Breastfeeding moms and airplanes

[mrsltg]

Thank you everyone for your help!! Glad to hear nobody on this thread has had any negative experiences with nursing during a flight After speaking with DD's pediatrician, we decided to fly with her on on lap. Safety of course is top priority for us; we have the best car seats available and would spend any amount of money needed to ensure DD's safety in the car. If I thought that she needed her own seat on the plane, I would gladly have forked over the $200 for a seat, however, DH and I trust our pediatrician implicitly and his recommendation was for her to fly on our lap. Of course the airlines are going to encourage you to purchase a seat because they will make more money. I'm going with the advice of DD's doctor whose only interest is DD's well being. DD does not take a pacifier so that would never work. I really do not want to start that whole car seat debate again. My question was about bf on a plane and I got some very good advice there so thanks again.

You'll be fine and so will Abby! I did not bf my girls so I'm not sure, but I'm imagining it would be impossible to nurse while the baby is in a carseat and you are seated next to her! I always had seats for my babies, but, frankly, they didn't always sit in them - there they go being 'babies' again . Holding Abby on the flight seems to be the best fit for you. You'll be able to feed her immediately, change her position, and do just about anything else needed. You may need to switch off with your dh so you can sip your in-flight beverage, but other than that, it should be a breeze!

Have a great trip!

 

[Jajone]

Just an afterthought.....

As a Mom of 4 I find alot of baby items useless but this is one item I bought for baby #4 and I LOVE IT!!!

It won't fall off even if baby kicks and squirms, I can latch her with my entire breast out if I need and no one can see and they come in very stylish patterns. I bought a knock-off on eBay cheaper, but here is the original site of the hooter hider......the plastic boning in the top and adjustable neck strap are worth thr money if you are planning on breastfeeding for awhile.
http://www.bebeaulait.com/

I also bought a handmade knock off for my third breastfed child and used it everywhere! I even had several people ask me if I was cold, thinking it was a blanket. Obviously I must have been nursing discreetly

 

[Tinkerbell2002]

We just flew SWA in May and I nursed ds and no one said anything on either flight. I think you will be fine. Have a fun trip.

 

[tanyaandallie]

Thank you everyone for your help!! Glad to hear nobody on this thread has had any negative experiences with nursing during a flight After speaking with DD's pediatrician, we decided to fly with her on on lap. Safety of course is top priority for us; we have the best car seats available and would spend any amount of money needed to ensure DD's safety in the car. If I thought that she needed her own seat on the plane, I would gladly have forked over the $200 for a seat, however, DH and I trust our pediatrician implicitly and his recommendation was for her to fly on our lap. Of course the airlines are going to encourage you to purchase a seat because they will make more money. I'm going with the advice of DD's doctor whose only interest is DD's well being. DD does not take a pacifier so that would never work. I really do not want to start that whole car seat debate again. My question was about bf on a plane and I got some very good advice there so thanks again.

I am sure your baby will be fine flying in your lap. I have flown with a lap baby many times so I am not really one to talk. However, PLEASE remember that your ped is an expert on the medical care of your child. He is not a safety expert and he is certainly not an expert on the safest way to fly with your child. The safest way to fly with your child is to have your child buckled into a carseat. There is just no way to debate that. If there is turbulence your child could be hurt.

Like I said, I am not one to talk as I have traveled with lap children and I do know the risks. I just want you to make sure you are aware that there are risks and that it is not the safest way to fly.

 

[eebadeeba]

Since you are flying SWA (assuming it is open seating), if someone is going to be sitting in the seat next to you, then you know they chose the seat knowing the baby is there. This eases my mind, since if it were an issue with them, they would have at least found a middle seat between two adults. I have never had an issue on any other flight.

I have also found that using my finger as a pacifier when landing when DD won't nurse, works to get them to suck. But if they are comfortable enough to sleep though it, then they are probably fine.

Have a great trip.

 

[GiGi30]

I nursed my daughter on a flight before. My DH did hold a blanket up for me. I am a bit shy about nursing in public, but we didn't get any looks or any snarky comments!

 

[ljcrochet]

I nursed my girls on a plane when they were 13 months old. No one gave us a second look. Our biggest problem was the seats. We had to chance seat due to the configuration of the plane.

 

[grlpwrd]

Just an afterthought.....

As a Mom of 4 I find alot of baby items useless but this is one item I bought for baby #4 and I LOVE IT!!!

It won't fall off even if baby kicks and squirms, I can latch her with my entire breast out if I need and no one can see and they come in very stylish patterns. I bought a knock-off on eBay cheaper, but here is the original site of the hooter hider......the plastic boning in the top and adjustable neck strap are worth thr money if you are planning on breastfeeding for awhile.
http://www.bebeaulait.com/

I frequent bf'ing boards and have been for a long time. There has been discussion that using this type of "shield" may actually draw more attention to you because it draws more attention to what mom is doing. I just wanted to share that thought with the OP.

BTW, your dd's are so beautiful....and congratulations on the birth of your newest littlest .

tanyaandallie, I like what you posted. I didn't want to "go there," but I am glad you posted what you did without being rude to the OP.