How to Find Places to Nurse in Publicby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 30 Dec 2008 06:14 PM
Most cities and states have laws that protect a mother's right to nurse anywhere where children are welcome, although a few areas still do not, such as my own home state of Pennsylvania. Although it wasn't always easy, I would nurse in public when needed. I tried to think of it as an opportunity to open people up to the fact that nursing a baby is a positive thing. That said, I tried to seek out discrete places to nurse whenever possible. If you prefer to nurse with as few people around as possible, others may tell you to find a bathroom. This is one place that I do not recommend going to nurse. Not only is gross (would you eat your lunch sitting on a public toilet stall), but it is also often noisy as well. Here are some places that I found convenient for nursing in public. During good weather, the car was always a convenient and comfortable spot to nurse. At a restaurant, I always asked for a booth and generally sat on the side away from most of the traffic. My husband would often sit next to me on the aisle side when I nursed. At the mall, I would usually seek out a more upscale department store, such as Neiman Marcus or Sax Fifth Avenue. These stores usually have a woman's lounge that is provided for resting and is separate from the bathroom. Babies R Us provides a mother's room for nursing. In a real pinch, I have nursed using a changing room at a department store while the rest of my family shopped. At church, I would use the entrance room, usually vacant during service, or one of the unoccupied classrooms or offices (with permission). I hope that helps! Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right. Related Articles: Girls Benefit Most from Breastfeeding Nursing Leads to Stronger Lungs One Breast Gives More Milk than the Other: Is This Normal? Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantbaby tags User Comments  drnewmom (307) 30 Dec 2008 07:32 PMI wish I could be nursing my baby (NICU 4 months, pumped and drove an hour 1-way for 14 weeks)... anyhow, I am lucky to live in a fairly liberal state. I checked into the laws while I was still pregnant and here (NY) a mother is allowed to breastfeed anywhere the mother is legally allowed to be. Of course, your personal comfort level comes into play, but it was nice to know we'd be legally protected just about wherever he got hungry. Anyhow, I think it is important for people (not just mothers) to be advocates for babies and defend their right to suckle when hungry (and NOT in a bathroom stall!). Samual (11722) 31 Dec 2008 12:42 PMHere you are allowed to breastfeed in public until the baby is six months old, obviously around childrens play areas and such is a no no.  Mary Ann Romans (26791) 31 Dec 2008 01:17 PMWhy are children's play areas prohibited? That is where you will find most moms. Samual (11722) 31 Dec 2008 02:05 PMNot everyone wants their children to see a strangers breasts. drnewmom (307) 31 Dec 2008 04:00 PMUnless nursing twins, a stranger's "breasts" would never really be showing. With a mother-child pair that has their latch down pat, how long is the breast really exposed anyway ... a couple of miliseconds? That's only if the mother doesn't drape a cloth over her shoulder first. Anyhow, what child at a playground is watching the mommies that closely? Prohibition in children's play areas seems silly to me.  Valorie Delp (49340) 31 Dec 2008 06:58 PM6 months seems to short to me. Not to mention the fact that I never had in ten years of nursing, any child come up to me wondering about my breasts. The adults--well, I cannot say the same thing. And most twin moms do not nurse both babies in public at the same time. Rest assured Samual, most us moms are way into covering up our breasts and not showing them to strangers. drnewmom (307) 31 Dec 2008 07:10 PMI can't imagine a twins mom doing so ... I was just being a little extreme to make a point about discretion on the part of most mommies. Not having or knowing any breastfeeding twins, I can't really picture how the double-nursing would go without a bed or couch and maybe an extra set of hands (help daddy!) -- twin+ moms have my admiration. Mary Ann Romans (26791) 01 Jan 2009 06:12 AMPersonally, I don't think there is anything wrong with a child seeing a nursing breast. Moms are pretty discrete, and in fact there is usually more breast showing on magazine covers in the supermarket than by a nursing mother.  ruthann8 (6378) 01 Jan 2009 08:18 AMI have had a two year old ask me what I was doing. I told him I was feeding the baby, he said "oh" and walked away. It didn't bother him at all. I think by hiding breastfeeding from kids we are helping them to learn it is unnatural or wrong. I have found with Ellamae I need to find a very quiet relaxed place or she won't nurse. Even at home if the cat or daddy walk by she has forgotten what she was doing and wants to go play. I would never be able to feed her is a public restroom b/c she is terrified of the toilet flushing noise, I have to change her diaper in the car. Mary Ann Romans (26791) 01 Jan 2009 11:19 AMMy youngest was always very curious and would turn his head to look at everything around him, often trying to take my breast with him, so as he got older, it got more difficult to nurse in public. When he did that, I would stop nursing, wait a few minutes and try again until he got the hint that he had to pay attention to getting fed. CowboysFan24 (30) 19 Feb 2009 04:54 PMI am a college student studying Child and Adolescent develop me and we are current discussing whether breast feeding or formula is best for your baby. Recently in the state of NC a woman was kicked out of a Denny's for breast feeding in public. I was wondering out how mothers around the world felt about this. The news stated she wasnt covered so I'm assuming she showed no shame and let it all hang out! For your mothers who are breast feeding do you think it was wrong for the managers to ask her to leave? How would you have reacted? carina75 (10) 24 Apr 2009 12:45 AMhi there! In my country is totally allow to breastfeeding your baby whenever he need. I guess it is normal behaviour because baby is first priority. thanks!  colombina (36) 02 Jul 2009 03:26 PMGreat discussion. My son is 2 months old and I have been rather reluctant to leave home if its close to feeding. I just am a bit shy I guess. The covers for breastfeeding are very uncomfortable for me and the baby. I can't see him and he can't see me when I latch him on. I guess it takes a little bit of coordination. lol Community Tags breastfeeding in public, breast feeding, nursing Discuss this article
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