Reading all the stuff about Victoria's Secrets got me thinking...it sounds like quite a few people, when they're out and about, will head there or somewhere with nice dressing rooms to nurse. That thought never occured to me...I'm a little traumatized by dressing rooms I think! :) If I'm out shopping and the baby gets hungry, I like to head for a furniture store or somewhere that has a nice furniture department so I can kick back and get comfy to nurse. I never use the "nursing room" at Babies-R-Us, I always find a nice comfortable display rocking chair. I love stores that have those massaging chairs on display...I'll take a break there and offer to nurse even if he's not hungry! :blush:
On the other end of the spectrum, I think the worst is the corner booth in a restaurant. Before I was very comfortable with NIP, I would look for somewhere "discreet" and frequently wound up with a booth in the back or corner...yuck! I'm way too big for that! Now, I want a chair...I don't care how exposed it is!
So what's your best/favorite place to NIP?
tcwyles
06-27-2006, 08:59 AM
Right now my baby is small enough that I can carry her and nurse anywhere. I just plunk her on and go on my way. I have these awesome nursing tops (boobdesign.com) and no one even knows I am nursing. I never go hide - and so far no one has said anything about it, either.
bfoster2000
06-27-2006, 09:09 AM
Right now my baby is small enough that I can carry her and nurse anywhere. I just plunk her on and go on my way. I have these awesome nursing tops (boobdesign.com) and no one even knows I am nursing. I never go hide - and so far no one has said anything about it, either.
I've tried and tried to nurse and walk and either I'm shaped wrong or I'm just not coordinated enough! I have done it a few times but it just never seems to work for me...especially nursing, walking, and pushing a buggy! I think the only time anyone has ever come out and said something to me when I was NIP was when I was sitting in a lazyboy in the furniture department of a store nursing my 9 or 10 month old. I was almost asleep and a mama walked by with two toddlers and just smiled and commented "I remember those days." I couldn't tell if she really knew what I was doing or if she just thought I was rocking him so I said something about how after all these months I still haven't gotten the hang of walking, nursing, and pushing a shopping cart all at the same time so I figured I'd just take a little break. I figured she'd be shocked about the nursing and run away but she just stopped and asked me if I'd tried a sling and then pulled one out of her purse and told me that she doesn't use it as much now that the kids are older but it was a lifesaver when they were babies because she could walk through the store with the baby nursing in the sling and pushing a shopping cart and holding onto the toddler. It was kind of a revelation for me...I can only remember a couple of times in my life seeing anyone NIP so I always assumed that it was not acceptable around here. Something clicked for me that day and I realized that maybe more people are doing it, you just don't *see* it because it's really not a big deal unless you make it one. I do notice NIP more these days...not sure if it's because more women are doing it or just because I've been there and recognize it more...but I don't think it's a big deal at all anymore!
cowmommy
06-27-2006, 09:19 AM
Gracie is 7 months old and I just feed her wherever I am when she gets hungry. If I'm in WalMart I just get the older 2 to push the buggy and go about my business or go to the toy section and let them play while I stand there and nurse her. Eventually she will get too heavy for this but for now I just do it where ever it really never occurred to me with any of my children to hide while I nurse I feel that is what they were made for. Now saying that I do nurse discreetly and would never just bare all in the middle of a store :giggle: but have no problem with others doing so.
bfoster2000
06-27-2006, 09:24 AM
I'm not talking so much about hiding, but more like just making yourself comfortable. Like I said, I never got the hang of walking, pushing a cart, and keeping the baby latched on so I like to sit down...I'd never go to a dressing room or restroom though. That's why I'll seek out a furniture display or those big comfy reading chairs in the bookstore. With this baby I guess I'm going to have to work on the multitasking because I doubt my 2 year old will sit quietly in the shopping cart while mommy stretches out in a recliner to nurse the baby!
cowmommy
06-27-2006, 11:47 AM
I'm not talking so much about hiding, but more like just making yourself comfortable. Like I said, I never got the hang of walking, pushing a cart, and keeping the baby latched on so I like to sit down...I'd never go to a dressing room or restroom though. That's why I'll seek out a furniture display or those big comfy reading chairs in the bookstore. With this baby I guess I'm going to have to work on the multitasking because I doubt my 2 year old will sit quietly in the shopping cart while mommy stretches out in a recliner to nurse the baby!
Getting comfy sounds like a good idea :D I'll have to remember that when she gets bigger :)
Lucky Child
06-27-2006, 12:10 PM
Some people may feel most comfy in a dressing room or at a booth though. Comfy as in say where they feel the most comfortable inside or comfy as in their body is comfy can be one in the same, or at least directly effect one another... but I do see what you are getting at.
I prefer just to nurse wherever I am... I don't try to go to one particular place. I actually like to nurse while I walk. Since I have a 20 month old I'm always chasing her in stores, etc. or pushing the cart, so for us it isn't comfy to sit and relax... in fact there is no such thing while we are out. So for me walking and nursing with baby in sling is most comfy
Shaineinok
06-27-2006, 12:28 PM
I like the car! Comfy seat, the radio to listen to and my toddler is trapped so I don't have to chase after her.
hunterNkarter
06-27-2006, 12:38 PM
I like the car! Comfy seat, the radio to listen to and my toddler is trapped so I don't have to chase after her.
:lostit: Here, Here!!!
I use to try and hide but I finally said WTF am I doing??!! So now I find anywhere that I can get positioned well and go for it!
I've gotten the nasty looks and felt embarrassed but I'm now learning to just nod and smile back!
heather_c
06-28-2006, 10:22 AM
My favorite place in the mall is Nordstrom's department store. They have a nice mother's lounge in one of their restrooms. Normally, I am opposed to nursing in a restroom, but the lounge is so nice. It has very comfy chairs and it is quiet, so DS is not as distracted as he would be otherwise.
I do not have a problem NIP, but DS does. :) He is too busy looking around to eat.
ChurchPunkMom
06-28-2006, 11:07 AM
I pretty much just nurse where I am. If I have a sling and a nursing top on, I'll nurse while walking around. Otherwise, I find the nearest chair, bench, curb, patch of grass.. whatever! I'm not real fond of nursing in the car because at this point my daughter thinks it's just way too neat in the front seat. She doesn't nurse there unless she's REALLY hungry. Plus, at this time of year it's too hot - and gas is too expensive to run the car for AC when I can get it somewhere else for free (i.e. in a store) ;). The only time I ever feel self concsious is if I'm wearing a top that I pull my boob out the top of. Then I make sure I have a burp cloth or something to lay over the top of my breast and over my bare shoulder (if possible). I still prefer to leave her head uncovered though.
Psychomom
06-28-2006, 05:04 PM
Anywhere! I love to NIP--I love showing others it's normal. I can't manage nursing while standing/walking, so I do need a place to sit. But I really don't care where I am.
aschrimp
07-01-2006, 01:42 AM
I would NIP all the time, but DS will not nurse if we aren't somewhere quiet! He pops on and off and on and off and eventually I end up with him trying out my go-go-gadget-extend-a-boob or being bitten. So now I go and find somewhere quiet - a quiet bench away from people in a park, mothers room, back seat of the car (too many buttons and nobs in the front). It seems like I am hiding away, but really, I am just going somewhere that ds will be comfortable and relaxed enough to eat. I'd do it anywhere.
When he was littler, I NIP all the time, including while walking through stores. But those days are over for me (at least for a while).
anne_josh
07-01-2006, 03:20 AM
Ditto Nordstrom's! I used to love their lounges.
Now ds is too distractible so we nurse at home and he gets a cup of water if he's thirsty while out.
skayers01
07-07-2006, 01:02 PM
I've tried and tried to nurse and walk and either I'm shaped wrong or I'm just not coordinated enough!
Me too! I can't keep him latched on whenever I try! I usually just find a seat a pull a blanket over me until I get him latched on. I'm not shy about breastfeeding, but I am shy about my breasts. Does that make sense? I think because I've been a large C or D since I was like 13 or 14, I don't like to draw attention to them. Although I did wear a tube top the other day and mI have to admit, the girls were looking good! :ohyeah:
skayers01
07-07-2006, 01:05 PM
my go-go-gadget-extend-a-boob
:lolsign:
Too funny!
genny
07-07-2006, 01:18 PM
I bought myself one of those nifty Bebe Au Lait (http://www.bebeaulait.com) covers and now I am comfortable nursing anywhere! when we were travelling in May (driving) I preferred to nurse in restaurants--we could get back on the road quicker if we combined our eating time with Elliot's. :thumbsup:
I'm always so excited to see someone else NIP--about a month ago, a mama was nursing while shopping where I work (Gymboree) and I complimented her on it. I was so happy to see someone else doing it! :mrgreen:
SugarBunsWool&More
07-08-2006, 07:17 PM
I'll nurse just about anywhere I feel like it. That said, now that DS is bigger, I can usually put him off or feed him a cracker or something if he wants to NIP. He's getting bigger and squirmy so it isn't as easy as it once was when he was tiny! Now all of a sudden, he's turned into quite the exhibitionist while nursing and I'm not super comfortable with that. I worry that its putting out the *wrong* BFing message, kwim?
But, we've nursed in the car (kinda cramped and not my favorite), in dressing rooms, at restaurants while eating, and many other places. Once I get all situated, I don't think anyone knows what we're doing.
I'm sad that he's starting to nurse less and eat more, but I guess its natural. I'll keep going as long as we both find it mutually beneficial. :mrgreen:
AKM
07-09-2006, 04:25 PM
Yesterday in the mall, I used the Motherhood dressing room. I'm still pretty shy about NIP for some reason, except at restaurants I guess. I've fed him in 3 different restaurants now.
Sarah
07-09-2006, 06:32 PM
I'll nurse just about anywhere,if we're out in public I've got a carrier and nursing shirt so I can just keep doing what I'm doing.
Before I would head straight to Gloria Jeans coffee shop and eat a muffin and nurse
Sarah
CarrieMF
07-09-2006, 06:50 PM
I would nurse at the closest seat near where my baby wanted to nurse. Most stores around here do not have chairs so I'd sit on the floor, or in a display. I never wore nursing shirts. Nobody ever questioned me but here it's illegal to do that.
tatumsmom
07-09-2006, 07:04 PM
I'm with all you other mamas, I nurse anywhere. When dd is hungry we just stop and nurse. I have yet to try walking and NIP, we do that at home allthe time, but I always have too much stuff with me when we are out. I think it might be too much to juggle, KWIM? Ocassionally, we get dirty looks when NIP, but it is usually from older women. Afterall, we live in a very conservative mid-western town...I am proud to nurse so I never let that stop me!:mrgreen:
I wish I could say that I see other mamas doing it around town, but I never have. Perhaps, the pp was right, maybe mamas are just so good at it that I never notice. :goodvibes:
Elphaba71
07-09-2006, 08:07 PM
He pops on and off and on and off and eventually I end up with him trying out my go-go-gadget-extend-a-boob
:yeahthat: :laugh:
If I was one of those people with normal sized boobs and a baby that just nursed until he was done and quietly fell asleep, I'd nurse anywhere, but my son seems to take great pleasure in pushing up my shirt so my entire (42DD) breast is exposed on the occasions when I'm nursing around family and friends and trying to be semi-discreet. And he tries out the go-go gadget boob a lot as he pops on and off and on and off and on and off. Also, due to the size and shape of my breasts I have to support them when I nurse, so I need to use one hand throughout - i.e. the babywearing and nursing is pretty much out.
All that said - I prefer nursing in my car, by far the number one choice when I'm out. I'll take anywhere if that's terribly inconvenient and use a cover-up, but with the one hand supporting thing, positioning is pretty important and can be very rough on my back, so I try not to, if I can help it. Nursing on the lawn while listening the outdoor symphony performance on July 4th just about crippled me. We've nursed in lots of restaurants though (I agree - get a chair!) and a few random benches out and about and Picture People - even after they suggested I nurse my son in their bathroom - which I just ignored and sat on a stool near the back of the store.. Usually, when I'm at the mall, I hit a dressing room. DS doesn't like the cover-up, but since he likes the world to see me while he's checking out the world, I feel it necessary.
Just because boobs are made for nursing doesn't mean people can't feel uncomfortable showing theirs off - vaginas were made for birthing and urethras for peeing, but we do those behind closed doors with only certain people welcome to attend. I'm very pro NIP, but I think a dollop of discretion will make most of us more comfortable while we're nursing and help our cause in the long run. That isn't aimed at anyone except the people who are apologizing for being uncomfortable NIPing. You do what you're comfortable with - because baby will be more comfortable and you'll both be happier.
Gosh - I always write books when I post:blush:
akrab
07-09-2006, 09:11 PM
my favorite place to NIP is....
where ever my guy is hungry :mrgreen: I have nursed him walking through walmart LOL
Samantha
07-09-2006, 10:30 PM
Uh, any place I can find to sit when the baby is hungry :blush:
I really only NIP when the baby is tiny....once they get bigger most of the time I just time outtings right that they wont be hungry while we are out. I dont have any issues with NIP....but, I just prefer to have a full baby when we go out...LOL
jesusismyjoy
07-10-2006, 08:17 AM
I like to nurse in the van!! LOL Not because I don't want to NIP, but it's a 12 passenger and the backseat folds down into a bed. SO comfy and all other dc contained!
SoftBumBaby
07-10-2006, 11:53 PM
I haven't read all the responses yet, so maybe someone else has said this, but I feel most comfortable NIP at the park while my older DS plays, because there are other mommies there and I know a fair amount of them (maybe the majority) breastfeed. I have seen other mommies nursing there, sitting on the grass.
However...I have nursed at McDonald's. :mrgreen: THAT'S pretty public. I used my sling. It's one of those great big ones with the ring and "tail", and it covers us fairly well.
*~Mindy~*
07-11-2006, 02:26 AM
i will anywhere, i dont really have a fave lol
i always have him in some type of carrier though except a couple times, or if were ina restaurant, then hes iin a chair or booth, and just sits in my lap to eat a few mins, but normally hes got food there, or steals someone elses lol
and i also always have on a nursing shirt (rare anymore, unless its spaghetti strapped and i only have one wth sleeves but its awful when were out cause its a lift the outside to expose nursing panel kind, and its hard to lift it as well as imo being more noticeable having the front half of my shirt jammed up to my chest anyway )or a regular spaghetti strapped shirt, so im a self service buffet all the time :giggle:
and i wear a 36dd but its totally not really super noticeable in general, normally (imo) they look like a b or so, lol (at least in my head, im constantly argued wit about that..) and ive never noticed anyone else nip before, but i was chased down in target and told not to do "that" walking around the store...
