Nursing the Holidays

When I had Baby T, I was still working full time, and I looked forward to the holidays: They were a time when I could just be with my baby, nurse him whenever I wanted, and stop pumping. Even with all the traveling and hustle and bustle, managing the holidays with a breastfeeding baby was easier than working full time with a breastfeeding baby.

Plane Travel with a Nursing Baby

Being able to breastfeed on the plane has saved me quite a few times. My kids are not great nappers--unless they are nursed to sleep. If you have to travel on a plane, begin nursing your baby (if you can) just as the plane is taking off. Hopefully, baby will fall asleep. Try nursing again upon landing to help prevent ear discomfort.

Car Travel with a Nursing Baby

If you travel by car, it's a little more difficult. Yes, you may have been able to find me once or twice crouched in the backseat, feeding my baby in the car seat. I would always bring a hand pump and a bottle so I could try to pump and feed without stopping. But it never worked. That said, I always ended up stopping less than I thought I would have to. I would just stop, take baby out of the car seat, nurse him in the front seat, and put him back (hopefully asleep). If you are traveling with a newborn, though, try not to go more than 4 hours or so without nursing especially if you are still establishing your supply.

Relatives and a Nursing Baby

Whenever I have traveled with my babies, nursing has been the one constant. When you're in a room of loud relatives and baby is getting agitated, you can take him to the other room and nurse. When baby is not falling asleep well in a strange place, you can nurse. I am definitely a comfort nurser. When I'm traveling, it has always come in handy. When baby is all nursed out, keeping a baby carrier on hand is useful, too. Holding baby close to mom or dad is comforting amid all that stimulation.

If you have a newborn, keeping him or her in a baby carrier keeps lots of people's hands off of him or her. A well-intentioned relative may want to "help" you by asking if he or she can bottle feed your baby, and relatives may take baby off your hands, holding him and passing him around, but if it's time to nurse, hold your hands out and smile, and just say that it's time to feed the baby. Don't be afraid to follow your normal routines when you're around your family during the holidays. It will keep everyone a little more sane.


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