shields, for example, and need to get the shield positioned before baby latches on (it’s pretty hard to do that in public!). Duck in to a dressing room, for instance, or if it’s convenient, slip back to your car and nurse there. Public restrooms are not the cleanest place to nurse a baby, and you don’t want to sit on the toilet to nurse…so unless the restroom has a lounge area or decent place to sit, it’s not the best choice. Would YOU eat in a bathroom?!
7. Slings
Many moms have great luck nursing their babies in slings. The sling helps hide the entire breastfeeding event, and it holds baby up to the breast without you having to use your arms (you can nurse standing up in a sling). The kind of sling that works for nursing is the soft, blanket-like type that you can adjust, and that holds baby in front, such as the Maya Wrap.
