Breastfeeding in public

[MsHedgehog]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but I couldn’t find somewhere else more appropriate!

I have a 6 week old. He’s my first so I wanted to know what people usually do when breastfeeding in public as I have no idea! He doesn’t have any sort of routine yet and I always feed him before we go out, but naturally if we’re out for more than a couple or hours, he needs a feed.

Where do people go when they breastfeed in public?

DS is a massive screamer, so as soon as he’s hungry (or upset), he cries bloody murder. I’m genuinely not exaggerating...he cries and screams like he’s being tortured.

So far, I have sat on street corners and on one occasion a bus stop just to feed him. Today, we were in a busy part of London (there for a hospital appt) when he started screaming and I couldn’t find anywhere quiet so I ended up sitting on a wall on a busy road, getting either sympathetic smiles or death stares from passers by.

So what do people do when they’re outside and baby needs a feed? Where do you go? Am I doing the right thing to just stop on the street corner or is there somewhere more appropriate?

I would try and plan it so that I was near a coffee shop so that I could have a sit down and a coffee, but outdoors I would have tired to find a bench/park bench/bus stop so that I could sit down.

Have you tried feeding in a sling? I couldn't get the hang of it very often but it works for some people and you can carry on walking.

You feed where you want to, your babies needs come first. Frankly fuck anyone who tries to tell you otherwise.

Auto has it right ^

But in reality, yes, on a wall, bench, cafe or bus stop if you can find one. Parks are a good bet. I’ve had to do it standing in the aisle of a supermarket once, that wasn’t ideal. Needs must!

Congratulations on your lovely baby :)

At that age just feed wherever you are. It very soongets easier, and before you know it he will be cooking your dinner...

I tried to plan my outings to always be near somewhere with a bench or some sort of seating. It was easier without Covid because worst case I could always pop into a cafe and grab a drink for me and get a place to sit.

When your baby needs feeding you feed him. Doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing. Babies are completely portable so no advance planning required. Anyone who has an issue with that can do one xx

It sounds like you're handling this all really well tbh! I sort of miss those days. Enjoy your lovely new baby.

You've actually managed to give me a whole new Covid perspective OP because my first instinct was to say of course, feed exactly wherever you are whenever you need to, but I always tried to just keep an eye on things and then pop into a cafe with seconds to spare so at least I could have a warm seat and shove some cake down my face! I actually didn't think about places still being closed/too busy/having to be booked in advance...

But yes, you feed whenever/wherever you need to. Some women are more comfortable feeding in a sling or with a wrap thrown over them so no-one can see what's going on but again that's completely up to you.

Congratulations! I always went into a cafe or even just used the chair they always seem to have in baby changing rooms.

Ah sorry I'm forgetting cafes and things aren't open everywhere yet

I usually find a coffee shop and order a drink while I feed, or if I was at my local town centre I would maybe go back to my car if I didn't fancy a coffee. My friend has asked to feed in a fitting room of a clothes shop and they were more than happy for her to do that. I would also stop on a bench if I needed to. I then tuck a corner of a big muzzy into my bra strap and cover her while I feed.
Is there anyway you can pre empt a feed? So say if it's been an hour or 2 stop to top him up before he gets properly hungry so you can just get it done quickly and without him crying and drawing attention from passers by?
Ignore the death stares, I'm always ready to clap back at someone if anyone said anything about me feeding in public and would seriously consider squirting my milk at them.

I have a 7 year old and a 9 week old. With my 7 year old, as everyone says, it was cafes, shops. Some shopping centres have special baby feeding areas near the loos, shops have seats or benches near the changing rooms, places like the public library etc. With my 9 week old as PP say everywhere has been closed so it’s been park benches or the car generally! Even perched on a wall overlooking the sea. Have been at one cafe and one pub (both outdoors) since restrictions have eased and fed at both of those. But tricky if need to be booked in advance etc (not everywhere does, especially on a week day).

It’s hard when they are so little and it does get a lot more predictable.

If you wear a vest top with another top over the top and pull one up and one down no one will be able to see anything (personally I’d worry more about showing my belly than my boobs! But you are probably in better shape than me!)

You can also buy special breastfeeding clothes although some are expensive. Seraphine do nice ones. They should be available second hand.

Wherever you need to feed that’s where you feed/ a coffee shop is a suggestion to be more comfortable for you but that’s all.

Wherever you happen to be when he needs feeding. Obviously, calm & comfortable is preferable. I had to BF DD as we were watching the Olympic flame go past. Only idiots stare, & people who are admiring your beautiful baby often won’t even realise you’re feeding him.

During restrictions you have few options , i am way out of the baby stage so haven't given this a thought , something else to make getting out and about tricky with a little one. Hopefully things will start to open up soon and the weather will improve to make it easier.

A bench 🤷‍♀️

I hated feeding in public so I learnt to do it in a sling. It was amazing! I could feed wherever and whenever. It feels odd/painful the first time but then it's fine

Agree that people who are looking (“death stare”) more than likely don’t even realise you’re feeding, and are just having a look at the baby, as people like to do, and maybe have bitchy resting face rather than actually scowling at you feeding. Maybe if you already feel self conscious you’re interpreting it differently. Maybe I got lucky but I bf my older daughter for 14 months and currently bf my 9 week old and I’ve never had any negative comments or dirty looks- sometimes sort of inquisitive looks perhaps but I don’t mind that as I feel it normalises bf out and about the more people see it.

Feed your baby wherever you like and bloody good for you.

Its gets so much easier as they get older, feed less often and more efficiently, and you're able to just pop them on and off without much fuss!

I fed DS everywhere
Sat on curbs or benches or walls literally whatever was available. It gets easier once you’re 3 months + though as you’re more physically healed and both of you are more confident about feeding so you stick them on and they get on with it quite happily.

I live in quite a left wing artsy kinda city so was lucky enough to never have the negative comments or death stares.

I learnt how to feed in a sling, so DS2 just ate as I was going about my day. It's quite a useful skill!