Posted by If you’re feeling anxious about how to breastfeed in public, I know the feeling.
Breastfeeding your new baby in the comfort of your own home is challenging enough (the most difficult aspect of early motherhood in my opinion).
But doing it in public as a new mom?
It can be flustering and feel downright awkward.
I remember the first time I took my newborn to a restaurant just one block from our home. I nursed him before we left the house and thought he would just snooze in the stroller.
But this is NOT what happened.
Almost from the minute we sat down in the restaurant he started fussing and crying.
I got out my nursing cover and frantically tried to latch my crying, tiny, wriggly baby underneath the cover.
I was using a nipple shield at the time because my son couldn’t latch without it and in my struggle to get him to latch it fell on the dirty floor.
Angry crying ensued as we both got more frustrated, and I hurried to get out a clean nipple shield. I was getting hot and sweaty.
I thought, “At least we’re some of the only people in the restaurant.” I didn’t want to disturb other diners.
Neither of us could get comfortable, and I couldn’t get him to calm down. We basically ended up taking our food to go so I could nurse him in the comfort of home.
Now as an experienced mom who’s breastfed two babies in many public spaces, I look back to these first moments of motherhood wishing I knew then what I know now.
In this post I’m sharing some tips on how to breastfeed in public to make your outings with your newborn a little bit easier.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure here.
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Nothing Is Silly
After struggling in public on more than one occasion to nurse my newborn, I kept thinking that I needed some kind of sling to help support him and make things easier.
And I ask myself now:
“Why on earth did I not think to just bring the boppy pillow? Did I think this was silly in public?”
You know that big basket in the back of the stroller?
That’s what it’s for!
Don’t hesitate to bring your boppy or nursing pillow. Anything you need to be comfortable.
Newborns nurse constantly (also known as cluster feeding) and for long periods of time. Trying to breastfeed in public without support will make your arm soar and stiff very quickly.
It may also be harder to keep baby latched correctly, which also leads to sore nipples as I experienced.
Plus:
Your nursing pillow provides a nice, comfortable place for baby to fall asleep on as you breastfeed. (It will become easier to breastfeed without a pillow when your baby is much bigger).
Bringing a pillow is not silly at all.
If you don’t want to lug around a huge pillow, try this half moon nursing pillow. I always kept one in my car in case I forgot to bring my regular boppy (and it’s good for nursing in cramped spaces like the car anyway).
Make It Easy To Latch
Until you and your baby become experienced at nursing together, you’ll likely need to physically see both your breast and your baby to get him to latch correctly.
Even at home getting the right latch is difficult in the beginning. Trying to do it in public is ten times more frustrating especially if you can’t see what you’re doing under a nursing cover.
If you’re going to cover up in public, make sure to get a nursing cover that has a large open “D” ring so you can effectively look down and see what you are doing (this is the one I have).
And if your baby falls asleep while breastfeeding under the nursing cover and you’re at a restaurant, the cover makes a nice sort of “apron” so you can eat and not drop food on baby’s head 😂.
Wear The Right Clothing
When you go out in public with your new baby, you should of course be wearing a nursing bra at a minimum.
You can make nursing much easier though if you also wear a shirt or tank made for this specific purpose.
There are a couple ways to do this.
If it is winter time and you’re wearing a regular sweater, wear a nursing tank (something like this) underneath your sweater. That way when you go to pull up your sweater you aren’t exposing your whole belly.
Alternatively, invest in a few nursing shirts that just pull open in the front. Mine were all from Pink Blush Maternity.
I wore these a lot with my second baby and found it so much easier to breastfeed in public.
I could reach into the front of the shirt and unhook my nursing bra without anyone being the wiser. Then pull the fabric of the shirt open over my nipple just enough to latch baby.
It’s much more discreet.
Plus, I didn’t feel the need to use a nursing cover with these. Once my baby was latched, his head covered my breast and I could pull the fabric of the nursing shirt over any exposed skin.
How To Breastfeed In Public In A Carrier
Another way to breastfeed your baby in public is right when they’re snuggled up against you in the baby carrier.
Now, this may not work for everyone. Personally, I was never able to do it because my breasts were too large and hung down too far. It didn’t stop me from trying the technique though. And I’ve seen other mothers doing it in public.
Check out this video here for a tutorial.
Then try it out at home and see if it works for you before attempting it in public. That way you won’t end up with a frustrated baby who knows the milk is there but can’t quite latch on because the position doesn’t work.
Forget The World Around You
The thing that really makes breastfeeding in public easier to do, is honestly just not giving a shit what other people think!
In the United States, there’s this horrible stigma about breastfeeding in public. So much so that some new moms are actually googling “Is breastfeeding in public legal?” 🤯
Yes, it’s absolutely legal.
I’m not saying you have to let it all hang out (although if that’s your choice, you’ll get no judgement from me).
But the less you care, the easier it is to take out your breast and not worry if you accidentally flash someone your nipple.
Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world. You’re nourishing your baby in the moment they need it. And if that moment just so happens to be in the middle of a busy airport, restaurant or store, forget what anyone around you thinks.
You may be surprised at how many people will be kind to you.
As far as anyone else though?
Your baby is having lunch and you shouldn’t have to do it in the bathroom because someone’s wife is worried you’re tantalizing their husband with your breasts.
That’s ridiculous.
No one wants to eat lunch in a bathroom and that includes nursing babies.
So forget the world around you and just focus on nourishing your sweet little baby.
Final Thoughts On How To Breastfeed In Public
While breastfeeding in public presents its challenges, I hope these tips will help you do it with confidence.
The best thing is to learn what positions are most comfortable for you and your baby before heading into public. Make sure that you and your newborn have also figured out how to properly latch.
Wear nursing friendly clothing and bring everything and anything you use at home to nurse comfortably. Carrier, nursing cover, pillow… anything.
Your instinct will be to feed your baby in the moment they need it, so don’t worry for even a second about anything else (or anyONE for that matter).
You got this.
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