You may have noticed I’ve been celebrating World Breastfeeding Week 2013 on the blog. This years theme is Support: Close To Mothers. While I have had some amazing support, namely my husband who is a champion for me and supports my choices related to breastfeeding, one unexpected place I found support was by babywearing.
Both of my boys have not been easy to breastfeed. With my first son, I was cracked and bleeding for 7 weeks +. I had been to lactation specialists, worked on our latch, and still my son seemed to have a “lazy/shallow” latch. He was always on/off/on/off making nursing in public very uncomfortable for both of us. We were usually a sweaty, milk drenched mess every single time he nursed. Wearing a cover in the 100+ heat just made us both miserable. For 3 months I felt like I was a slave to breastfeeding. It took so much effort to nurse while out in public that I stayed home. I’m pretty sure my husband was WAY OVER me pointing out every mama breastfeeding in public and lamenting over why that wasn’t me.
Then, one day while sharing my frustration online, someone mentioned nursing while babywearing.
WHAT!? Breastfeeding While Babywearing!?
It was as if a light bulb turned on and the angels started singing. I took to YouTube and began watching every single video I could about nursing in a carrier. When I finally got up the courage to try it, I did so in front of a mirror at home. I simply could not contain my smile. My baby was latching on, staying on, and I wasn’t spraying everywhere, dying of heat, or trapped. Breastfeeding while babywearing was like finding mommy confidence, freedom, and above all else, support in one amazing baby carrier.
I think my husband thought I was crazy when I insisted he see my new trick and was giddy over the fact that I was hands free and feeding the baby. While he might have thought I was crazy for telling over and over how he couldn’t even tell what I was doing, he had no idea how crazy things were about to get. That day began a love affair and passion to share everything babywearing with anyone who was willing to listen. This week I thought I’d share my support by giving your some tips and tricks for nursing hands free while babywearing.
- Do your research. Watch YouTube or ask fellow babywearing mamas what works for them when nursing in a carrier.
You can start with my video on how to nurse in a Beco Soleil Baby Carrier. 
- Find a carrier you love. Check out your local city to see if they have a babywearing group. You can really get to try carriers first hand before you buy one. However, if you want my recommendation I will say hands down (Or hands-free if you will…) I love nursing in the Beco Soleil. The dual adjustable straps make it really easy to get baby down to breast level with minimal effort on my part. The neck support and easy to snap sleep hood allow for privacy for mom or less distraction for baby. I always have my Beco in the car for nursing out and about. It is just so simple to use. Plus, I have tried a lot of soft structured carriers – and this is one that seems to really fit all body types! If you still have questions about this carrier please ask me! I love it and am happy to share!
- Wear breastfeeding friendly clothing. I am a huge fan of a tank with a t-shirt over it. You can pull your t-shirt up and your tank down. This will also give you a little extra coverage while nursing. You can also wear a top that you can pull your breast over the neck. (Scoop tops, v-necks.)
- Practice makes perfect. I know, so cliché, but very true! Stand in front of a mirror. Watch your baby eat. I have a feeling you will be surprised at how little you will be able to see from the mirror. (I can still remember how big the smile on my face was the first time I watched myself nurse in front of the mirror.) The more you do it, the easier the movements will become when you are out and don’t have a mirror in front of you. Muscles memory is pretty amazing!
- Be Brave! You will be surprised at how much faking confidence helps you actually get things done. Once I learned how to nurse in a carrier I stopped looking at the women out and about nursing in public like they knew a big secret and I began sharing the secret with anyone who wanted to listen. Who knows – maybe some mama will see you and get inspired!
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week I urge you to share this with a mama you know who may be getting ready to breastfeed their baby, who is currently breastfeeding their baby, or anyone who you think could benefit from them. Be their support!
Latest posts by Emily (Posts)
- Don’t Call It A Comeback - February 7, 2019
- The Little Prince at The Smith Center Las Vegas – Ticket Giveaway - January 31, 2017
- 3 Simple Ways To Add Color To Your Diet @SUBWAY @OfficialSubway - January 13, 2017
- Disney’s Moana in Dolby Cinema at AMC Movie Review - November 27, 2016
I love this! I wasn’t ever brave enough to try with my boys and I really want to try with this baby that will be here in a few weeks! Such great tips too.
You must! Especially chasing after kids – or simply keeping up with their schedules! With your first sitting in a corner and quietly feeding baby was nice, but when you have more than one kid that isn’t really an option anymore! 🙂
Great post! I learned how to nurse my daughter in the carrier and it was wonderful. Nothing like being able to cook supper while your little one is having their supper!
Great post! This would be so helpful for all new mamas!
I wish I would have had a post like this when I was younger. Very helpful!
I have nursed my daughter hands free in my Baby K’tan. Worked perfectly!
Great tips!
This looks like a really good solution, since I imagine that it can be hard to try and balance your hands with everything while nursing.
How neat. Those days are over for me now, but I will always remember that nursing my children was one of the best things that I did with/for them when they were little.
I could never manage nursing while wearing. Maybe if I had had your tips I could have made it work.
I think I had about a week or so with both kids where I thought I would die from the pain, but somehow it does ease and goes away with the right treatment. It was important for me to stick with it too. I’m not sure I ever mastered the hands-free thing though. Of course, equipment is much better now!
These are some fabulous tips. I am no longer having wee one’s, I wish they had baby wearers when my daughter was younger, I so would have done this.
Haha, your husband sounds exactly like mine. Just saying we’re cool to appease us 🙂
I love these tips. I need to bookmark this AND your video as Baby Girl #3 comes in a month and I have to get this down while chasing two toddlers!
I also don’t feel very brave nursing in public, so hopefully this will help set me on the right path. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I seriously struggled for the first 2 months. Then until she was 7 months I used a nipple shield because of all the cracks and bleeding. Finally around 7 months she took it off and her latch is perfect! I’m so glad I stuck it out and so happy for her that she gets breastmilk thanks to my determination – plus since she has FPIES she would have been so sick with formula and not have ANY nutrition because she’s allergic to all other forms of it.
I love how you’re mentoring other Moms – your video is awesome! So proud of you for taking a stand about what you believe in!
Such a great post…I’m really going to try it! I tried once when out and about and one of the girls was in a panic but just couldn’t get it to work.
I had trouble at first (blogged about it), but he finally latched on. I got to where I could breastfeed doing just about anything, anywhere (although I was very discreet in public). My faves were lying in bed and napping while he nursed. 😀
I’ll be passing these on to my best friend, who is due with their third early next month. Although she’s an experienced breast feeder, it has been five years since her last child, so any tips could really help.
I like your suggestion to find a local babywearing group.
I never could get the hang or comfortable with the carrier but I would nurse my kids anywhere, pushing a buggy through walmart, at the mall playplace…wherever I was I would proudly nurse 🙂
These are all great tips. My breastfeeding days have certainly passed, but I’m sure this info will help lots of new mommies.
I think it is so funny that he fusses while you are talking. It’s like he wants you all to himself LOL!
I was able to figure out how to nurse in the Moby wrap while my little guy was itty bitty (wrapped in such a way that held him in cradle hold while allowing the right balance of wiggle room & stability for his head/neck)… I’ve been dreaming of being able to nurse him in the ergobaby, but feel as if I can’t figure it out handsfree… In some ways I feel like there’s no way to get the wrap loose enough to allow room to coordinate getting myself & him into position, while also feeling like the more I loosen it the more he needs my help in staying in place. He is 4 months old & very strong with his neck stability… Do you have any tips?
Just wondering which carrier you would recommend the most out of the beco soleil or the lillebaby complete. These two seem the most appealing to me but can’t seem to make the choice.
I pretty much only use lillebaby carriers now. The shoulders are more comfortable, it fits both myself and my husband easier, and the lumbar support helps my back. I gave away my beco soleil. It’s a great carrier, but the the lillebaby has so much more than I like.
Too cute! I love how he got all worked up when he knew what was happening and mommy was talking he just wants to eat in peace. Other day I went to change my son and pulled out my nursing cover to get to diapers, when I put cover back to change him he started huffing and puffing that mommy put the cover away.
These tips for hands-free nursing are fantastic! As a busy parent, learning to nurse while babywearing has been a game-changer. For additional support and education on pediatric care and developmental techniques, check out the resources at ACL Institute