Nursing in Public

[@llli*evolvingmama]

Hello,

My baby is 7.5 months old. We exclusively breastfed until a little past 6 months when we introduced solids. He continues to have breastmilk as his primary source of nutrition. We RARELY used a bottle until about a month ago when I returned to work. I'm able to come home to feed him most of the time, so he really only gets EBM (by bottle) 2-3 times per week.

My problem/question: he absolutely will NOT breastfeed in public, even in our living room. The only place I can get him to take a feed is in our dark, quiet bedroom. He won't nurse well there if the light is on. He is just too distractible and active (wants to roll away and crawl away and play). This has been a problem for months (literally) but I hoped it was a phase. It doesn't seem to be. Most of the time, it isn't a problem and we can be home to feed but he still eats quite frequently and this really limits our ability to go out and do things. My husband and I would like to get back into doing some hiking but I am apprehensive about this as I don't think he'd actually eat and don't know what we'd do being gone the whole day.

Does anyone have any advice at all to help him settle in to nursing in other settings? I have tried covering with a blanket, but that just makes him angry and in the few cases that he remains calm, he still just looks around and plays with the cover. I've tried walking and nursing too and that is not effective.

Thanks,
Amanda

[@llli*chicas]

I am in the same boat as you! came looking for advice. tagging along to see what other mommies can tell us

[@llli*mommal]

How long have you gone in public, without baby nursing? I have to wonder what would happen if you forced the issue- let him get hungry enough that he decides "Aw, to heck with it- I am hungry and I may as well just try nursing out here". Wish I had a better suggestion than that- I am sure this is very frustrating!

[@llli*browncow]

What about a nursing necklace so he can play and eat. It's helped DD focus when she's antsy

[@llli*lllmeg]

Hiking may be fine, if you are hiking in an uncrowded, peaceful, natural area. Also will baby nurse in the car? Why not try a short hike close to home or at least close to your car at first so you are not too scared? Also even if your baby refuses to nurse for several hours it is not an issue nutritionally at this age.
For general NIP I was also going to suggest going to a LLL meeting or joining a nursing moms play group etc. I have seen lots of reluctant nursers get with the program when they are around other babies wo are nursing.

[@llli*emommy706]

Have you ever tried nursing in a baby carrier? Can you possibly borrow one from a friend and try it out? Ergo is a good choice or even a long woven wrap. Sometimes when they are tucked closer and cozier they can forget the exciting world around them. You can try sticking him in during a hike and then while on the go try letting him nurse. It will take some practice but it will be worth it if it works! When my son was around 5 months he would get so distracted he couldn't nap and would cry and become cranky and overtired so i got a woven wrap to nurse him in. it blocked out the distractions and helped calm him down.

[@llli*evolvingmama]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. We have been to our local LL meetings and he was the MOST distracted ever there! Too many things to do (and, honestly, not that many babies actually nursing during the meeting!). We have tried nursing in our carrier, but he doesn't seem to like it. I use a wrap and he hates being in it in the cradle hold and I can't figure out any other way to carry him and nurse in it. Maybe I should look into a ring sling or something (the Ergo doesn't work well for me). Or can anyone instruct on an alternate way to nurse in a wrap? I'll definitely try a nursing necklace, it can't hurt! I don't know about the car (we live in the UK and don't drive--just use buses, trains, walk, etc.). I have gotten him to nurse once on a hike before, but that was quite awhile ago. We have plans for this weekend to try, so fingers crossed!

We have had success going into a single bathroom and turning the light of and nursing while I walk. He also will nurse if I lay him on a changing table and stand over him. Neither are solutions that will work everywhere, though.

I am certain he has been hungry when we've tried to NIP but this doesn't seem to help. If anything, he will nurse for a quick minute just to take the edge off. I suppose I know in my mind that he can go longer then he normally does without suffering nutritionally, but I always worry about that (he lost a LOT of weight in the first days due to sucking problems and some birth trauma--and I still struggle with worry that he isn't getting enough. I also hate the thought of him feeling hungry and not having the need met promptly). Anyway, that's a tangent and a whole other issue altogether!

Thanks again!