Earlier this year we asked for your nursing tips to print in a Motherwear catalog, and you came up with some great ones on pumping and overcoming challenges. Here are more of them - this time on nursing in public.
Use a baby sling for "on the go" nursing throughout your day at home or in public. If you are the mom of more than one child, you will find this very helpful! When in public, wearing a nursing top and also using a baby sling will provide plenty of covering for you and baby to nurse discreetly. Most of the time, no one will ever know that's what you are doing! -Stephanie, shown below at right wearing her son Gray.
As the father of a breastfed baby, I support my wife when she breastfeeds in public. Showing everyone that I am comfortable with it gives my wife more confidence and encourages others to feel at ease. - Minh
Breastfeeding moms need all of the encouragement and support they can get. When I see a mother nursing her child in public, I make sure she knows that I think it's great. Whether by making eye contact and smiling or saying hello, I feel that any positive attention is better than the stares and uncomfortable avoidance we all experience sometimes! - Beth, pictured at left with son Rory and daughter Kerrigan.
If you are having trouble keeping your baby on his or her side while nursing in the cradle hold, find a soft baby blanket and tuck it behind the baby's back to help put him at an angle and to support him in that position. This often works well for nursing in public as well. Simply sit down, cross one leg over the other, place the baby so his or her head is on the higher leg and tuck the blanket under and around (but not over!) them to give them a nicely supported position. This can work very well for the moms that get used to nursing with a nursing pillow and that have trouble finding a comfortable position when they're out and about. - Jennifer
A crying baby makes everyone's head turn. When out in public, try to anticipate your baby's need to nurse and slip her under your sweater, blouse, shawl, etc before she cries from hunger. Did she nurse about two hours ago? Probably time for another snack. The trick is to nurse her well in advance of that tell tale wail has every head turning. Faith, shown at left.
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