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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

BF on a plane - scared!

57 replies

Messing · 29/05/2010 19:29

Hoping someone can give me advice or reassurance:

In 2 weeks, DH and I are taking 4 month old DS to Vancouver for 3 weeks to visit his family. This was booked a while ago, and I didn't really think about the issues of taking a young baby on a long-haul flight.

Now, I'm getting more and more by the day. I'm panicking about BFing on an aeroplane, as I'm not confident doing it in public. (Not that there's anything wrong with BF in public, it's just I don't seem to be able to do it discreetly.) I have also heard stories of women being told by cabin crew to cover up/go to the loos and do it...and that makes me even more worried.

Any advice or good experiences to reassure me it won't be as horrific as I'm imagining?

OP posts:
ib · 29/05/2010 19:33

I've bf loads on planes and never had a problem - but if you are worried perhaps you would rather use a sling? Then no-one is likely to be able to tell what you are doing.

ILiveinhope · 29/05/2010 19:34

have done it on a long haul flight to South Africa, twas fine. In fact the air stewards were incredibly helpful. I was travelling with a 4yr old and a five month old. Much much easier than faffing about with bottles.

Feed him on takeoff and landing to stave off the pressure build up in his ears.

Really don't sweat it. Ensure you have a window seat so that your husband can hide your modesty whilst you get him latched on and off.

And enjoy your holiday. they are so lovely and portable at this age.

ILiveinhope · 29/05/2010 19:35

oh, and i was slightly insane, coz I was travelling by myself with the kids, so no adlt support.

justwhen · 29/05/2010 19:36

Don't worry, just embrace it & enjoy, i wish my 3dd's were still young enough to BF!

Pingpong · 29/05/2010 19:38

You will be fine and you have DH there to 'screen' you if necessary. Ask for a window seat. I managed (although it was just a short internal UK flight) with toddler and baby on my own. I had to feed DD2 on the flight and entertain DD1 simultaneously and was surrounded by a Welsh touring rugby team!
I have always found aircrew to be very helpful when travelling with little ones.
A muslin is good for draping over you/baby if you feel exposed and the baby doesn't get too hot underneath it.
Take a change of clothes for you and a couple of changes for your baby in your hand luggage incase of vomit/poo incidents and plenty spare nappies. You never know if you will be delayed at the airport and once your bags are checked in that's it.
Flying with babies is much easier than flying with toddlers!

oricella · 29/05/2010 19:39

Have BF loads of times on planes - never been a problem; even with 18 month old no-one batted an eyelid. And it is the single best thing to keep babies peaceful during take-off and landing.. your fellow travellers will be grateful for you breastfeeding (but honestly, they won't notice and just think you have a perfectly well behaved child)

Pingpong · 29/05/2010 19:42

sorry I was taking ages to type - others got there quicker with the same advice

Pogleswood · 29/05/2010 19:44

I flew to the US with DD when she was a toddler and still nursing regularly,on my own. I was nervous for all the reasons you've mentioned,but it was fine(it did help that I sat next to a lovely man who was entirely unfazed by us,and was kind enough to cut up my dinner so I could eat it one handed,when DD went to sleep!)
You'll be fine,and your DH will be there.
Have a great holiday!

RubyBuckleberry · 29/05/2010 20:08

it'll be great - does your DS fall asleep BFing - if so, it'll be perfect! I flew with DS recently - 7mo and it was a bit trickier as he rarely falls asleep BFing but once I rocked him to sleep I could BF if he woke up and he slept for a good hour and a half or so - he was a delight! And the lady next to me loved him! People will just think he is asleep and they will help you. The lady next to me emptied all the sugar into my coffee AND stirred the milk in .

People will love him if he is quiet = BFing! Noone likes a relentlessly crying baby on a plane .

LaTrucha · 29/05/2010 20:14

It's always been fine, and a small baby is easier by far than a toddler. THe only thing I would say is that the first time we flew with DD (3 months) I fed her for so long around take off that she threw up all over me. Remember to take spare clothes for you aswell as her!

roary · 29/05/2010 20:19

If you are really nervous about it try a nursing cover - they are much better than a blanket because they have a hoop in them so you can see the baby to latch on etc. If you don't like bfing in public you might like one anyway!

Just to echo all the others you will be sooo glad you are bfing on the plane, no need to pack bottles/formula and instant comfort as well as food.

Check out the nursing covers here come in lots of patterns.

Caz10 · 29/05/2010 20:29

I fed an 18mth last year on a Ryanair flight to Italy - believe me when faced with the choice between screaming baby on plane and bf on plane, you will whip your boobs out v v fast!! DD fell asleep when I fed her on the way back, and it quietened and calmed her on the way there. I would 2nd asking for a window seat - I had one, and could more or less turn my back on the rest of the plane to get her latched on. Then turned back round with my cardy flapping over her head and dozed off along with her! My qualms were more to do with the fact she is so big tbh. Noone batted an eyelid though.

warthog · 29/05/2010 20:32

bf on the plane is the best! limited view so not many people can see. i've never been asked to go to the loo and i've even bf in the airport queue standing up with people mulling around. (when you're desperate, you just get on with it!)

baby is happy and goes to sleep easily. enjoy.

fruitymum · 29/05/2010 20:33

I BF DS on our recent trip Canada. Like everyone else has said no -one batted an eye lid .Just relax and enjoy your holiday.

zabyzoo · 29/05/2010 20:38

Just make sure you drink lots of fluids - maybe some herbal tea. Also on flights I double up my babies nappies - it is great when there are poo explosions.

I have never heard of anyone being asked to go to the loos, they are not fit for feeding your baby.

Good luck.

Also if you feed on take off and landing it will help with the popping of ears.

seashore · 29/05/2010 20:41

It will be fine, in the meantime go to a few coffee shops that you know you will feel comfortable in and try and get used to feeding whilst out and about. Definitely a sling or some special breastfeeding clothes would help, maybe even just a scarf to hang over your shoulder. Good luck

Original poster
Messing · 29/05/2010 23:12

Aw, thanks for all the supportive messages and advice - really appreciated.
Feeling more confident already.

I wonder if I'll be upgraded to First Class so I get a wider seat and more privacy...can always dream.

OP posts:
Morloth · 30/05/2010 10:00

hehe snacks on a plane - geddit?

You will do fine.

chipmonkey · 30/05/2010 10:24

I am not a big fan of nursing covers in general but I got this one in brown for expressing in the car. It comes in a few different colours and is less like some others which look like curtains from the 1970's!

Tryharder · 30/05/2010 18:48

Have bf loads on planes - you will be absolutely fine. It is much, much easier to bf a baby on a plane than ff. Tell the check in staff that you will be bf on the plane and if the flight isn't full, they might give you and your DH seats by yourselves. I think cabin staff are more than happy to help mums and babies because they don't want a distressed/crying baby any more than you do!!

1mum1 · 30/05/2010 20:47

Ever since I have used a vest top underneath a blouse top it's just clicked for me - very discreet. Just looks like you are giving them a cuddle. If you are still worried then fold a muslin square in half and lay it over your shoulder downwards so it just finishes where babys mouth is. Good luck. Just carry on regardless and don't look to see if anyone is watching!

ReshapeWhileDamp · 31/05/2010 11:51

I took DS to Portugal at 5 months and he was on the boob the whole flight! Obviously not as long as yours, though.

You might want to take a fabric sling, like a ring sling (look on ebay for second hand if you haven't got one already) - babies aren't routinely given lapbelts and you need to anchor him to your body for take-off/landing and turbulance. You might find that this offers some cover while you're feeding, too. Always handy pieces of material, ringslings!

Nobody will bat an eyelid and if you did get an unpleasantly rude person asking you to take it to the loo, you know what to say - that nobody should have to eat their meals in a loo (let alone an aeroplane loo, ugh). Or you could ask them what the carrier's official policy on bf is. I would bet you won't get any trouble, though. Nobody will notice, apart from anything else! Do ask for a window seat if you think it would make you more comfortable (and you can lean against the wall too).

Punky79 · 31/05/2010 18:51

Don't forget too that on take off/landing everyone will be sitting down so the only people who will be able to see is the person next to you who will be OH so he'll have seen it all anyway!

NotQuiteCockney · 31/05/2010 19:00

I've fed on planes lots - no problems, ever. If your baby is a short feeder, though, please don't latch her on until you're actually speeding down the runway. Often you taxi away from the gate, and then end up in a queue, and you can be done feeding by the time the plane takes off.

cathers · 31/05/2010 19:17

Honestly, you will be fine. We took DS1 to Vancouver (Air Canada) when he was 5 months.
Top tips are,

Request a bulkhead seat, (this is where the bassinet fits) which means no one will be in front of you to be turning around to oggle!

Sit on next to the window, which means no one will see you you from one side, DH sits other side.

Take a nice fluffy blanket to squish around you to act as a support cushion and a massive muslin to fix by one of its corners under your bra strap on the side you not feeding on. You can then drape this over your boobs!

If and when baby falls asleep at the boob you can then simply lift him/her with the blanket used to support baby straight into bassinet. Wrap around top of baby - no need for grobag etc, and enjoy the movie!

I was the least discreet feeder imaginable and quite embarrassed by it all, but found it was better feeding on a plane than anyway else in public. Have a great time, very