Going out for a meal with baby | ExpatWoman.com
 

Going out for a meal with baby

151
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 22:17

I am exclusively breastfeeding and wondering what the etiquette is on feeding your baby if you go out for an evening meal?

I presume you couldn't just sit at the table and feed (with a cover of course) so how do you do it? Trail back to the car and feed him there? Take him to a toilet cubicle ( is that disgusting)? Or just not go out until he's stopped breastfeeding?

I suppose I could express and take a bottle but I was hoping to avoid bottle feeding for a while yet as baby is only newborn.

Any tips would be appreciated.

103
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 23:54
I have always fed at the table, especially as your baby is very young, they are much more portable and easy to handle. I personally used a nursing cover and would always try and be seated somewhere where I wasn't on show to the entire restaurant! Have fed my baby in food courts, coffee shops and 5 star hotels and have never had a negative comment. It's easiest for you and best for the baby so try not to be self conscious (easier said than done, I know). A good bit of advice I got was to practice at home in front of a mirror and you will see yourself what any passers by can see and you can adjust accordingly so that when you're out and about you're are confident that you are not flashing too much flesh! On that note, I always wore a nursing bra with a vest/ cami over the top, then my regular blouse or tshirt on top, that way you could pull the cami down at the top, open the bra and your baby could feed, but your tummy and sides wouldn't be exposed. This combo, with a nursing cover is sooooo discrete most people wouldn't even notice. And in any event your fellow diners would rather see a pair of cute legs sticking out from a nursing cover than listen to a crying hungry baby! Don't go to bathrooms as kiwispiers says, there's a lot of germs and it's not comfortable. And congratulations on your new baby. X
2782
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 22:24
I would just sit at the table and feed, ask for a table against the wall so you can turn away from everyone if you'd feel less conscious. I'd never feed or take a baby into a toilet cubicle for any reason. If you'd really prefer not to feed at the table (and its fine to, I've def done it before) then you can ask if they have a private space for you to feed in. Many restaurants have screens and curtains etc that they can close of areas with for local ladies and are generally happy to do the same for breastfeeding mums.
 
 

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