Traveling and Breastfeeding - No Problem

by Paula
(Sweden)

Reading the tips on this page about traveling while breastfeeding, I just wanted to share my experience, which is that IT WORKS! I've been traveling to several European countries, and - my biggest challenge -Egypt and I've breastfed in public everywhere.

The meanest glare I ever got was actually in a café in the Netherlands! I was breastfeeding very discretely, but obviously it was still too evident for an old lady who stared, frowned and finally left!

When going to Egypt I must admit that I was quite nervous. I expected to have to stay in my hotel room for breastfeedig - a boring thought, but I certainly did not want to offend anyone! (I mean, it is a muslim country!) However, one day at the beach, I missed the time and had a starving, crying baby in my arms. I simply couldn't just let him cry…

So - in bikini - I nursed him in public. To my big surprise noone reacted! Well, "in bikini" is not the whole truth. Being my youngest child I had quite a lot of experience in breastfeeding in public in a discrete way. I had taught my baby at home to nurse calmly under a blanket. So I placed him under his blanket and sat very relaxed, rocking him gently and talking to my husband while feeding him.

Since noone commented or stared, my guess is that noone really knew what was going on. Or maybe it is ok to breastfeed in public in some parts of Egypt? It was quite a touristy place… (If someone from Egypt reads this, pleace tell us!)

Anyway, my view is don't ever let your breastfeeding stop you from traveling. Instead make sure you are prepared! Buy really practical nursing clothes and bras and practice your skills to breastfeed in public at home. Because even if you don't plan to do it, the situation might force you. Then it is really nice to be able to feed your baby with confidence.

(And if you want to travel to a country where nobody really cares at all if you breastfeed in public, go to Sweden!)