Discreet Nursing of a Toddler in Public

Timing is Important

• If your child wants to nurse while you̵7;re out in public, you can be more discrete if you learn to recognize his feeding cues. By the time your child is a toddler, you will likely come to recognize the situations or feelings that make him more likely to want to breastfeed. Instead of waiting for your toddler to ask you to feed him or before he starts crying because he wants to nurse, breastfeed him before he gets to that point so he doesn't draw a lot of attention to the situation.

Find a Private Spot

• Just because you̵7;re out in public doesn̵7;t mean you have to breastfeed your toddler in front of a bunch of people. While some situations may not allow for you to find a private spot, there are plenty of times when you can find a location that is out of sight. If you̵7;re in a store, for instance, head to a dressing room. Some restrooms will have chairs or couches, which make the perfect place to nurse privately. If there̵7;s no way around nursing the child in front of others, look for a place that might not have as much traffic. If you̵7;re at the mall or a restaurant, find a spot that̵7;s not as crowded so you̵7;ll be less likely to be noticed. You can always go to your car to feed your toddler if you feel there are just too many people around. It̵7;s best to find as quiet an area as possible, especially when breastfeeding toddlers, since they̵7;re easily distracted by people and noises and will likely be pulling off the breast to see what̵7;s going on.

Practice at Home

• Discrete breastfeeding in public may require some practice at home to get your toddler into a nursing routine. Rather than allowing your toddler to listen to the television or chat with you while he̵7;s nursing, get him into a routine of nursing in a quiet location where there are no distractions. If you prefer to drape a blanket over your toddler while nursing in public, do the same thing at home so he becomes accustomed to the ritual. Set boundaries with your child, even at home, to make discrete nursing in public easier. If he̵7;s constantly pulling off the breast to talk or play, stop the nursing session and explain to him that this time is for eating, not playing. Establishing specific breastfeeding practices with your toddler right from the start will make it easier and more comfortable for you to breastfeed when you̵7;re among other people.

Dress for Success

• If you want to nurse your toddler in public without drawing a lot of attention to yourself, it̵7;s important to dress appropriately. Wear a nursing bra or sports bra, both of which make it easy to get your breast out to feed the child. Dress in loose-fitting shirts or blouses that provide easy access to your breast; shirts that button or zip up the back will pose a challenge for nursing moms. You can also invest in special nursing tops, which are made with a hidden opening in the front so you can expose just enough of your breast for your child to nurse. Once your toddler latches on, adjust your clothing to cover your exposed skin. Wearing a sweater or jacket over your shirt can also help cover your stomach if you have to lift your shirt to nurse. The most important thing is to try out different kinds of clothing to find what works best for you and your child.

Other Tips

• If you̵7;re out in public and your toddler wants to nurse, but it̵7;s crowded and he seems distracted, try telling him, ̶0;Let̵7;s eat when we get home.̶1; Toddlers will often accept this request without fuss. Be prepared to respond to people who have a negative view of nursing toddlers, or perhaps even breastfeeding in general. While most people will not confront a mother who is nursing her child, regardless of the child̵7;s age, you never know when you might get a few nasty words or looks. You can choose to say nothing, or respond by saying something like, ̶0;My doctor encourages me to continue breastfeeding,̶1; or ̶0;I do this because it̵7;s good for his health.̶1;