nursing while wearing

[YayJennie]

How old was your baby when you where comfortable nursing baby while in a sling or wrap? My son is just a month old, and I haven't even tried yet because I'm afraid it would be too difficult. He's a fabulous nurser, and has excellent neck strength. Should I try? Are there any tips anyone has for comfortable nursing while wearing? I currently use the moby wrap, but it's starting to get warmer so I'll be ordering something else for the summer. Any suggestions on wraps/slings that are easy to nurse in?

[mama_mojo]

Just try it, and allow yourself to experiment with positions. If you know anyone who is currently nursing in a carrier, try to notice how she handles it. I only got really good after watching other mothers do it.

I found it relatively easy in a ring sling in a cradle type hold from around 3 months on, like once the babies were good at latching themselves. I didn't try nursing with them parallel to me until my third, and I wished I had tried it earlier. It was great in the sutemi and ring sling from around 5 months on.

I never tried nursing in the wrap I have.

[maymorales]

Get a simple SSC like AngelPack or Olives and Applesauce (O&A) so you have direct body contact with your baby and nursing will be a cinch. I suggest a SSC because you will eventually find yourself wanting that extra support from the padded / structured waist belt as baby gets older.

[Bald_Bull's_Mama]

I started nursing in a carrier pretty much as soon as I started babywearing, when DS was a newborn. We always used a wrap or MT. I really didn't get *comfortable* with it until he was maybe 9 months. I always felt like something was hanging out that I couldn't see, but everyone around me could. Now, I know nothing was, just self conscious. For me, having the right shirt on makes ALL the difference. I like to wear something I can pull down from the neck or something that lifts up right underneath my boobs. You definitely do not want to try to pull your shirt up from the waist and then try to get it back down. The other thing that really helped me feel comfortable was nursing at home in front of the mirror. I really wish I had thought of that earlier. I would have felt way less self conscious had I realized that no one could see anything.

As far as how-tos, when in a wrap or MT, I just loosen it enough to scooch DS down to the boob, then retie with him lower. When he's done, I bounce him back up high and tie again. Now that he's older, I don't have to move him as much. I can maneuver my boob to him easier. If your babe likes to be carried cradle style (mine did not), I think a RS would be really nice for nursing a young babe. Plus, you have the tail to cover up with if you are feeling shy.

[baturay]

I agree with the advice to just try it. I nurse my littlest one in a wrap most of the day and have since he was just days old. Experiment with different positions to find one that works well for you and baby. You may not always be able to nurse hands free, but even if you have to support the head while nursing you'll still be more mobile and hands free than if you weren't nursing in a baby carrier.

[ryansma]

I never could nurse in my ring sling. I think both boys felt too squished, but I loved using it as a little extra cover after taking them out to nurse. I can nurse easily in my Pikkolo and mei tai. I love it. I just lower him and nurse away. There is nothing covering me but I usually don't care or bring a light blanket if I feel I need to.

[Quirky]

I love a mei tai for newborn nursing, because there's no fabric between you and the baby, it's easy to lower it down to the right level for nursing and then snug it back up to the right level for carrying, and best of all, you can nurse on both sides without having to take baby out, reposition, etc. Also, the upright position helps keep the milk down and helps any air bubbles come out.

There's definitely no reason to wait to start trying -- experiment and see how it goes! I certainly nursed a lot in a wrap, although it was more work to get baby positioned correctly for nursing and then retie the wrap after we were done.