Nursing in Restaurants?

[ArRzrbk]

I am still nursing my 1 year old - it's a lot easier than fixing bottles, and it is especially great when traveling. I know the parks have childcare stations where I can go inside to nurse, but what about restaurants?

Do you see lots of other nursing mothers feeding their babies during mealtimes? My DS won't take a bottle very well when I am around, and the alternative is to have him crying and carrying on while other folks are trying to eat. What do you all think?

 

[Steph H]

Congratulations to you for continuing to nurse your child into toddler-hood! The American Academy of Pediatrics says that is a great idea.

I have not been to Disney before, so I can't say what people do and don't do there, but I am the proud mother of a formerly nursing toddler and I would offer this advice: do what YOU feel comfortable doing, and just be discreet. Much of the time, folks won't know what you're doing and aren't even paying attention to you anyway. If you can afford it, invest in a couple of nursing tops (Motherwear are my favorite)--I nursed with those tops on so many times in public, and people had NO IDEA unless I told them or unless they STARED at me for a long time. Most people assumed my son was sleeping.

If you're uncomfortable nursing in public (or specifically, in a restaurant), practice nursing at the table at home to get comfortable with doing it so that you can be discreet. Or, do it in front of a mirror to help you feel confident that you're doing it in a way that won't attract any attention.

Honestly, if you ACT like you're uncomfortable and worried about what other people think, they are more likely to be drawn to wonder what you're doing. But if you're confident in your right to feed your child, and are also considerate of other people's feelings by being discreet (i.e., not showing anything that doesn't need to be shown), I'm sure you will be just fine!

Best of luck to you!

 

[Ask"WhyNot?"]

Feed your baby when hungry. Just be as discreet as possible. Wear nursing frinedly clothes, cover with big blanket/use a sling/use a nursing shawl/cover. Try and sit with your back to the majority of the room/area/people, where & when possible. Most people won't even notice.

 

[Bird-Mom]

Nurse, nurse, nurse! I mean, you go to a restaurant to eat, right? We have nursed around the world including in many restaurants and we'll be doing it again in the fall. Have fun and keep nursing that sweet babe!

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

I'm not a mom, but here's my advise as a restaurant go-er. I understand that Mom's need to nurse, but if you need to do it in a restaurant PLEASE cover up with a blanket. That is my only complaint when I see a nursing mom in a restaurant. I think that if you have the courtesy to 'cover up', other patrons will appreciate your modesty and will have no problems with it at all.

 

[liznboys]

I nursed my way around the World in Feb. On benches, on rides, in restaurants, if he wanted to nurse, I nursed him, wherever I was. I was always discreet about it, and I don't think anyone ever realized I was nursing.

 

[Amom2five]

I have nursed all 5 of my children - still nursing #5 who will be 12 mos in a few days. I know someone said to use a blanket, well I don't smother my child when he's eating, mostly because it's too hot and he will rip the blanket off and thrash around if a blanket is over him! He totally draws attention to us. I nurse everywhere - church, restaurants, mall, parks - but that being said I am very discreet (without the need for a blanket). No one usually even knows I'm nursing unless I tell them. BUT it has taken me 5 nursing children to be able to reach this level of comfort and ease. With #1, I would go to the bathroom or anywhere I could find b/c neither she nor I were very good at it! It does take practice. By all means if your baby is hungry then feed him wherever you are comfortable, maybe practice at home to be able to get him latched on in record time & without showing anything. I think restaurants are a perfect place to nurse - air conditioned & a chance to sit and relax! Good luck!

 

[Bird-Mom]

I never used a blanket either. It makes it very obvious that you are nursing. If you don't like a tiny flash of skin during latch-on, then don't look. As one of my friends says, "the most offending part to nursing in public is the sliver of post-baby tummy that shows!"

 

[ArRzrbk]

You all have made me feel so good about this I actually nursed DS #1 until he was almost two - DS #2 arrived just a couple months after DS #1 stopped nursing! And while I had every nursing issue in the book with DS #1 (he was born just a little early, so he was learning while I was learning - not a good combo), DS #2 and I can walk around the house while he's eating, literally

I don't have any nursing tops, which some of you suggested, but I am pretty good at just lifting the ole shirt quickly and doing so to just to the right level. No over exposure And I feel like AMom2Five feels, I also don't like trying to cover us both up with a blanket - too hot, DS #2 doesn't like it that well, and it seems to be a bigger attention getter. People wondering what's going on under there

Anyway, thanks to all that responded thus far, and I will be as discrete as possible when nursing, use the baby centers whenever I can, and sit in locations that are the least visible at our table. And I plan to just be happy that I have made it this far with nursing and knowing so many people support me. Free food. No bottles to fix or warm. Perfect nutrition and comfort available when needed - wouldn't change it for the world

 

[Colinsmom]

Just to add more support for you!! I nursed my DS until 19 months, when he decided that he was done. Do what you need to do to feed your baby - no one would tell you that you couldn't give a bottle in a restaurant.

And it is always easy for non-nursers to suggest using a blanket to cover up - my DS would never tolerate being covered with a blanket while nursing either, so we just learned how to be discreet. If someone doesn't like it, they are free to look elsewhere!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Nurse that baby at the table!

I am nursing an almost-five-month old right now, and I always nurse him when we eat out. Most people never know it, either. I never use a blanket, nor would I in warmer weather...the only reason I have in the past is when I'd nurse outside on benches in the winter...BRRRRR! Personally, I have yet to ever see more than the BRIEFEST flash of breast from any nursing mother, and that is with me watching them closely at a playgroup or LLL to get tips on how to properly latch, etc. I don't own any nursing tops, either. I just wear really loose shirts so they're easy to pull up and then they sorta "bunch" against his face and block everything not blocked by his head! If you are still uncomfortable you can always try sitting with the breast you'll use or start with towards the corner/wall or inside of a booth. The only thing I would NOT recommend or ever do myself is nurse in a bathroom. IMO that is really gross. I will definitely try the nursing stations at WDW but I will also be making use of benches throughout the parks. I don't understand those who are offended by nursing when there are women wearing the most offensive "outfits" possible, baring their bottoms and chests and everything else!!!! That is not intended to start a debate, but I really don't get it!! Good luck to you and let us know how it goes!

 

[Maureenmouse]

I say nurse when ever baby is hungry. I nursed everywhere for my 2 DDs now 2 and 5. In fact my 2y.o. just recently weaned, although we were down to only nursing at night. I can honestly say that nobody ever seemed to stare at me for nursing in public. The only commentsa that I got were from my FIL who didn't understand the benefits of nursing until my DH explained it to him. Your baby will be so much more comfortable nursing at his regular times.

 

[mrslur]

My kids are grown now but I'm so glad to see women still nursing! So many don't. I nursed one of mine at DL and all of mine whenever they were hungry wherever we were. Go for it!

 

[dixipixi]

Although I didn't go to DW while I was nursing my son, I did nurse him until he was 18 mos. old.

I always nursed him whenever/wherever he became hungry. I tried to be as modest as possible, but I could not always cover up with a blanket. We live in Louisiana, and it is just too hot most of the time to even have a blanket with you.

Some people I know even suggested I quit nursing altogether and bottle feed my baby because they found it "immodest". (In the 1990's!!!!) The funny thing was, these women wore less in public and showed more skin while they were not nursing than I ever did!

IMO, a mother nursing her child in public is not offensive at all. Trust your instincts and do what is right for you and your baby.

 

[mimif1]

Nursing in restaurants has always been a good place for me. Especially in a booth! If at a table, I try to be the one facing the wall for the most privacy (and also my munchkin likes to look around while nursing! The less to see for her, the more discreet I can be!) I also could never cover her with a blanket. Not only is it too hot, but she freaks out. I'm claustrophobic and I always wondered if she might be a tad also. She can't stand to have her head covered. It sure is hard to be discreet with a thrashing, screaming kid in your lap.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

another vote of confidence to just go for it and nurse baby whenever and where ever he is hungry! I'm from GA and my son was born in the spring so I never did the blanket thing either...too darn hot! I tried it once and when I went to lift the blanket to peek at him he was bright red and sweaty. No more blanket. by the time it wasn't so hot he was old enough to realize that it wasn't so much fun to be covered by a blanket so he wouldn't tolerate it. I wouldn't suggest to anyone that they cover up with a blanket in Fla. Wear nursing friendly clothes and do your best to be discrete. Chances are there will be a whole bunch of 15-20 year old girls showing a whole lot more walking around the parks than you will in that split second it takes to get baby latched! If anyone is offended, honestly, that's their issue. You have the legal right to feed your baby anywhere you and your baby have the right to be. You aren't required to "cover up" or even be discrete for that matter. Common courtesy dictates being discrete of course and it's rare to find a nursing Mom who isn't discrete.

Have fun and enjoy your trip! In a way I think it's easier when they are that age and "portable" rather than at 3 when they have their own agenda for the day.

 

[Clare]

Just a suggestion for "nursing friendly" clothing. I nursed my DD until she was 11 months old. I had a couple of maternity tops which I didn't like wearing, so I found something else that worked really well for me. I would wear a tank top with a 3/4 length sleeve zip-up sweater on top (a lightweight button-up shirt or zip-up sweatshirt works too). That way I could pull the zipper down a little, pull the tank up & nurse. The bunched up tank rested against DD's face & the zip-up sweater covered my belly and sides. I always felt really comfortable nursing this way in public. Once she was latched on, no one could see a thing.

I know at WDW you're not going to want to be wearing a sweater all the time, but in restaurants with major AC it might work perfectly.

Like I said, this worked really well for me. Maybe it would for you too!

 

[fanofdisney]

Congratulations to you for continuing to nurse your child into toddler-hood! The American Academy of Pediatrics says that is a great idea.

I have not been to Disney before, so I can't say what people do and don't do there, but I am the proud mother of a formerly nursing toddler and I would offer this advice: do what YOU feel comfortable doing, and just be discreet. Much of the time, folks won't know what you're doing and aren't even paying attention to you anyway. If you can afford it, invest in a couple of nursing tops (Motherwear are my favorite)--I nursed with those tops on so many times in public, and people had NO IDEA unless I told them or unless they STARED at me for a long time. Most people assumed my son was sleeping.

If you're uncomfortable nursing in public (or specifically, in a restaurant), practice nursing at the table at home to get comfortable with doing it so that you can be discreet. Or, do it in front of a mirror to help you feel confident that you're doing it in a way that won't attract any attention.

Honestly, if you ACT like you're uncomfortable and worried about what other people think, they are more likely to be drawn to wonder what you're doing. But if you're confident in your right to feed your child, and are also considerate of other people's feelings by being discreet (i.e., not showing anything that doesn't need to be shown), I'm sure you will be just fine!

Best of luck to you!

I agree- do it anywhere you want, but try to be discreet. If anyone around you is uncomfortable, don't be embarrassed- they're the ones who should be embarrassed for staring and they are the ones with the issue if they can't accept what breasts are really for! So keep on feedin'!

 

[AmyBeth68]

Just adding support and encouragement. Although my youngest is already 5 (sniff), I recall nursing as one of the JOYS of having an infant. With my first I was more worried about what others might think...with my second I just realized that this is natural and usually people have no idea that it was happening.

Nurse when and where you need to!!!! Have a wonderful trip .

 

[rt2dz]

I have nursed two and am expecting #3 and will be nursing that one too. I always nurse on demand (with #2 who was premature and had breathing problems that meant every 1- 1.5 hours until he was 8 months old) and in public quite frequently. I never locked myself in the house nor would I ever feed my baby in a bathroom. I wouldn't eat my meals in a bathroom, especially a public bathroom!!! So feed that little angel whenever and whereever hungry, without shame, without guilt.

BUT, I want to add in support for the person who suggested a blanket. I usually nursed with a blanket in public. Not because I was scared what someone might think of a tiny, tiny bit of skin--I didn't even put it on until after we were latched--but because I live in Houston (very hot, lots of sun, as bad if not worse than FL) and frequently we were outside when nursing (especailly after the first one). I wouldn't want my child exposed to that sun and have his skin ruined. I used a *VERY* lightweight blanket that allowed a lot of breathing room. Neither of my boys were ever red and sweaty (your blanket is wayyyyy to heavy then). And, yes, I did check often. Nor did I drape both of us in it. It really just looked like I was keeping a sleeping baby out of the sun, as you should!! Of course, I kept my children out of the sun regardless--skin cancer runs wild in my family, even from those who stay out of the sun. And a child who is ripping off a blanket looking around, probably isn't that hungry--maybe, but as la leche league says if they distract very easily, probably not. Do whatever is comfortable for you--blanket or not, but just remember, there is more than one reason to use a blanket. And if you are going to use one, practice so that your baby gets used to it.