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.

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 your “business.”

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 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.

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. 

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.

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy or convenient when in public, but with the right tips and materials, you and baby can still have a successful experience.

That’s it for now. Until next time Divas, wear your heels well and Be Blessed!

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