Nursing on a plane. What are my rights? - Page 3

[Kismet_fw]

Nurse as usual - if it were me I'd check both departure and destination states and see which one has the best in pro-breastfeeding laws, and hand them a copy of it if they complain. Then if they still want to make a stink, report them to their superiors - and if you get no reaction, maybe the evening news - for harassing you during a perfectly normal part of healthy parenting.

Any chance you'll be touching down in Tx at any point? Law here is for mom to go ahead, any time, anywhere she feels baby needs it. And no stupidity about covering either.

[Carita]

My son was almost 2, riding lap child, and I nursed with confidence on the plane. One guy next to me was 18 or something, so it was good I was wearing a nursing shirt, because you couldn't see anything, and I could tell he was a little uncomfortable. But overall I think people were just happy that my nursing him made him a happy kid. No one wants a screaming kids on the flight. 1 leg of each flight he nursed during takeoff and slept til landing.

[LilacMama]

I think it's a good idea to ask to sit next to a window. It's just easier to nurse that way. I brought my boppy and that really helped. She just nursed and slept most of the time. No one seemed to have a problem with it. When I was nursing her in the airport, one lady told me should was impressed that I nursed in public because she was always too nervous to do so. That's the only attention that I got (that I know of). I don't think you should go in expecting to have a problem.

I wear a nursing tank top and then I wear a shirt over that so I'm not super exposed, but DD is one to break her latch to look around and see what's going on multiple times per feeding. Not a lot I can do about that...

[uumomma]

i flew on jet blue this weekend and nursed my 25 month old...and i was wearing a dress that i had to pull down rather that pull up.... we had no problems at all. NONE..
good luck

[Rosebud1]

I agree with the previous posters. I have flown many times with DD and flight crew will move heaven and earth to keep baby happy -- everyone one on the plane wants to keep baby happy! I have gotten many a "free" seat next to me (get to the airport/gate early to request this) so my DD didn't kick its occupant and I had more room to maneuver.

You will be so happy you are nursing, knowing that it will help his/her little ears and other flying discomforts. I have always been glad that I was nursing when I flew with my daughter.

[jojoboy]

I have flown and nursed many many times with no incident. Most of the time, people just commented on how good my babies were (since they were nursing, they were happy).

I had a great experience - I was flying with my 2 yr old son, and was really nervous about nursing (cause he was older, etc.), but I was set on nursing him because it was nap time and he would just be so upset without nursing and without a nap. We nursed, and it ended up that I was seated next to a midwife. We had a great conversation the whole flight!!! Don't get overanxious.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by theboysmama

I am slightly bothered by this topic and just really feel that I should say something.
Why are you assuming there is going to be a problem? .

Other pp have answered this well but...why do you have a problem with the OP getting as much information as possible BEFORE she is on an airplane and cannot access information?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think I was offered a blanket a couple of times; I thought they thought the baby was cold. Nursing tanks are helpful; my worst problem was the baby kicking.

[Juniperberry]

I flew alot when #1 was bf and I never had any problems. I bought bf t-shirts from H&M and no one can tell you're bf. The number of times I've had people talking to me whilst bf and then after about 10 mins they realise what I'm doing lol. I'm sure there are lots of stores that sell special bf t-shirts, but i can definitely recommend the H&M ones and they're not too expensive

[theboysmama]

[QUOTE=Emmeline II;14408297]Other pp have answered this well but...why do you have a problem with the OP getting as much information as possible BEFORE she is on an airplane and cannot access information? /QUOTE]

I guess I am in the minority here and that is fine. I guess that it just feels to me that when we go searching like this we are assuming that people are going to think we are doing something wrong. I don't see a problem with gathering info like the protective laws of the states you will be touching down in but I didn't see why it was necessary to call ahead. One you don't really get the company policy typically you just get the opinion of whomever you speak with. By asking what there policy is I think it sends a message that they have an option to tell me not to nurse and I really don't feel that it is an option. I know that people do have problems and that is what shows up on these boards and gets lots of hits but LOT AND LOTS of women NIP all the time on planes and everywhere and have wonderful experiences or normal experiences where no one notices.
I guess my problem isn't necessarily with the op asking questions it is the fact that the OP feels she NEEDS to ask questions to keep from getting harrassed.

[KirstenMary]

[QUOTE=theboysmama;14409334]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

Other pp have answered this well but...why do you have a problem with the OP getting as much information as possible BEFORE she is on an airplane and cannot access information? /QUOTE]

I guess I am in the minority here and that is fine. I guess that it just feels to me that when we go searching like this we are assuming that people are going to think we are doing something wrong. I don't see a problem with gathering info like the protective laws of the states you will be touching down in but I didn't see why it was necessary to call ahead. One you don't really get the company policy typically you just get the opinion of whomever you speak with. By asking what there policy is I think it sends a message that they have an option to tell me not to nurse and I really don't feel that it is an option. I know that people do have problems and that is what shows up on these boards and gets lots of hits but LOT AND LOTS of women NIP all the time on planes and everywhere and have wonderful experiences or normal experiences where no one notices.
I guess my problem isn't necessarily with the op asking questions it is the fact that the OP feels she NEEDS to ask questions to keep from getting harrassed.

Then your issue shouldn't be with the OP, but rather with a bfing culture that causes a women to feel she needs to ask those questions.

[blizzard_babe]

I've flown with DS many times (Alaska Air, mostly) and never had an issue, even when sitting in a middle seat with strangers on both sides. I've generally tried to be more discreet than usual (just because of proximity and my own personal preferences), but never had an issue and never used a blanket (well, I tried once because it was really bright and DS was really tired... I thought the darkness combined with mum-mums might help him sleep). Honestly, people will accept pretty much anything that keeps kids quiet on airplanes, I think.

[blizzard_babe]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

...my worst problem was the baby kicking.

This.

[sarahr]

I've nursed my dd on a plane many, many times and never had the slightest problem. I woldn't bother asking anyone for permission because what's the point? And anyway, it's the FA that will be bothering you or not bothering you, not the idiot on the phone.

And I agree with the others -- the biggest problem I've had is with the baby kicking. So you might want to think about which side you like to nurse on more and choose a seat on the plane that will keep the baby's legs pointing away from your neighbor.

[theboysmama]

[QUOTE=KirstenMary;14409614]

Originally Posted by theboysmama

Then your issue shouldn't be with the OP, but rather with a bfing culture that causes a women to feel she needs to ask those questions.

I don't believe that I ever stated I had an issue with the OP. I certainly never meant it as an attack. I do very much have a problem with the culture that causes women to feel they need to ask these questions. That really is what I meant, thanks for helping me to clarify.

[stacythemom]

I flew with DS a few months ago 5 months old. Before take off the stewardess told me he had to be sitting upright facing forward for take off and landing. I just said ok knowing that she would be in her seat during these times so she couldn't do anything anyways. I personally like like window seat for privacy but never any problems nursing my babies on planes.

[MamaMem]

I have flown upmteen times with DS1 and never ever had a problem.
2 weeks ago I flew with DS2. It was a breeze. The Stewardess actually "reminded" me that nursing during take-off and landing will help his ears.

Don't cover. Enjoy the flight. Rarely is it any deal.

[mumm]

Originally Posted by Beene

They train those people to be so robotic. ewww.

They aren't trained to be robotic. They end up that way after dealing with the passengers who think they are the exception to every rule flight after flight after flight. Answering the same (stupid) questions over and over. Some of the stories I hear from dp are amazing. (She is a commercial pilot.)

Originally Posted by marrymeflyfree

Do what you need and want to do, and don't stress about it.

Exactly. I fly far more often than the average sahm of 4. Last flight I was nursing my two year old twins, which you can not do discreetly or with minimal exposure, especially since we were all strapped into our own seats while doing so. I think if you anticipate problems you will find them.

Enjot the flight!

You do need to follow the rules- Keep your seatbelt on when the sign is lit, etc even if you are nursing. Once your kid has his/her own seat they need to follow that rule also.

[MaddieMay]

I just wanted to bump this post and add that I've flown over half a dozen airlines in the past month (both international and national) and nursed my infant on every single one of them without incident. The flight crews were awesome towards us and not a single passenger batted an eye.

The way I figure it-how else am I going to feed my baby? And no one wants the bathroom taken over for twenty minutes for me to nurse (not that I would go there anyways).