Feeding baby in car park?

[Erlouise]

Hi ladies
do you think it’s acceptable to feed my baby in the car in a car park?
im going out with some friends to a big trail park and it’s far too cold to feed them on benches in the park so thought I could head back to the car in the warm to do it abd can also do any bum changes then too.
DP thinks it’s cruel and has said to find a coffee shop but that means strapping a hungry baby into car seat and driving off all while they’re screaming for a bottle which I’m just not prepared to do

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me

Of course it's fine! Why is it cruel? I did it loads of times. As at home, get anything you might want to hand before you start (water,snack, phone, muslin) and sit in the passenger seat.

It’s absolutely fine.

cruel? in what way? it seems a good solution to me

I've breastfed my son in the car on more that one occasion. I don't consider doing that 'cruel' in any way.

I dont think the car will be warmer than a bench tbh but absolutely fine.

I often used to feed mine in the car, and change them too. It seemed the most obvious thing to do, especially in the cold and/or rain. How could it possibly be cruel?!

One piece of advice - first time I did it, I got into the rear seat as there was more space there. Completely forgot that the child locks were on! Had to climb out over the front seats to get out again 😁

It's fine. Feed baby wherever. But tbh if baby is out in the cold, what difference does feeding them on a bench make - it's the same weather.

Cruel?? What an absolute bizarre thing for your husband to think? Does he have any explanation for his batshit conclusion?

But if you’re bottle feeding and don’t have to your boob out in these temps then I’d personally go with the bench and not bother schleping back to the car! Presumably baby will be wrapped up appropriately or else you wouldn’t be out with them in the first place and you have whatever necessary paraphernalia to ensure a warm bottle? But up to you! The car is also fine if you’d rather.

Why would it be cruel? If you’re feeding the baby then it just needs to be somewhere you’re comfortable surely. The baby doesn’t care!

Just make sure the child locks aren’t on if you’re on your own and decide to sit in the back seat instead of the front and then close the door.. I speak from experience.

What? How is feeding your baby when they need it cruel? It would however, be cruel to drive around with them hungry just find a coffee shop

Since you said they are bottle fed, I'd just feed them propped up in the pushchair wrapped up warm. That way, no need to get out of their nice warm blankets/cosy toe, either to sit on a cold bench or in a cold car. I don't think you need to go to a cafe, but I don't think you need to sit in the car either. Would be different if breastfeeding as obviously, it would be you getting cold then.

For nappy changes, it's cold out to be changing outdoors right now, even in a car. Unless there was an absolute explosion or obvious poo, I would change before you leave or wait til you get home (or yes, a cafe or something). If you can sit in there for 15 minutes and let it warm up with the heat running, then yes, that's different, but just in the backseat unheated, it would be cold.

Car wont be any warmer than a bench but if you are more comfortable then go for it.

Neither is cruel.

Tell him to do it then if he's so bothered and you carry on having a nice day out.
Some men are just so stupid.

Of course it will! Don't be ridiculous!

It's fine OP!

Of course it will be warmer, what on gods earth makes you think it won't

How odd, yeah of course you can feed your baby anywhere. I wouldn't even take them back to the car.

I'd do a nappy change outside as well, probably down to -2/3 degrees. Doesn't take long!

I wouldn’t bother going back to the car, I’d just breastfeed baby on a bench but neither is cruel. Why would they be?

A car is great for breastfeeding and nappy changes. For a bottle fed baby I'd just feed on the go you don't have to leave the activity if you don't want to.

I'd just feed whilst sat on a bench, have done so even in this kind of weather. But I have also fed in the car when necessary. It's not ideal as hard to get into a comfy position all round, but it's definitely not cruel! What an odd comment from your DP!

Has he never used a drive thru McDonald's and ate in the car?

God, I think DD had the vast majority of her feeds in the winter of 2020/21 in the car. Too cold to get my boobs out on a bench, cafes shut, and DH working from home in a one bed flat. 😂

Even after moving to bottles I preferred feeding in the car. Had all my stuff, comfier seat, could put the radio on, bit calmer for DD than a coffee shop where distractions would pull her off the bottle etc.

Also a fan of the alfresco nappy change but again prefer using the car where needed. I think at one stage we had a full set up of wipes/nappies/dummies/milk cartons/muslins in there, it was like a second nursery.

Been there, done that. Passenger seat also better than Driver's seat where back seat is full of car seats.

Baby is more concerned about "now" than comfort - recommend feeding clothes that show as little to keep the wind off your delicate areas as I've been forced to feed halfway up a hill because baby woke up and wanted fed "NOW or 10 minutes ago preferably)"

your partner is being ridiculous of course its fine to feed a baby in the car !

Why would it be cruel? I change my baby in the car boot and then feed him in the front of my car every day before I drive back from the school run. He then has a comfy nap. Much less cruel than having a wet hungry baby in the back of the car for half an hour…

However I’d probably just wrap them up warm and feed them on a bench to save you the hassle of walking back to the car if I were you!