NE1 bf in a restuarant?

MNheidi

I'm going to Cheesecake Factory tonight w/ some gals.  Tessa coming w/ me b/c she hasn't really taken to the bottle yet and I can't leave dh home w/ hungry baby AND 2 toddlers.

I have noe shame but don't want to make a scene either.  Where would you bf?

PlainandTall

NIP in a eatery is not making a scene- no matter where you do it!  I have never been to the place you mention- so don't know the layout- but if they have booths- usually the most private place is to ask the hostess for a booth in the corner or at the end of a row, you can use an ambiguous "Could we get that one in the corner because of the baby?" and don't even have to explain more than that- and then take the seat facing the corner/wall rather than looking back at all the people.  No one but your girlfriends will see you.  They won't even know.  Good luck and have fun!  Sounds like a YUMMY night out and good practice for you!

CinnamonBun

Hmmmm The Cheesecake Factory can be a bit of a challenge. Depending on what time you go (if you go during peak time, 4-8p) if could be really crazy and requesting a booth is insanity. You could try though.

Depending on how comfortable you are NIP, you could probably get away with it and no one be any the wiser. There is a post below about NIP and someone who nursed at a table and no one had any clue until she used a blanket. TCF is hard though b/c some of the tables are practically on top of each other!

You could get lucky and actually nurse before you get to a table b/c of the wait.  

itkatydid@gmail.com

If you are worried about being conspious I would just use a cover. No one should kick up too much fuss. I have nursed at The Olive Garden in a booth. It was busy but I just used my cover and no one seemed to notice. GL and have fun!!

NY-allie

I've NIP at the cheesecake factory before.  Ask for a booth if they have one.  Its private and you can nurse discretely there.  Good Luck.

dusk42

I just use a nursing cover - I've also used a sling.  It's good practice to go to a restaurant.  Now we NIP anywhere with a cover.  

LaNegrita

dusk42:

I just use a nursing cover - I've also used a sling.  It's good practice to go to a restaurant.  Now we NIP anywhere with a cover.  

this. i nurse everywhere! i even nurse at church, but do go into the childcare room, or out in the foyer. i have never had anyone be bold enough to say anything to me.

Osgirl

I cover up with a blanket. I also try to sit in a certain spot where my back will be to everyone if at all possible. I find that a booth is better for nursing.

wnk1029

Yup, I've done it.  I sat in a corner booth and used a cover, and I didn't get any weird looks or anything... I doubt anyone even knew what was going on.  For me the hardest part was figuring out how to position my little guy between me and the table so that it wouldn't be awkward for him.

sadielove

Osgirl:

I cover up with a blanket. I also try to sit in a certain spot where my back will be to everyone if at all possible. I find that a booth is better for nursing.

Same here.  I've NIP in about every restaurant we've been in.

ncbelle

I just go for it wherever I happen to be.

If you feel more comfortable with privacy, a booth or corner table might help.

NoBeautyQueen

I BF wherever my baby gets hungry. My older daughter was a constant nurser so I couldn't plan anything around her "schedule." I did have several nursing tops that helped with the process since she was never a fan of a blanket over her. She did tolerate the nursing cover for a while.

FWIW, I've rarely noticed someone NIP before. I know lots of women do it so the fact that I'm a BFing mom and rarely notice someone NIP makes me think that no one really notices me doing it. Apparently I got some dirty looks from a table of older ladies sitting behind me once, but only know because my DH was sitting across from me and saw them pointing. They called the manager over and then abruptly left. I guess they didn't get the answer they were hoping for from the manager, lol.

rianals

I BF DD whenever she is hungry, no matter where we are.  Restaurants are one of the places that I am most comfortable NIP, because restaurants are for eating.  I have never used a cover because I think they are a pain.  In the beginning, I needed to be able to see DD's face to make sure she was latched correctly and that is the habit we got into.  I wear a nursing tank top 24/7 and a roomy t-shirt over it when we are out.  The tank covers my sides and belly and the t-shirt covers everything else.  DD's face and head cover my breast, so (unless she is particularly wild) noone can see anything.

It is nice to have a corner booth and I generally try to situate DD so her meal is as discreet as possible.  However, if it isn't possible, I do what I have to.  Once, I was at a restaurant with very small booths.  They were so small that DD couldn't lay on my lap and nurse.  There just wasn't room.  But, she was hungry.  So, I laid her on the table and nursed her right there.  She thought it was weird-she knew that wasn't her normal position, but it worked out just fine...