How to BF in public? (I'm new to this)

Shema N

LO is a bit over a week old and I?ve been trying my best to EBF. But occasionally I do have to leave the house - like for his peds appointment or an upcoming OB appointment. What do I do? I?m so new at BF myself that I need all these pillows to prop him the right way - I?m not exactly skilled enough to get him to latch outside of the setting of my house...

Mike_Patti

Do you have a nursing pillow? Bring it with you when you go out. When I take LO to the doctor I ask if there's a room I can use to nurse and the doc is always willing to spare a private space. I'm very pro nursing in public but I found it too awkward in those early weeks.

DottyBlue

I have gotten very good at hopping into the back seat of my car and feeding DS there if I really can't find somewhere easy to nurse.

Otherwise, I just find a seat, pull out my nursing cover and have at it. I use my diaper bag for support if I need it, but a little practice at home without the pillow may do you some good

Ginny0211

When my LO was a newborn I did a lot of nursing in the car. The nursing covers help a lot, but for me it was hard in the beginning to master nursing and being discrete with a cover at the same time. Once LO and I got the hang of it, it was no biggy. I used the cover and nursed while eating one handed at restaurants a couple times, but this was after we both figured out nursing and I didn't need the nursing pillow anymore. Once LO got older and started ripping the cover off and refusing to nurse under it we went back to nursing in the car or in nursing rooms provided at some stores/malls. 

linzeek44

If you don't want to carry around your nursing pillow, bring the bulkiest blanket you have for the baby, and use it as a pillow, or pile up the diaper bag and blanket. The first few times, I made sure to be wearing nursing tanks to make that part of nursing easier.  

jeffreymcginn17

I EP and in the early days I would go to a nearest BRU or Buy Buy Baby store. They was always one around. They have nursing rooms set up.

Alliebooberz

 When DS was brand new, I nursed in my vehicle in the back seat.  I brought my pillows with  me or used what I had in the truck.  (Diaper bag as a nursing pillow, hello! lol)

I also wear a nursing tank top under my shirts. I pull up my shirt, pull down the flap on my tank top & my stomach is covered and my top boob is covered and no one can tell what I'm doing. Good luck, it really really does get easier.  

I have nursed EVERYWHERE, walking around stores, in dressing rooms, in my vehicle, in the food court, don't stress and just give it a try.   Good luck!  

Shermany

Thank you for posting this question, and for all the responses. I've been worried about this too! I am finally getting a little more comfortable with nursing but I still can't manage a cover. My mil and dad are just having to deal with me freeboobing it for now!

CEBandDAO

Alliebooberz:

I have nursed EVERYWHERE, walking around stores, in dressing rooms, in my vehicle, in the food court, don't stress and just give it a try.   Good luck!  

Same situation with me and DS. Nursed in the booth at Chuck E. Cheese recently. That was fun...the games, lights and music made for a very distracted DS. lol

In the beginning, I nursed in the car if at all possible but if the car was too hot or DS needed to eat ASAP...I would use a blanket to cover and diaper bag for support.I just ordered a nursing cover last week because DS knows when he is covered now and likes to rip the blanket down.

I would encourage you to bring your nursing pillow if it works best for you and your LO and find a private space. Once you guys are more skilled at the art of BF in public, you won't need the pillow anymore. GL!!

pb_bride

FWIW, if you're only going out for a short time (eg, your pedi or OB appt), it's probably okay to nurse your LO right before you go and nurse again as soon as you get home.  That way, you don't have to worry about NIP when you're so new to BFing.  

We've been out to 3 pedi visits w/my LO since he was born (he'll be 3 w tmrw), and gone out to dinner once.  We were able to be in/out within a 2-hour time frame, which is long enough for DS to go w/o a feed. 

blu-eyedwife

Find a quiet, comfortable-to-you place to practice.  For me, DH and I started going for daily walks around 4days post partum. There was a bench along the trail I used to start my NIP journey.  During the day, the trail was usually empty since people were at work, so it was empty and beautiful to be outside.  I could sit on the bench and cross one leg so it made kind of a figure 4 on my lap.  That became the place to rest the baby while nursing, and I switched legs when we switched sides.

Also, you can look into "mommy movie mornings" or something similar.  It's a great, friendly NIP atmosphere since the whole theater is filled with moms and small babies.  No one cares about crying, no one is watching you feed your child, and it's a little dark.

Once you get comfortable in those situations, you'll find it easy to nurse just about anywhere.