Secrets to Breastfeeding Discretely in Public

As a new mom you may be wondering how on earth you can breastfeed out in public and not have to worry about what people are thinking. Not have to worry about having your "hooter hider" with you. Or, for that matter, whether you have your breastfeeding pillow with you.

Well the good news is there are absolutely tricks to doing this! Let me let you in on a few secrets to how you can do this.

For the Newborn Baby

For the newborn, or very young baby, my favorite trick is to head out the door wearing a button down shirt. Think dress shirt or flannel. This allows you to just unbutton what you need to. If you unbutton bottom up then you can have baby against your stomach and your breast is barely exposed... in fact, just enough that you can pop your nipple out so baby can latch. Then hold baby against your stomach and cross your legs (higher leg on the side you are nursing on) and this gives you a little lift like a breastfeeding pillow does.

Another strategy similar to this one is to wear a nursing tank under the button down shirt then use the button down shirt like a blanket or cover up for your baby. Just open the shirt completely and pull down your nursing tank. Your baby then is "inside" your shirt covered by the panels of your shirt.

A Soft Wrap

I love soft wraps that you can "wear" a baby in for more than one reason! They are a life saver for new moms! This is a wonderful option that serves two purposes when you are out--you can freely walk around with your baby snug against you and you can breastfeed at the same time!!

When you wear your newborn in a soft wrap like a Moby wrap, your baby is tummy to tummy to you and knees up like they were tucked in your tummy. The baby simply turns his head left or right to get to your breast and nipple. You may need to scoot your baby a little to one side so they can reach better. You will notice that they "throw" their head back and drop their jaw so they can reach and get a mouthful.

One of the best things about a soft wrap like a Moby is that they have the fabric panels which you can pull over your baby to cover and conceal your baby breastfeeding. Win, win!

This could also work in a sling carrier but it will be a bit less discrete as the baby's head and your breast will show more.

A Soft Backpack-Like Carrier

If you have a backpack-like carrier such as the Ergo 360 or the Baby Bjorn it can also work well. Of course as moms we are always lugging a ton of things around with us so you very well may have your diaper bag/backpack with you too.

What's great about the backpack like carriers are that many people tend to use them for older babies. Of course you can still use it for an infant if you have your carriers' insert. This is another one that I love because like the Ergo you have a natural cover right there you can roll over your baby's head while they are breastfeeding.

When babies are older and bigger they take up more space on your body. This can mean they cover more of your breast, and if they are older, they also may come off more as they play. ::insert nervous face:: Typically in the Ergo 360 or Bjorn carriers the baby's bottom needs to sit lower than their hips and their legs go up like an M. This is helpful to protect the hips of the baby.

This is another win, win as you carry your baby while you walk and nurse at the same time!

All-Nat-u-Ral

To be perfectly frank, there are also moms who will breastfeed in public without any cover or carrier/wrap, albeit in more private spaces. This is not usually in high traffic spaces like in a restaurant or in an amusement park but very often it's in a park under a tree, or at the beach, when there is clear space between you and other people also in attendance.

Just like with the backpack carriers babies are usually older, like 6 months to toddler age, taking up more room against mom. Often moms will lay on their side on a blanket and scoop their baby up against them. Because babies are so big no one can really see your exposed body. If you feel uncomfortable just drape a muslin blanket or towel over you and baby.

Truthfully

Truthfully, you may 'feel' more exposed than you really are even if you don't have something covering you directly. Most of the time your baby is big enough that they cover your personal parts and very often you are in a public space that you have enough space between you and others that people will not get a "look". If you are in a public area like a restaurant or say on an airplane, or in a walkway, those are times you may want to be more careful.

My two most favorite tricks are the button-down shirt and the soft wrap to nurse in!

Most often you will not need a "hooter hider" or "nursing cover" to breastfeed in public. However, if it makes you feel more comfortable by all means please do!

Need Help?

If you are having pain breastfeeding or having difficulty with latch, contact Simply the Breast today to schedule an appointment. You can also book yourself a consult directly, today.