Where to nurse?

[trcy]

I pump a bottle before leaving the house.

[new_mom_mry]

Ok, not to divert everyone's attention to a different issue, but it's a very related question and I am in a similar predicament where I've wondered where to nurse when we go out BUT my DS only likes nursing in the side by side position when we are laying down. Maybe it was a mistake, but I started nursing him in this position when he was little because it's so convenient and "restful" and now when we are at home, I just take him to our bedroom and nurse him this way during the day and at night. When we do go out with him, we always try to time our outings to occur between feeding sessions because I know that he won't want to nurse unless he is cozy and laying down next to me. What compounds the problem is that he seems to be very easily distracted and doesn't do well with nursing when there is any noise.

Has anyone dealt with this issue before? Any tips for getting him to nurse in other positions so we could go out more??? I've tried nursing him while sitting down at home to get him used to this position, and he ate significantly less after much, much resistance, which affected his whole feeding/sleeping schedule for the day

[goldenpig]

The Hooter Hider/Bebe Au Lait cover was great. I felt a lot more comfortable nursing in public with it. I could do it anywhere, even in restaurants, parks, etc. and not feel self-conscious. I also did a LOT of nursing in the car. Occasionally in dressing rooms/mother's rooms (like at Babies R Us). Even once in a while in a bathroom, if it was a big one and had one of those lounge areas with a bench (but never in a stall, yuck!). Also, once you get used to it, you can carry the baby in a carrier like the Ergo and nurse while carrying. Very convenient because then they fall asleep in the carrier.

new_mom_mry, just keep trying. If he's only been fed one way it's natural that he'd prefer that way, but if you keep working at it maybe he'll eventually accept other positions. Try sitting in a dark room with minimal distractions, maybe that would help him focus. Or if you're out and he still needs to lie down maybe you could sit in the car and recline the seat back all the way.

[carolinamama]

With my first, I nursed in the car all the time. I just felt more comfortable there. I did nurse DS2 in the car some, but by that time I was feeling more comfortable with nursing more in public - on a bench in a mall, sitting in a corner of a museum, or sitting in a restaurant (back to other diners and only with people who were really comfortable with the situation like my mom or friends who also bf). I personally wouldn't nurse in a bathroom. It just sounds gross to me. I do try to find a fitting room or somewhere somewhat private, but if I was out with both boys and I had to watch DS1 at the same time, it was really challenging to keep him corralled for a whole feeding unless he was playing in an area.

[catsnkid]

I took my baby out very early but it was summer. Sometimes the car, sometimes changing rooms, a few restrooms with chairs. NIP at a quiet Panera bread and a small bookstore where I was the only customer. The only time I had to do a bathroom was at Whole Foods.

[GaPeach_in_Ca]

This time of year, I liked to nurse in the patio furniture section of Target.

[Katigre]

I nursed standing up from really early on so would just do it in the aisle wherever I was (I wore nursing camis under my tshirts so everything was covered and used a nursing cover in the early days). Some places I've nursed at Target if I needed to sit down included the summer gear section (they have the patio furniture) and the baby section which has some gliders on display. You can also go to a dressing room. A bathroom doesn't offer anywhere to sit down (at least not our Target bathrooms). I've also used the benches by the Pharmacy.

[logan's mom]

The dressing room is a great idea. Don't know if I'm ready for a bench or cafe yet, but maybe I will be soon. For the grocery store, I guess then it's the car.

Am I, by the way, crazy to take a 6 week old to Target?

I was going nuts being in my house all day by about the 4 week mark. I took DS all over the place. We'd go to Target, the mall, bookstore, and just wander around.

I always nursed in the fitting rooms. I just asked politely if I could use on of the rooms to nurse and never had any issues.

If you have a BuyBuyBaby or BRU nearby where you are going to be shopping, they have nursing rooms that you can use.

[SnuggleBuggles]

The car. But, really, I just would get totally ready for an outing, nurse then run out the door with the baby with every intention of being home before the next feeding. That was how I did things with ds1.

With ds2? I had to be all over the place so I nursed just about everywhere! With ds1 I think I didn't really NIP till he was 4m old and dh was in the hospital- I had no choice but to feed the baby in the waiting room and then for the million Dr. appointments over the next months. I didn't know how I would do it b/c I really thought I needed a certain set up. I found I could do it with creativity anywhere though.

Beth

[sunnyside]

When my baby was 6 weeks old, I nursed her in my arm while shopping. She was easy to carry and nursed so often, it just worked for me. That said, I nearly always nursed in the car before or after as well, because she was too hungry to go back in her seat yet. No one should make you feel uncomfortable especially with such a tiny one. As you practice, you can get more used to it. I was a little nervous from time to time, but nursing a baby is really the nicest thing ever. IF anyone has any problem with it, it is THEIR problem. But if you are more comfortable, I recommend the family dressing room. I have nursed in the ones in Target many times. Now that my baby is an 8 month old giant, that is where I go usually.

Go wherever you are comfortable and remember, it is your and your baby's right to nurse. I found that people never gave me any hard time ever, and if anything occasionally someone said something about how sweet it is. I hope that helps some!

Congratulations on your new love!