Travel Tips While Breastfeeding
Nursing mamas have the benefit of being able to feed their babies any and everywhere! Summer travel season is upon us and we have a few tips - whether you’re traveling with your baby or without and need to pump to make your breastfeeding experience as smooth as possible.
- Invest in a manual hand pump! They are so useful for pumping on the go (think trains, planes and automobiles).
- Traveling without your baby and need to pump? No more pumping and dumping - check out a service like MilkStork which will transport your milk back home for you! Many employers even cover the cost if you are traveling for work.
- Try not to stress. In a new place or foreign country and worried about breastfeeding in public? Ask if there’s a place for you to nurse and you’ll be surprised at how many places are accommodating.
- And if not - keep a nursing cover on hand in your diaper bag. You can also always use a muslin baby blanket, cardigan sweater or pashmina scarf.
- Think about your wardrobe and plan accordingly when you are out and about-especially for flights. Wear an easy access tank with a cardigan.
- Use an app like Pumpspotting to find places to pump — and if you’re flying you can use Mamava to find lactation stations ahead of your flight to find the nearest one to your gate.
- If you’re flying give yourself extra time to get through security if you’re traveling with milk.
- And…. if you’re driving plan for extra time to stop to nurse!
- Bring pumped milk just in case - it’s always reassuring to have on hand during long flights or drives.
- Don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated and nourished. Keep healthy snacks on hand!
