Traveling with a First Class Nursling
October 8, 2006 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under advantages of breastfeeding, extended breastfeeding, mothering, nursing in public, toddler nursing, travel
I could sense the inward cringes of the other first-class airline passengers as I sat down in seat 4C with my 22-month-old in my arms and my 4.5-year-old next to me. We’d had to book the flight at the last minute to attend the funeral of the girls’ great-grandmother. In order to get three seats on the return flight, one of them had to be first class. The rest of us upgraded to first class with frequent flyer miles. Frankly, it was 30,000 miles well spent!
Little did the other first class passengers know that I had a secret weapon for toddler taming: breastfeeding. Breastfeeding serves many purposes on a long airplane flight. It can relieve ear pressure on take-off and landing, satisfy hunger and thirst, and settle a toddler off to sleep without a peep. In a pinch it can entertain a bored toddler and entice her to stay still in her seat.
With four-and-a-half years of breastfeeding experience, I no longer have any qualms about breastfeeding in public. I find most people never even realize that I am nursing, particularly with an older nursling who latches on quickly and easily. At any rate, it was clear that in the first class cabin I was free to do whatever would keep my toddler happy and quiet. In the end, she nursed to sleep and took a blissful two-hour nap. The rest of the flight was uneventful. I was glad to have my secret weapon, just in case!
Angela,
I loved your entry on first-class nursing. My daughter and I traveled often with my husband on business until she was two and a half. It was always funny to receive the evil eye as we boarded from other passengers. So many passengers, at least three a trip, and often the same dirty lookers, would comment on exiting the plane how wonderfully she behaved. I don’t think they ever realized she nursed almost the entire flight every flight. I don’t even think stewardesses knew thanks to a baby sling. It was so stressless. Everyone should know EN has perks!
Meredith – Thanks for your comment!
Just the other day I was nursing and a woman passed by and asked if my daughter was sleeping. I had to decide if I should tell her that we were nursing or just say she was “resting” or something neutral like that.
Because the woman was young and hopefully a future breastfeeder I told her we were nursing. Best for her to learn it’s possible to be so discreet in public that know one else even knows what’s going on!
I know I am a little late, but I just saw this post, and thought I’d share my own story. I recently flew internationally (Frankfurt to Minneapolis via Detroit) with my three month old son, and I nursed through significant portions of all flights without anyone saying anything (I wasn’t walking around with my breast out though either), and the flight attendant was kind enough to bring me a lot of extra water, because The Boy was nursing more often than normal. Everyone on the flights commented when I was getting off about how well-behaved my son was– and many of them had given me dirty looks in the waiting area and prior to take off.
Nursing really made the difference, because it calmed him, helped his ears, and kept him happy!
Thanks for sharing your story Maria! I’m glad to hear you had a good experience!