How to Discreetly Breastfeed Your Baby on the Go

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit


When a baby has to eat, the breastfeeding mom does not always have a separate room available with perfect privacy conditions to feed them. Here are a few tips and tricks to get the baby fed and maintain privacy in a rush.

Steps

1. Wear clothes that allow easy access to the breast. Nursing tops can be purchased at most any maternity store. Wear a tank or camisole under T-shirts that will hide your midsection if your T-shirt is pulled up. You can cover your breast almost entirely without the use of a cover-up by wearing an undershirt to cover below the baby's head and lifting your shirt just enough to allow access to the nipple while the rest of your breast is covered.
2. Stay in your car. Taking a moment in your car to breastfeed while in the parking lot is a great way to make sure your baby is fed in a semi-private area. When your baby is done eating, you can just grab your gear and go. Pedestrians rarely notice the baby because they are positioned just below the line of visibility through the car window.
3. Keep a small pillow in the car. This helps with positioning, although resting the infant in the crook of your elbow in the cradle position is stable enough if you do not have a pillow to prop up under your arm.
4. Check the restrooms for a sitting area. Often, department stores or other public places will provide a comfortable area for nursing just outside the ladies restroom.
5. Look for an out of the way table or chair. In waiting rooms, try to find a space to sit where no one is right next to you or directly across from you. This will help avoid some of the discomfort they may experience trying to politely avert their eyes. If you are not in anyone's direct line of sight, it is easier for others to avoid staring.
6. In crowded situations, such as an airplane, try to request a window seat in advance or sit against a wall. Position your body towards the wall with your opposite shoulder so your chest is somewhat shielded from the rest of the passengers or crowd. Couple this with the first step in exposing only your nipple to the baby and you should be able to maintain discretion even in close quarters.

Tips

• Undershirt camis that are tight fitting nylon work best as they shift around less and hug your body so that nothing is accidentally revealed.

Warnings

• It is impossible to avoid the accidental viewing of your breasts or the occasional purposeful stare. Take these moments in stride and focus on the health and connection with your baby, rather than any embarrassment or discomfort that may come along with breastfeeding in public.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Discreetly Breastfeed Your Baby on the Go. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.