Breastfeeding on Plane

you can get a cover for about $12 at target, it's got a bit of an opening so may not upset the baby like a blanket can. Or just wear a big shirt or a button down. It will be great, try not to stress about it. I sometimes will ask to be seated in the back of the plane, that way it is usually less crowded and it is louder back there in case there is lots of crying it won't be as noticable to the other passengers. Good luck and safe travels

BRING A BOPPY PILLOW! It is a pain carrying it throught the airport but saved my life by not having to hold up baby and feed her and it covered my entire lap!

Get a Hooter Hider or other kind of privacy drape and go to town. It's a little cramped depending on her age.
Mine was 5 weeks old when I traveled with her. I personally prefer the window, so I had a little more room. The diaper changing things was much more challenging, but luckily it wasn't a full flight, and I had the whole row at one point. Likely not the case these days with hundreds of flights no longer available to save money.

Good luck.
Remember, you can bring pumped breast milk through the TSA security check. You just have to let them know it's there, and you should have no problem getting through. And, gate check your stroller. It will make life much easier.

Whenever you walk on a plane with an infant, it feels like people get tense thinking that they might have a fussy baby to travel with, and you never know if it just may be that day for fussiness, but I think that it really helps to nurse while going up or just after take off. Baby slept most or all of the trip (altitude also helps this) and wasn't affected by the pressure, because he nursed to sleep. Used the sling as a light "tent" over baby for privacy and created a dark quiet place to sleep.

Can't tell you the number of times nursing on the plane has made a smooth journey...people thanked me for having such a quiet contented child.

Most times I tried to sit by the window so I could have more room and only had to worry about having one stranger nearby. Blessing to have an empty seat next to you, or to have your husband traveling with you.

I nursed my son on my flight, it's no problem. To be courteous, though, I would use a cover. :)

For me, it didn't work. We were in coach class and so the seats are tiny and my 8 month old didn't want anything to do with it! She was overstimulated by the people, noise, etc. Others may give you some great advice, but I just wanted to tell you that just in case you have an issue like I did, make sure that you have a sippy cup or bottle to offer instead just for the plane ride as well as new toys, and a strap on the bottle/cup b/c if it gets thrown on the floor of a plane, you won't find it again. :) Have fun!

I say go for it! Make sure you have spit-up rags. I've heard it helps babies' ears to nurse during take-off and landing, and that they're a lot less fussy because of it. Try to sit by the window if you have a choice--you'll have a little more privacy that way. Or if that's not an option, try one of those nursing covers you can get at Target or Babies R Us. Or I bet the flight attendants might have a few tricks up their sleeves. As far as fellow passengers go...no one can tell you that you can't nurse your baby in public. If they're offended, they shouldn't be looking anyway. Good luck and have a nice flight!

I took my daughter on a 12 hour flight to Europe when she was 3.5 months old. She was NOT pleased with the experience at first and after screaming for about two hours straight none of the passengers, nor the flight crew cared that we were both passed out in our seat, with my boobs basically hanging out while she was latched on.
I had really wanted to be discreet, but you know what: you do what you have to to make it comfortable for everyone involved.
Nobody gave me grief (even though the screaming continued for the last three hours before landing) and people actually came up to me and encouraged me how bravely I had handled the situation.
This was on an SAS flight, if that makes any difference, and their service is AWESOME!
I have never neen particularly shy, but ever since that experience I was just one of those moms that whipped out the boob whereever needed, if I did not have a place to withdraw to. I am of the opionion that the people who stare at your boobs are the ones at fault, not the breastfeeding mom who is nursing her infant.
That said, button down shirts or nursing shirts help.
Good luck!

L.,

Breastfeeding on planes is a blessing! I've done three domestic and one transatlantic trips (all with layovers) with my daughter while she was 6-11 months. My husband was with us on one short trip.

Try to wait at least until seated, preferably until taxiing to feed your baby. Feeding at home before you leave may be a good idea, since the procedures, security checks, boarding etc take a long time. My daughter didn't have any issues with her ears popping, but she did have a nice tantrum mid flight on one trip. Not much you can do but wait it out if nothing works.

The lack of privacy and space make it challenging, but I was more than happy to jump through the hoops to keep my baby fed, rested and calm. I've never used any sort of feeding covers (tried a light blanket, but she'd play with it), just loose shirts with a hoodie. Never gotten any negative comments or dirty looks either :-)

Have a nice trip!
LV

I have flown with my son several times and he was/is only breastfed. You can buy a cover at target or wal mart. It will be fine. Best thing I can tell you would be to sit by the window. Put a pillow or blanket between seat and plane by the arm rest so no one behind you can see you feeding and shut the window (if not someone can see the reflection of you nursing in the window!) Other than that you will be fine, this is the easy part wait till they start walking!

I had to fly a few times while my daughter was still nursing and while I was on the plane I did it as long and as often as possible to keep her happy and to get her to take a long nap. Wen I checked in I asked for a window seat so I would at least have a wall to one side of me. Then I just had a nursing cover and asked for a couple of the plane pillows when I got on the plane to put under my arms for support. That all worked fine for me.

Planes are SO stuffy to start with that I did NOT cover our baby up when I nursed on the plane........ I just wore a big t-shirt and lifted it up (my stomach was still MOSTLY covered by the shirt and by the baby!) and nursed like that.

Are you traveling alone??? If you are with someone then make sure to have a window and middle seat. Sit by the window when you nurse and nobody will even notice. People always thought our son was sleeping when I was nursing him........ (Up till 18 months at my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary even!)

I had planned on nursing during take off and landing, but my son slept:) I nursed him really good before we boarded and then put him in his carseat ont he plane. I gave him a paci, and he fell asleep. When we landed, I nursed him while everyone was getting off, so that he was full and able to make it fromt eh airport to our final destination. We have flown with our now 15 month old at least 6 times, and he was fine. Good luck!

My daughter also did not want to nurse on the plane... she did in the terminal and fell asleep for most of the flight every time.

One of the moms mentioned a boppy - that is a great idea, but unless you have an empty seat next to you (or paid for one for your child) you may not have enough room. Carrying it to the plane should not be a problem though - most airlines let you gate check the stroller, it makes it so much easier to carry all the baby gear that way.

Also - Make sure you and your child get a lot of extra fluids - plane rides are very dehydrating - constipation in a baby is not fun....

My advice is "just do it"! Be discrete - use a drape or blanket, sit by window vs. aisle , and wear something easy to get to breast without having to fully disrobe. You are doing the best thing for your baby so don't worry about other people. If you are very shy then perhaps pump and give it in a bottle. I have had to bump in airport bathrooms before when I had to go on a trip without the baby (not fun but doable). The easiest is to just nurse the baby (nothing to keep up with or clean). Oh, nursing during landing also helps with the ears if baby decides to pitch a fit. Safe travels.
B

Updated

My advice is "just do it"! Be discrete - use a drape or blanket, sit by window vs. aisle , and wear something easy to get to breast without having to fully disrobe. You are doing the best thing for your baby so don't worry about other people. If you are very shy then perhaps pump and give it in a bottle. I have had to bump in airport bathrooms before when I had to go on a trip without the baby (not fun but doable). The easiest is to just nurse the baby (nothing to keep up with or clean). Oh, nursing during landing also helps with the ears if baby decides to pitch a fit. Safe travels.
B
PS: The Egg downtown on goverment and tinty town have drapes that don't suffocate the baby (Bebe Au Lait). If baby hates it just drape a blanket over your opposite shoulder and stretch towards back of baby's head but not over it. It will block any viewers from that side.

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I flew with my son at 3 months and again at 6 months. (he's 4 now and has flown several more times).

For the flight I bought one of those nursing shawl things that actually goes over your head like a poncho so I didn't have to worry about him pulling the blanket off and making other passengers uncomfortable. Also, I had a black one which helped make a little safe low-stimuli place for him to relax under there.

Beyond just feeding, nursing on take off and landing will help keep her ears clear (the infant equivalent of chewing gum or yawning), and will help her feel safe and secure in what could be a confusing experience.

If your daughter will take a bottle with expressed milk, you might want to pack one in your carry on (breast milk can be unrefrigerated for like 10 hours or so with now worries) just in case she needs to be fed at an awkward moment (ie lining up to board, getting off of the plane, moving from one gate to another).

Oh, also for diaper changes, most plane bathrooms actually have a pull down changing table in there. It's cramped, but it works, so check it out. It's usually over the toilet so you stand with your back to the door.

HTH
T.

I would suggest investing in an baby carrier like a wrap or a ring sling. You can carry your baby in it through the terminal and while on the plane. It will be a warm, safe comfortable place for your baby and will offer you easy and discrete nursing access. www.thebabywearer.com is a great place to go for more information about the carriers offered and why to purchase them. GL!

If you can't get an actual breastfeeding cover, take a button down shirt you can wear over your clothes and drap over you and your baby. Or take an extra large baby blanket at least to cover her up for the latching, then you can remove it and keep your shirt low and over your breast. Or you can put the blanket into the tray and put it up so it will shield you and the baby and put the other half underneath your bra strap.

If you have breastfeeding shirts, wear on so you can just pull out the nipple. If you do not, wear a cami under your shirt and then you can just pull that down and pull your top shirt up. Sit by a window if possible. Excuse yourself to whomever is sitting by you in the beginning - explain what you will be doing so they will know.

I've nursed both of my kids on planes lots of times and never really had any issues. I used a nursing shawl and tried to nurse during takeoff and landing to clear their ears, but a lot of times, they just slept through the whole flight. I'm not sure what other advice you're looking for, but if you have specific questions, feel free to send me a PM. Good luck and have fun on your trip!

Go for it. I nurse in public frequently and have never met someone who was offended.

There are lots of great cover ups you can use, if you want. I recommend one that you don't have to hold up yourself, (like, with a fabric strap around your neck.) You can make it yourself out of a light blanket, a piece of ribbon and two safety pins in a pinch. There are also nice ones with a stiff, curved piece at the top so you can look down at your baby, and she can see you, but no one else sees anything.

If the cover up fails, you can go sit in a bathroom.

I would bring a bottle, just in case.

Hooter Hider and a window seat. How old is she? I put him on when we started taxiing, and although I usually don't let him fall asleep while eating, I did on the plane (a little pillow might be nice for your arm). If you can not change her during the flight, that is preferable, as the bathrooms are so small anyway, I can't imagine trying to change a diaper in there and stay sanitary, just my opinion. Also, if you can get a sling or Ergo (I preferred the Ergo), you don't have to bother with the stroller (if you need it at the destination, you can check it without dealing with it through security), and just carry her the whole way.