Tips for Breastfeeding in Public

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural actions that can occur between two people, mother and child. Unfortunately the people who have extreme opinions about breastfeeding – those who think is should be kept in the dark corners of a private room and those who think you should be able to display your breast for the entire world to see – have made it something that is more of a controversy than a natural act.

If you choose to breastfeed you new baby, then you might want to find your way into the middle of the road. Breastfeeding in public can be as private as breastfeeding in your own bedroom. Keeping it personal only requires a few tricks.

1. Wear clothes that are designed for easy (and private) access. Many companies have come out with a line of nursing that allows easy access to the breast with minimum exposure of the rest of the body. It is possible to breastfeed without ever exposing your breast to anyone other than the baby.

2. Purchase a bra that is specific for breastfeeding. The flaps fold down to expose the nipple and nothing else has to be exposed. These bras are also designed to help with support and comfort of the milk-heavy breasts.

3. Be discrete when you are preparing to feed. If you don’t draw attention to yourself, then it is likely that no one other than your immediate party will even realize that you are breastfeeding in public.

4. Cover the nursing baby with a cloth or nursing blanket. There are now nursing blankets with sandbags or other attachments, made with very light cloth that are perfect for covering up when you are breastfeeding – no matter what the location, temperature or situation.

5. Be considerate of the people around you. You wouldn’t want someone to whip out a cigarette and smoke next to your new baby. If you are in a situation where you need to breastfeed, then be considerate of the other people around you who might be uncomfortable or shocked by your choice to do it in public.

6. Practice at home before you take the show on the road. Learning to handle the special clothes and accessories, designed to make breastfeeding in public more comfortable for you and the baby and less intrusive to the public, can take some time. Practice your holds and use the clothes when you are at home so that you will be prepared when you go out.

Breastfeeding in public can be difficult and uncomfortable, for mom and for the people around her. By practicing at home, getting the right wardrobe and trying to be discrete, you will be able to breastfeed with comfort wherever you may go.