Travel Tips for Breastfeeding Moms
One of the many benefits of breastfeeding is the ease of always having the baby's food supply available. That is a certainly an advantage for travel, whether by plane, train, or automobile. Linda Faubert, lactation consultant, University of Michigan Health System suggests that it may be helpful to wait a few weeks after baby's birth before traveling. She says that time will allow new mothers the chance to recuperate, learn infant care and breastfeeding skills, and establish a plentiful milk supply.
With breastfeeding, your milk is readily available, always at the right temperature, and the comfort of nursing can help reduce the stress of being in unfamiliar places. Whether traveling for pleasure, employment reasons, or introducing your new baby to relatives, planning well ahead of time can help a mother avoid potential obstacles. Consider some of the following suggestions to help you and your baby have a good trip:
Travel by Airplane
- Bring along a sling or other soft infant carrier which may be used to:
1. Ease the burden of carrying a child for extended periods of time
2. Increase opportunities for unrestricted nursing
3. Maintain skin-to skin contact with baby, which helps maintain milk supply
4. Protects baby from some environmental hazards
- Take an extra set of clothes for you and the baby in your carry-on bag in case your luggage is delayed (or the baby's diaper leaks onto your lap)
- Wear a loose fitting top you can easily pull up for nursing
- A light blanket can help give you privacy in tight quarters if you feel self-conscious
- Breastfeeding during take off's and landings helps to relieve pressure in your baby's ears
- If baby is fussy and will not settle for breastfeeding, try nipple substitutes such as pacifier or mom's clean finger for soothing young infants.
- If your baby is in an infant safety seat and becomes fussy with hunger cues, wait until the pilot gives his/her permission to unbuckle before taking baby out of safety seat for feeding. Read or print this related .pdf document: Child-proof Your Flight
- If you are uncomfortable breastfeeding in public and your baby will drink from a bottle, bring along a bottle of expressed breastmilk for in-flight feeding. See also: Transportation Security Administration's Important Information on Traveling With Formula, Breast Milk, and Juice web page
- Snacks and cups of water will help sooth older infants.
- Air travel can be dehydrating, so make sure that you drink plenty of water or juice.
Electric breastpumps are considered personal items during air travel, and may be carried on and stowed underneath the passenger seat, similar to a laptop computer, purse, or diaper bag.
Travel by Car
- Be sure to allow extra time for breastfeeding stops.
- To avoid injury, never hold your child in your lap when the car is moving. If your baby needs to breastfeed or be comforted, stop the car and take a break.
- Babies may want to nurse more often than usual. It's not unusual for a baby's schedule to change when you're away from home.
- Anticipate that traveling may be tiring for infants as well as adults. Leave plenty of time in your schedule for relaxing and unwinding.
- Pay careful attention to your own needs for nutritious food, plenty of liquids, and rest.
- Depending on your baby's age, bring along a few familiar toys as well some new ones to entertain him/her.
- Some babies sleep better in strange places if you bring sheets and/or blankets from home (they'll smell and feel right to the baby).
- If you own a personal breastpump, bring it along in case of any "breastfeeding emergency" where baby could not feed, or you experience unrelieved engorgement symptoms.
No matter which mode of transportation you choose, careful planning will insure the best trip for you and your baby! Any parent quickly learns that traveling with kids often impacts their sleeping/feeding schedules. Faubert says it is important to, "Factor in flexibility."
On-Line Resources
La Leche League: www.llli.org/FAQ/travel.html
Centers for Disease Control: travel recommendations
