Stress-free Nursing In Public

By Elisa Minsk Hartstein

Mastering breastfeeding takes patience. With time you learn proper latch-on, positioning, and how to gauge your baby’s sensitivity to external stimuli while nursing.

But once you have that down and are ready to hit the road with your baby, how do you get comfortable nursing in public? Inevitably your little one may need to nurse when you are out at the mall, in a restaurant, at a wedding, or in the park.

Stress-free nursing in public can be as simple as: scoping out a spot, dressing for it, and feeling confident about what you are doing.

Scope out a spot: Some moms and nurslings are comfortable nursing out in the middle of all the action. Other babies are distracted by outside activity while nursing, and some moms need a relaxed spot in order to let down. It is almost always possible to carve out a private space. If you are in a shopping mall, an empty dressing room is ideal for privacy and quiet. Or try one of the comfortable lounges before the entrance to ladies’ rooms in department stores. In a restaurant, positioning your chair away from the activity will create a personal space for you and your nursling. If you are at a wedding or party, find a separate room to escape to. If you cannot, moving to a quieter corner towards the back can work as well.

Dress for it: Anticipate your outing when getting dressed. Make sure that your clothing provides nursing access – for example, having to lift one’s dress up from the bottom to nurse would not be conducive to public breastfeeding! Make sure your top can lift comfortably or that your dress has buttons or another type of opening at the top. A light blanket or loose scarf can provide additional discretion. Wearing a baby sling is ideal since your nursling can breastfeed peacefully and discreetly while you are going about your day. Wearing a nursing camisole or nursing top makes breastfeeding even more discreet by keeping your body covered while you nurse.

Feel confident about what you are doing: The most important thing is to feel confident about nursing your baby. While it’s true that some people may not be used to the sight of a nursing woman, if you feel good about what you are doing, you will project that image to others. They in turn will feel more relaxed too. In short, people will take their cues from you, and when you give off the signal that you are comfortable with what you are doing, others will be too.

As an extension of the tips above, try to nurse your baby before leaving the house to give yourself more time before the next feeding. You can also nurse in the car (not while driving of course!) right before getting out. Finally, read your baby’s cues and nurse them before they get too hungry, to minimize fussiness while breastfeeding in unfamiliar places.

Enjoy nursing your little one – no matter where you are – knowing that you are giving him the best possible nutrition, and helping to create a very special bond.

Elisa Minsk Hartstein earned her MBA from Columbia University, is the mother of 4 breastfed children, and is the founder of Milk Nursingwear. Prior to founding Milk, she created the Expressiva Nursingwear brand, which she sold in 2007. Milk Nursingwear is also a proud sponsor of the Mommy News & Views Blogiversary Celebration!

Blogiversary Celebration – Milk Nursingwear – CLOSED

When Elisa from Milk Nursingwear contacted me about carrying her items in my store, I was so thrilled. She is the original founder of Expressiva Nursingwear (who I featured earlier in my blogiversary celebration) and when she sold that company, she started up another one called Milk Nursingwear. Milk Nursingwear is wonderful! They have such cute designs. I carried one of their dresses in my store for the Spring/Summer season and it did fabulously! I will be adding some of her fall/winter styles soon. In the meantime, you can check them out on the Milk Nursingwear site.

Why do I like Milk Nursingwear so much?

• The styles are innovative – there is something for every mom – from conservative to hip!
• Their prices are amongst the best in the business – this line is so affordable – every mom can afford to purchase something!
• The quality is fantastic - to be honest, I have figured out how she does it! Such great items, with such high quality at such an affordable price!

Last summer I carried the Flirty Halter Dress in my store and I even had to restock it because it sold so well. As you can see, I only have a few sizes left in stock. So if this is something you’d like – now is the time to get it!!

For our blogiversary celebration, Elisa has offered to give one Mommy News & Views Reader an item from her Fall Collection. So one lucky reader will get to see this fantastic top before I do! It is the Smocked Babydoll Top in long sleeves – and boy is it supercute!! With a super-chic design and easy empire-style nursing access – this top is sure to be a favorite amongst breastfeeding moms! One lucky winner will get her choice of size (XS-XL) and color (Brown, Blue or Plum).

To be entered into this contest you MUST help us spread the word about this contest and our blogiversary. The ways in which you can spread the word are listed below. You must complete TWO of them to qualify for a prize – This is MANDATORY in order to be considered for a prize.

After completing the first two mandatory activities, any additional that you do will give you extra chances to win! Just be sure to come back here and leave us a comment for each one – letting us know which ones you completed.

1) Blog about this post or our Blogiversary Celebration in general! Help us to tell other new moms about all of our great give-aways this month and into November! Be sure to come back here and leave a comment with a link to your blog post so that we can find it!
2) Spread the word! After following Milk Nursingwear on twitter, Tweet about this post and link back to it – be sure to include @MommyNews in your tweet and a link back to this page, and leave a comment here with a link to your tweet (you can do this once per day during the contest).
3) Spread the word some more! Post about this contest on facebook and tell all of your friends about it! (you can do this once per day during the contest)
4) Don’t have a blog, not on facebook or twitter? No problem, we want you to have extra chances to win too – so go ahead and send an email to any of your pregnant or nursing friends. Be sure to cc: us on your email (blogiversary@mommynewsblog.com) and leave a comment here too! We promise not to add anyone to any mailing lists unless they specifically request to be added.
5) Become a fan of Milk Nursingwear on facebook – don’t forget to come back here and let us know that you did this!

That’s it! Lots of ways to win a super cute nursing top from Milk Nursingwear!! This contest ends 11/8/09 at 5 PM. All entrants will be verified and must complete the mandatory entries before completing the ‘extra’ entries. Invalid entries will be disqualified. This contest is open to people with US-based delivery addresses ONLY. Winner must respond to email within 48 hours or we reserve the right to choose another winner.