With this post, I thought I’d share a bit about what I know about nursing in sling-styled carriers, which include wrap-around carriers (both stretchy and not-stretchy wraps), ring-slings, soft-structured carriers (SSCs), and mei tais.
Being able to nurse a baby discretely on-the-go is really a huge advantage of sling-styled carriers and the main reason I recommended them over front-pack carriers. They give a nursing mom the flexibility to turn the whole world into a ‘nursing station’ and decide on her own terms when she’ll nurse in pubic and when she’ll make it a more private act. I’ve discretely nursed my babies at restaurants while eating dinner, while pushing a cart & grocery shopping, in the middle of a large museum with tons of children around, or I’ve done it while standing in a bathroom (not in a stall!) at a family function where out of respect for my hosts, I decided to be more conservative about my nursing location decisions. This flexibility, I believe, can really help moms overcome some of the cultural Booby Traps™ that can hinder a nursing relationship. That said, nursing in a carrier is what I would consider an advanced-level parenting skill because there’s some prerequisite knowledge necessary in order to even begin.
The first skill that moms and babies need to acquire and establish is breastfeeding, and for a new mom, this can take time. So, my first tip is to wait until both you and baby are comfortable with nursing. For a first-time mom, this might not be until baby is a few months old if baby was born full-term. For a more experienced breastfeeder, the learning curve might be a little shorter. Regardless, wait until nursing is well-established — quick and easy latches, good weight gain, good supply. Find a support group for help if you things aren’t feeling right.
The second tip is to wait until you are well-practiced with the carrier you use. Babywearing, like so many things in parenting, is partly an art form. Take your time and learn to use your carrier for carrying first. If you need help, there are support groups for this, too.
Once breastfeeding is established and you are confident using your carrier, however, you can start practicing nursing in your carrier. Are you ready?
First, understand that there is no wrong way to nurse in a carrier. If mom and baby are both comfortable and baby’s body and head are well supported, and baby can breathe and can reach the milk, you are doing it correctly. This means a lot of practice and experimenting is in order; it is part of the ‘dance’ that mothers and babies do when they learn how to ‘be’ with each other in a breastfeeding relationship.
So, this might mean that you are nursing with baby in a cradle-hold at a horizontal-ish angle in the sling– or — it might mean that baby is nursing in an upright, frog-legged, “seated” position at the level of mom’s breast. (For the record, I tend to prefer the upright positions — they mimic the “Laid-Back” Nursing/Biological Nurturing positions well).
In a nutshell, the technique involves loosening your carrier a little bit, moving baby down to the level of your breast, and latching them on. You can lower them either by laying them into a cradle-carry in a sling or hitching the carrier a little lower on your hips. Below, I’ve inserted a few videos that do a good job showing nursing in a variety of sling-styled carriers, so go ahead and check them out. Some other tips:
- A layered-wardrobe can help facilitate very discrete nursing either with or without a sling. My favorite strategy is to wear a nursing tank under my everyday shirt. That way, I can lift up my shirt and the tank keeps my tummy covered. The bunched-up everyday shirt gives me some natural privacy from on top of my breast.
- Bigger-breasted gals can tend to have a harder time nursing in slings. A cradle-position is among the most challenging of positions for them. I suggest experimenting with the upright positions esp. in stretchy wraps, SSCs, or mei tais. It may or may not happen for you ladies.
- Sometimes, regardless of your breast size, it helps to roll-up a washcloth or small burp cloth and tuck it under your breast to give yourself a little more support, esp when baby is little. If you have an older baby, they can latch themselves and support things on their own inside the carrier.
