When I heard that the topic for this month’s Carnival was going to be Breastfeeding In Public, I was thrilled. This is a topic that I have been meaning to write about for a long time – and it is something that I have a ton of experience with!!Welcome to the Carnival of Breastfeeding for June! This month’s topic is breastfeeding in public and you can see lots of other great posts by following the links at the end of this article.
You see, when my son was an infant – and really throughout the first year of his life and beyond, he was a “nibbler.” He didn’t eat a lot at a time, but he ate often! On average, he nursed every 1-2 hours for the first year of his life during daytime hours. So no matter where we went, we ended up breastfeeding in public. I became the queen of finding great places to breastfeed my baby and I developed a list of tips and tricks along the way. I’d like to share those places and tips with you now.
Places that are particularly breastfeeding friendly:
Babies ‘R’ Us: I think we went to Babies ‘R’ Us at least twice a week when my son was an infant. Each store has a wonderful mother’s room equipped with a changing table, a comfy sofa, a rocker and pretty pictures on the wall. Whenever you walk in, there is usually another mom in there breastfeeding her baby. It is a lovely room and I spent many hours in it during my sons early days!! Many of the store locations also have free infant sized diapers for you to use when you are using the changing table too.
Motherhood Maternity: Each Motherhood store has a sign in their dressing room that says “Breastfeeding welcome here” and they freely open up their dressing room to you to come in, sit down and nurse your baby. Even if I wasn’t buying anything (their nursing supplies collection is pretty limited), I was still able to go in and use their dressing room. And at least at the one near me, the sales associates were always very friendly.
Tips for breastfeeding in public:
Many moms are nervous about having to feed their babies in public. The first thing you should know is that you are doing what is BEST for your baby and what is NATURAL! You shouldn’t ever feel intimidated about breastfeeding in public. In fact, you should be PROUD! Below are some tips to help you feel more confident.
1) Know your rights. In most states, breastfeeding mothers are protected by law. Read up on the laws in your state and be knowledgeable about where and when the law is on your side.
2) Practice. Many moms are nervous about breastfeeding in public because they are afraid that they will bare too much skin while getting the baby latched on. The best way to get good at getting your baby latched on is to practice. Practice at home where you don’t have to be nervous while you are doing it. Another good thing to do is to practice in front of a mirror. That way you can see yourself and see how little of your breast can actually be seen. You will be surprised at how discreet you already are – without even knowing it!
3) Get some nursing clothes. Many women feel more comfortable breastfeeding in public if they have clothing with easily accessible nursing access. This is what I did. For me personally, I didn’t care if someone happened to get a glimpse of my breast, but I didn’t want them to see my belly!! So I invested in nursing tops and wore them everywhere! I even wore them at work when I was pumping. Now-a-days, nursing tops are so cute and stylish that your non-nursing friends will be asking you where they can get a top as cute as the one you are wearing! So treat yourself – you deserve it!
4) Use a sling. Using a sling makes it easier to nurse your baby while walking around or even sitting somewhere comfortable. It helps to keep your baby close to you and makes nursing a little more discreet by giving you some extra fabric to cover up. I can remember walking around shopping when my sister-in-laws were in town one time. I had my sling and my baby was nursing while I walked around! It was great. The only down-side was I wasn’t wearing a nursing top, so I had to cover up my belly with a receiving blanket! I highly recommend combining use of your sling with a great nursing top – that way you can walk around, have one arm free and still nurse your baby anywhere!
5) Be confident. You are doing the best thing for your baby!! Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for it. I can remember being in a restaurant one time with a friend. My baby needed to nurse and we were sharing a table with another couple. I thought about asking them if they “minded” if I nursed my baby. But then I thought to myself “What if they say that they do mind? I’m not going to change what I am going to do – my baby needs to eat, so I am going to feed him” So I didn’t ask. They didn’t say anything either!
I nursed my son in public just about anywhere you can imagine (at the grocery store, at the mall, sitting on a park bench, at the library, when visiting friends at work, at my work, at my husband’s work, at Disney World, at the museum, on the side of the road in my car and just about any other place you can imagine). We nursed in public until he was about 18-20 months old and we NEVER had anyone make a negative comment towards us. I was always ready in case they did – but no one ever did. Sometimes people would smile at us and sometimes they would walk away, but I always felt good because I was giving my baby exactly what he needed! I even convinced my nanny to nurse her own children with out even trying! Just by her seeing how “easy” it was when we were together and I could just nurse my baby when he was hungry and how “difficult” it was when she was by her self and had to plan ahead and lug bottles everywhere.
Bottom line, there is no need to cover yourself when nursing in public – you have a right to feed your baby. Different women feel more or less comfortable when doing this in public – so use the tools that make you feel better. Get out and enjoy this time with your baby! And most of all FEEL PROUD of what you are doing.
Do you have funny or interesting stories about nursing in public? Do you have any great tips you’d like to share with other new moms? Please leave a comment.
And don’t forget to visit the other Carnival of Breastfeeding Posts at the great blogs listed below (NOTE: this list will be updated throughout the next few days, so please check back often!):
- Lucy & Ethel Have a Baby Blog: (Boobs) Out And Proud
- Dirty Diaper Laundry Blog: Breastfeeding in Public- Talents- I haz it
- PhD In Parenting Blog: Would You Could You Breastfeed In Public
- Kim Through The Looking Glass Blog: Here? At The Restaurant?
- GrudgeMom Blog: Nursing in a room full of people you know
- MumUnplugged Blog: Aww, is he sleeping?
- Massachusetts Friends of Midwives Blog: Nursing in Public: Chinatown, the Subway, the Vatican, and More
- Mother Mary’s Soapbox: June Carnival: Breastfeeding in Public
- Tiny Grass Blog: Nursing in Public as an Immigrant
- Blisstree Blog: Nursing in Public: To Cover or Not to Cover
- Stork Stories Blog: Little Old Men… & Nursing in Public
- Chronicles Of A Nursing Mom Blog: Why Worry About NIP?
- Warm Hearts Happy Family Blog: Breastfeeding and the summertime
- Blacktating Blog: Thank You For Nursing In Public
- Musings on mamahood Blog: NIP, no tuck
- The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog: Get kicked off a bus for nursing in public? Here’s how to respond
- Mama Knows Breast Blog: Products That Can Help You Breastfeed In Public
- babyREADY blog: A wee NIP in the park!
- Tales of life with a girl on the go Blog: Planes, Trains and Automobiles, we’ve breastfed in them all
- Breastfeeding Moms Unite Blog: Nursing in Public: A Fresh Perspective on Nurse-In’s
- Never a Dull Moment…Blog: Breastfeeding Hats? YES! Nursing Covers? Uh… Not So Much
- Breastfeeding Mums Blog: Nursing in Public – What’s a Breastfeeding Mother to Do!!
- Hobo Mama Blog: Easy, discreet way to breastfeed a toddler in public
[…] from Mommy News Blog: “Breastfeeding in Public” Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Bad advice: Parents Magazine on nursing in […]
Great tips Judy! Thanks!
[…] News & Views Blog: Breastfeeding In Public Published […]
[…] My Newborn in Public Tiny Grass: Nursing in Public as an Immigrant Mommy News and Views: Tips for Nursing in Public Share and […]
[…] – Mother Mary’s Soapbox ‘Nursing in Public as an Immigrant’ – Tiny Grass ‘Breastfeeding in Public’ – Mommy News and Views ‘To Cover or not To Cover’ – Breastfeeding […]
[…] Breastfeeding in Public- Mommy News Blog […]
[…] Mommy News & Views….. Breastfeeding in Public […]
[…] in Public as an Immigrant Breastfeeding 1-2-3: To Cover or Not to Cover Mommy News and Views: Tips for Nursing in Public Stork Stories: Little Old Men…& Nursing in PublicWarm Hearts Happy Family: Breastfeeding […]
[…] Breastfeeding in Public at Mommy News […]
The things I wish I had known four years ago when I had my babies… Great post Judy!
Wendy Armbruster Bell’s last blog post..June Carnival of Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Hats YES! Nursing Covers Uh Not So Much
[…] Tiny Grass Blog: Nursing in Public as an Immigrant […] # Breastfeeding in Public : Mommy News Blog on 21 Jun 2009 at 7:52 […]
I agree, being confident is key with NIP. If I weren’t confident I don’t think it would look as natural. I think the most nervous I ever was about NIP was in a plane next to a complete stranger. He never said a word and I had my son attached almost the entire flight.
Kim’s last blog post..A Very Happy Father’s Day!
[…] Mommy News and Views: Breastfeeding in Public […]
[…] A Mother’s Boutique: Breastfeeding in Public […]
What a great post! I really enjoyed your tips on breastfeeding in public as I will be a first time mom in about 9 weeks, so breastfeeding is going to be something new to me and I could use any new info that I can get especially when it has to deal with the public. Thank you for this!
Great tips.
I live in NYC and I hardly see any women breastfeeding in public anymore. I think that is because so many women are now using slings.
Queen of the Click’s last blog post..Summer!
With my first child, I was so shy about breastfeeding in public that I would always try to find a bathroom or go out to my car to nurse. Now that I’m on my third, I’m a very practiced hand at using baby to hide the fact that I’m undoing my bra, covering up with a blanket quickly, and keeping milk from spraying everywhere! Keep on trying, new mamas! It gets easier.
Spoodles’s last blog post..I’m on a Roll, Baby!
I am so glad to read your post about breastfeeding in public. I breastfed all 4 of my children, ages 4, 6, 11, and 16 now. I was made to feel so humiliated and asked/or told to leave or to stop. Even at church. I got to know where I could nurse with comfort over time. My babies were hungry and wanted to nurse often. I would have loved to have the pretty nursing tops and covers available now. On my wishlist for this time. I will be nursing again soon. Blessings!!
ps – So much helpful information found here. I love your products. The very best site for new moms, nursing moms I have found.
For a hilarious breast-feeding story about nursing in public, check out this account of my wife at http://lifewithrachael.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-used-to-hate-camping.html
I feed my littlin all the time in public….restaurants…shops etc…havent done it in church yet mind you!lol
The way I look at it baby needs feed so I have to feed her…tough luck if anyone is offened…it isnt like
Im popping the boob out on the table I try to do it discretely…but sometimes its easier than others.
Luckily Im not too self conscious!lol
I have bought couple of nursing tops. These double layered shirt/top helps as my back and tummy is covered while breastfeeding .
Good luck and be proud!
Breast feeding is necessary whether your in a public setting or not. If babies are left hungry they cry and that would cause more annoyance than a stray breast. Its all part of rearing a child of your own. Therefore, all you mothers out there are doing the rest of us a favor, keep it up moms…
[…] there are laws in place in 47 states which protect women from any type of discrimination against breastfeeding in public. So ladies, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! And don’t let some restaurant manager send you to the bathroom […]
I have always been pretty comfortable breastfeeding in public. However, on June 18th I was asked to leave a Johnny Rockets restaurant in Newport Ky because I was nursing my daughter. The manager told me I could not feed her there. I told her that there is a law to protect my rights to nurse to nurse my daughter. I infromed her I have the right to nurse anywhere I am otherwise authorized to be.
She insisted that I either leave the restaurant and move to a public bench in the full sun or move into the bathroom.
I have been in contact with their corporate office but thus far have only recieved a form letter. Johnny Rockets public statement on the matter states that they were just trying to make me more comfortable. This is only ironic because the manager stated I was making her uncomfortable.
Dear Corday,
I’m sorry that you are going through this terrible ordeal. It is amazing to me that restaurants are still so ill-informed about breastfeeding moms and the laws that protect them. Especially since each time it happens, there is quite a bit of media coverage and the restaurant is always shown to be wrong. I hope that you are given the attention that you deserve and I hope that your experience will help to make it easier for other moms in the future to be respected while caring for their children. — Judy
[…] At A Time Mum Unplugged Massachusetts Friends of Midwives Mother Mary’s Soapbox Tiny Grass Mommy News & Views Blog Breastfeeding 1-2-3 Stork Stories . . . Birth & Breastfeeding Chronicles of A Nursing Mom Warm […]
[…] At A Time Mum Unplugged Massachusetts Friends of Midwives Mother Mary’s Soapbox Tiny Grass Mommy News & Views Blog Breastfeeding 1-2-3 Stork Stories . . . Birth & Breastfeeding Chronicles of A Nursing Mom Warm […]
Thanks for linking up to this week’s BFing Blog Hop. Love your tips, and also that you highlighted some breastfeeding-friendly businesses.
I like your tips. I just wish that knowing your rights didn’t have to be one of them. Perhaps someday mothers won’t have to stand up against anti-nursing in public bullies.
(Found you through the blog-hop.)
I agree 100% Rebekah! — Judy
Thanks for the tips! Great post.
[…] are lots of ways to feel comfortable breastfeeding in public – but the most important thing is to keep in mind that you are taking care of your baby. I […]
[…] We hear ya, babe. For tips on getting comfortable, here is a great guide from A Mother’s Boutique. If you do get caught by the paparazzi, know you’re in good […]