Breastfeeding, especially for first-time moms, can be a bit stressful at the beginning. If you add travel, it can be even harder. But of course, there are plenty of benefits of breastfeeding, so we will take a look at how it can be more comfortable while you are on the road.
Whether your kid is going on a trip with you or not, you surely have a ton of questions regarding breastfeeding or expressing milk. It makes perfect sense when you are new to it, that idea of nursing seems overwhelming. The most important thing is to know that you are not the only one with these concerns and that there are a lot of breastfeeding tips that can help you.
You should also know that there are many benefits to breastfeeding for a baby. The first time you travel with a child, she or he can be pretty anxious because everything is entirely new. Nursing and feeding them with expressed breast milk can provide the comfort necessary for them to feel safe and secure.
If you are expressing milk and still are not confident if you do it right, you might be interested in breast pumping tips.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
We are sure you know this, but it’s worth mentioning again that there are numerous benefits of breastfeeding.
- Breast milk contains all the nutrients your child needs to thrive.
- Babies who drink breast milk have a better immune system and consequently lower risk of infections.
- There are lesser chances of developing diabetes, obesity, or some forms of childhood cancers.
- Mothers also benefit because breastfeeding decreases the risk of ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, postpartum depression, and so on.
Tips for Breastfeeding and Traveling
Know That It Is Your Right
Sometimes women are worried about the reactions of others if they are breastfeeding in public. Every breastfeeding mom must know that she has a right to nurse her child anytime and anyplace. When you have newborn breastfeeding during your travels, you don’t have to worry about pumps, bottles, and all other equipment.
Research the Airport
If you, however, feel uncomfortable to feed your child in public, search for more secluded places at the airport. Many have quite lounges or meditation rooms. In some countries, there are even lactation rooms or breastfeeding pods. You can do proper research online before your trip or call the airport and get all the necessary information.
Nurse Before Boarding
Most companies require that you arrive at the airport at least two hours before the flight. All this crowd at noise can make adults anxious and let alone babies. Nursing can be an excellent way to calm them down. You should feed your baby whenever she or he gives you a signal that they want to eat.
Feeding the Baby in an Airplane
When in the airplane, babies will have the most benefits of breastfeeding during takeoff and landing. This is when the air pressure in the cabin changes, and a lot of kids suffer from ear pain. Nursing can prevent this.
Dress Comfortably
Wear the most comfortable breastfeeding shirts that you have. If you use it, in general, bring nursing cover as well because it will give you more discretion, and you might feel calmer. If nursing in public makes you stressed, you might find it useful to dress both yourself and your baby in layers. This may not be easy during summer, but still, you can look for lightweight, breathable clothes that will provide excellent coverage and even make you comfortable.
Make Sure to Have Extra Clothes
You know, as well as we do, that accidents often happen while breastfeeding. You should always have spare, clean clothes for the baby and a shirt for you in your diaper bag in case of leaky breasts or spit ups.
Prepare Expressed Milk
Airway companies have strict regulations about what we can bring to the airplane. Usually, liquids except the one bought in secure area arent aloud, but this doesn’t count for bottles with pumped milk. If you think you might need it to prepare a few bottles of pumped milk before you board. You should know that there have been cases where women were asked to throw the liquid away, but this is against the law.
Bring Soothers for the Baby
It might sound strange, but nursing during taking off and landing is a safety issue, and companies have different regulations. If the airline demands that the child sits in a baby seat, you won’t be able to nurse. If breastfeeding isn’t possible, you will find other things like pacifiers, rattles, and bottles pretty handy.
Stay Hydrated
If you want to make sure that your baby enjoys the full benefits of breastfeeding, you need to be adequately hydrated and have a proper breastfeeding diet. If you drink enough water the day before your trip, you will be less thirsty and have an excellent milk supply. Also, make sure that you bring tasty snacks from home because buying food at the airport can be complicated.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoy our text about breastfeeding and traveling. We agree, it seems like a lot of work, but when you count in all the benefits of breastfeeding, you will see that it is worth the effort. We want to remind you that there are many other exciting texts that we are preparing for you, like the one about when to stop breastfeeding. We hope you will visit us again, but in the meantime, we have some questions for you. Have you already traveled with your baby? What is your experience? Do you have some tips for nursing you would like to share with us?
