ISO Breastfeeding Friendly Places

I breastfed in the car a lot! That way I could get out and still feed my daughter. Also, Nordstrom has a great breastfeeding area in their bathrooms!

i live in the city too. I breastfeed in parks and in restaurants. the first time i did it in public i went to the bathroom. that was the last time cause i got grossed out in there.

i bought myself the hooter-hider, http://www.bebeaulait.com/, and that gave me a lot more coverage and made me feel less nervous about doing nursing in public.

if you go out with your other mommy friends, there's safety in numbers, but as you nurse for longer you'll feel more comfortable that you're not actually whipping it out in public and you wont actually expose yourself at all. anyway, the law protects you and allows you to nurse in public.

Hi M.,
I am a mother of a 1 year old and breastfed for the first time in my life. I'm just weening now and I'm so happy I chose that route. I live in Baltimore City too and I remember the struggle of going out of the house and fearing I wouldn't have a place to feed Lily. One nice restaurant where I felt comfortable was Austin Grill. They have a really spacious bathroom with a seat! As long as you bring a cover to wrap over you shoulder you are set. Also, I remember nursing at Towson mall in Nordstrom's bathroom. They have a very nice family area where you feel comfortable. I also joined my nursing support group from St. Joe's hospital near Towson. I know GBMC had a similar group too that meets once a week. Everyone would nurse during the hour we met. It was so nice to be able to go somewhere with other moms going through the same thing and everyone felt comfortable enough to nurse if they needed to. I was a little scared at first but I got used to it! Also, make sure you check out storytimes at Canton and Highlandtown library. They are very infant friendly no matter how old. I think Canton is at 10:30 on Tuesdays and Highlandtown is 10:30 on Wednesdays and Mondays.

Hope this helps,
K.

In the State of Maryland you have the right to breastfeed your baby anywhere you see fit(http://www.fha.state.md.us/mch/breastfeeding/html/mdlaw_b...:

A mother may breast-feed her child in any public or private location in which the mother and child are authorized to be.
A person may not restrict or limit the right of a mother to breast-feed her child.

So it's really just a matter of where you personally feel comfortable since no place is off limits. I have never nursed my daughter in a bathroom, I would just bring a blanket or something with me when we would go out for modestly. I have breastfeed my daughter at the BMA, the Walters, Ft. McHenry, etc., etc. If you live in the City, try the Golden West Cafe in Hampden, very kid friendly.

Hey there M.,
First of all, you do know you have a right to breastfeed your baby any place you want to anywhere, anytime! That being said, for my first when I was a little weary about it, I would go to any clothing store and use the fitting room. Nordstroms has a wonderful women's restroom with a lounge area great to sit and relax. As far as anywhere else I use a really great technique that lets me feed without much exposure or you can purchase a "nursing tent" or other breastfeeding apparatus.Sometimes the stroller makes for a great blocker. The One World Cafe on W. University Pkwy has corner tables that allow for privacy and they don't care there. Good Luck and don't worry, IT'S YOU AND YOU BABY'S RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, M., With my first daughter, I never nursed in public. It definitely ties you down! With my second, I decided to lighten up, and I would just find a bench somewhere, throw a blanket over my shoulder and my daughter, and nurse away! Hope this helps. N. B.

Hi. Have you tried using the maya wrap. I nursed both of my children in "public" without anyone knowing. I just used the tail of the maya wrap and put it over my shoulder/ their head and let them nurse. I bought nursing tops so that my sides would not hang out.

Let me know if you need more info.

M.

I breastfed anywhere I went. He had a right to be fed when hungry. I was respectful that some people might be uncomfortable so I didn't let it all hang out and I covered us lightly with a thin blanket or something but I fed him wherever and whenever. I got a few strange/unapproving looks in the mall but it sure was fun to just smile back real big at them. But if you're not comfortable with that, Nordstrom has a great family room at least in the columbia mall that you can nurse in and most malls have a Mom's only area near the restrooms (not in them) where you can nurse (again the Columbia Mall does). And most restaurants if you know he'll want to eat you can ask for a corner booth and I've never had anyone be more than accomodating. The majority of people I've encountered understand and see it as natural and don't even think twice about it. Also, I've been told by people and co-workers and all that sometimes when people look away or get a strange look on their face it's that they don't want to offend you and have you think they are staring at your chest:-) Anyway, your baby comes first and you do have rights, especially in MD. You are allowed to feed your baby anywhere that you are allowed to go. Good luck with it.

Hi M., I breast fed my first son for 17 months and my second for 27 months. I was always very discreet about it, and just wore loose tops (not real loose) that I could lift from the waist. If I was in pizza Hut I more or less laid my son in my lap,reached under and unsnapped my nursing bra, and put him kind of under my shirt. Usually, even people I was sitting with didn't realize I was feeding them.

I'm in Baltimore, and I breastfeed everywhere. The laundromat, the grocery store, fine dining or regular. They legally can't say anything to you. My favorite place is Carrabba's. They're really friendly about it.

Also if yoiu are uncomfortable I use to go to the car and then came right back in or feed him before and then right after so it was a nice ride home!

If you go out to eat, get a booth, you can usually curl up with your little one in the corner. I got a nursing cover from Target and went anywhere (heck, I was walking around, nursing in the mall and noone even looked at me funny). This coverup was like a blanket with a strap to hold it secure around my neck. I think if you are big it is harder, if you are smaller it is easier to be discreet. Once you are comfortable and your little one is comfortable you can get them to latch on quickly, the time you are exposed is pretty limited. I nursed in my car a bunch. If you shop at a children's place, they have a play area for kids and you can sit there and nurse. Ikea is a good place, they have a nursing room. Columbia Mall has a family restroom and outside of the bathroom is a bench where you can sit and nurse. Nordstrom has a couch outside of the toilet area, but in the bathroom where you can nurse. If you go anywhere where your back is to most of the crowd, and you have a blanket, most people don't even notice. Again, with that nursing cover up, I could look through the top to get myself and the baby situated without the whole world looking on. Most people think that the baby is resting, snuggled up against you once the baby is latched on. I say go out and do it!! You will find quiet places to sit, especially if you are out in the middle of a weekday. Good luck!!

:)
N.

Breastfeeding is a very natural process. You can breastfeed anywhere descretely. Don't ever go into the bathroon, unless they have a lounge area - you wouldn't eat in the bathroon would you???? Go ahead and nurse where ever you are. In the beginning you may feel a bit uncomfortable but.....
My children are grown (33 and 28) and I nursed the youngest whereever we were when she was hungry.Good luck.

J.