Friday Five: Tips for Nursing in Public
September 26, 2008 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under activism, breast milk, breastfeeding, breastfeeding videos, how to, nursing in public
When a breastfeeding mother expressed discomfort with nursing in public but a desire to try to do so, several other mothers on an email group jumped in with their helpful advice. That inspired me to come up with this list.
Tips for Gaining Confidence at NIP
1. Keep in mind that you only need to be as “discreet” as makes you feel comfortable. While no one ever intends to offend others, breastfeeding simply shouldn’t be offensive. It’s the most natural way to feed babies.
2. Practice in front of a mirror before you go out in public. You might be surprised with how little skin is visible.
3. Attend a La Leche League meeting. It’s a supportive environment that’s the best place to practice nursing in public. You can also ask for advice and even see how other mothers confidently latch their babies on in front of others.
4. Learn the law about breastfeeding in public in your area.
5. Find a combination of clothing that makes you most comfortable.
For more, see Tips for Nursing a Newborn in Public.
Your Experience
Do you have tips for nursing in public? Share your ideas by leaving a comment!
I work at a college and have been surprised several times how long it has taken me to realize that a woman is breastfeeding her baby while I’m registering/getting a transcript for/advising her. I usually don’t even notice it and when I do, I’m proud of the woman for being able to feed and/or comfort her child while waiting in what can sometimes be a long line!
Start with a positive, confident attitude (even if you have to fake it – deep breath, relax shoulders…), and realize that being discrete doesn’t always mean hiding in the furthest corner. I met a mother who complained that she found our city to be very unfriendly towards breastfeeding. I’ve never encountered any problem myself. But when I saw her nurse her infant at the drop-in centre it was obvious she was uncomfortable. She started by moving to the seat furthest from the one father in the room (but directly in his line of sight???), she had a nursing cape over her, her shoulders were hunched forward, her head was down, but she kept looking around as if to make sure people weren’t staring. I was sitting about a foot away from this father, nursing my baby, with no concern whatsoever because he was quite focused on his wife and baby, keeping him turned away from me (and it was my second nursling, so I didn’t have to fake the attitude).
I was breastfeeding my 6 month old baby at my son’s school while attending the school store which is my job as a volunteer for the PTA. A few days later I received a call from the head of the comittee telling me to go to the bathroom to feed my baby because someone who I was working with at the store got offended and the children at the school might see me. I was so shocked at how ignorant people are, and how insulting it was to me. Anyway, I sent her back a replied for her to feed her children in the bathroom and to read the law regarding public breastfeeding. I think people need to be educated on the issue and the more they see mothers breastfeeeding the more they will get use to it. My message is don’t stop breastfeeding in public, promote it in order to help other moms!!!
The more you nurse in public, the easier it will become. I’ve found I am more embarrassed of my tummy than my breasts being exposed, so use a top that can be pulled down, instead of having to be pulled up, to expose your boob. That has always worked the best for me.
I’m still nursing my 1 year old (yay!) and I nurse her at church, at a restaurant, car, where ever! What I do that helps alot with not showing my mid-drift is wear a spaghetti strap tank top where it has the adjustable straps and pull it to a position where you can tug the tank under your bra when it’s time to nurse. That way I dont have to worry if my stomach, side or back skin is showing.
Addition: I wear the tank UNDER a shirt I’m wearing for the day! Just to clarify…(lol)
2 or 3 weekends ago i did it in a bookstore…lol
i wanted to read and she was hungry! what i did was go to a corner of the store that had noone in it and since i had books in all 3 corners and my back was facing teh wall it was nice and private…she fed was happy and we continued hanging out.
i say if people dont like it too damn bad! its a tit for heavens sake not a penis. LOL
I went to Wal-Mart a few weeks ago and my baby was hungry so I took her to the “family bathroom” to nurse her. There was nothing in that bathroom but a changing table, toilet, and sink! I proceeded to pump a bottle for her, and while my baby was screaming, my husband and I were fighting, and not to mention the store’s manager was knocking on the door thinking I was killing my child or something. I opened the door and told them they didn’t have anywhere to nurse a baby and I had to make her a bottle…of course that weirded them out, and they left. I was so upset that I went to the sevice desk and asked them where I could nurse my child and the proceeded to tell me to nurse her sitting on the toilet! I told the lady she was radiculous for suggesting that, and I wasn’t nursing on the toilet! I’m going to file a complaint with the store’s corporate office and I’m going back there and nursing in public! I don’t care who I offend, or how modest I may be, that is radiculous!
I usually nurse in the van or go to a dressing room or restroom. I have nursed on a bench in the middle of the mall. I can’t afford to be too exposed. I usually have several other little one’s with me. I have found a trick though. If you are nursing in a crowded room, keep your head up, don’t look down, use your fingers to guide the baby to the breast under the blanket. By keeping your head up and maintaining eye contact with those around you, they will look away. I guess it’s human nature, if someone is looking down intensely at something, everyone around wants to know what’s going on. I hsve been nursing for 10 years off and on and I’m currently nursing twins (6 months so far)!