Friday 18 March 2016

Sun, Sea, Sand and Breastfeeding


As you may know, we have been in Australia for the first few months of Ophelia's life. This has meant many trips to the beach. As a breastfeeding mum this can be a bit of a task in more ways than one, from things such as dealing with exposure to tackling the extreme heat. 

Here are my tips for breastfeeding on the beach:



1) Make a den
When it comes to breastfeeding I do it anywhere and everywhere in public but I always cover up. I found I felt very exposed on the beach so I set up a little hideaway retreat in the form of a pop up tent. This was my safe place when the beach was too busy. It was big enough for me to sit in, shaded and relatively cool. In my retreat I was able to feed with a top off or just a bikini top on without covering up.
If you have the space and spare hands take some small pillows with you to make the tent more comfy. However, with 2 small children we had enough to pack so I used bags to lean against and folded up  towels for comfort.

2) Wear a Kaftan or Sarong
These items can prove invaluable for feeding whilst sat on the beach. I would whip my kaftan off and use it to cover up whenever I was feeding outside of the tent. It was a fantastic alternative to a blanket as it was thin and wouldn't make Ophelia to hot.

3) Have an endless supply of water available
Water is so important whilst breastfeeding but even more so when you're feeding in temperatures that us as Brits are not normally used to. It's so easy to become dehydrated and over heated. I consistently drank water the whole time we were there.

4) Take a fan or water spray
A device that has proven to be one of my favourite things is our water spray bottle which has a fan attached to it. Holding a baby against your chest makes it easy to get too hot whilst feeding at the best of times, let alone whilst battling with the heat at the beach. Both baby and yourself can get too hot and sticky.
I would spray it occasionally whilst feeding to cool us down as it would create a cold, mist effect. Eva also helped in that department which was great as she found it like a game. Nothing entertained her more than to think she was squirting mummy and her sister with water.

5) Brush the sand away
This may seem very obvious but I thought i'd mention it regardless. Give yourself a dusting off before you feed. Sand gets everywhere. One of its favourite hiding places is cleavage. It sticks to that area like glue. Before feeding brush yourself off so that your baby won't get any its mouth or eyes.

6) Get an umbrella
If you're lying or sitting on a beach towel or bed then make sure you're under an umbrella. This will protect you both from the sun and also help keep you covered up.

7) Check local customs
It obviously hasn't been a problem feeding in Australia on the beach but do double check local customs. In places like Dubai they like you to cover up your body etc so do keep that in mind.

I hope this will help you on your travels. Have you got any other tips or tricks to add to this?
SHARE:

32 comments

  1. I have never breastfed my children but I am sure that these tips will be super useful to people who do, especially with the summer approaching xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the idea of the pop up tent. It serves more than one purpose, somewhere for the baby to snooze too. Great tips. I'm sure there were lots of topless sunbathers on the beach but breastfeeding has to be done discreetly. Funny world.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great tips I remember feeding my little man on the beach and being wrapped up in a beach towel

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great tips! I have never really thought about breastfeeding on the beach and how I would be so this is great and will keep tips in my mind

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great tips - though I'm not really fussed about covering up on the beach, both E and T were really bad for having something over their heads so I've learnt to just get on with it, but to each their own :) H x

    ReplyDelete
  6. The pop up tent is a fab idea! We're hoping to go on holiday in September so baby girl will be 5 months old and (in theory) I'll still be breastfeeding and will remember the tent idea!xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. These are great ideas. I've never fed on a beach but imagine it must be tricky especially with the sand!x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great tips, I think the point about water is really important I remember being so thirsty all the time! x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh would do anything to be anywhere sunny and warm today. As I look out my window, it is dull, grey and cold :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great tips. I didn't breastfeed but these tips will be handy for those that do in the summer.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great tips, both my girls were August babies and I had to breastfeed n the last of the summer months x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Exactly when you are on the beach your bubba will still require a feed and sand is annoying to get rid of! Good tips here.

    ReplyDelete
  13. These are really good tips, especially the water spray. I love that Eva thought it was a game! I hope you're settling back in at home. Alana x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the fact that you have included checking local customs, it is very important in some countries that you follow their laws to a tee. Brushing sand away is not one that I would have thought of, and the idea of a tent is great, especially if it gets windy! Does it get windy in Australia?? x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah it can get windy. I've never thought about local customs before until I sat on the beach and did it. Very important thing to remember really x

      Delete
  15. When Sebby was tiny we spent a lot of time on the beach - we invested in a beach tent which was big enough for me to sit in, or even wind breaks to make it a little more private

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great tips - Sand is a pain even without breast feeding! I love the beach but it can be a bit too sandy!! Kaz x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great tips and although I'm past breastfeeding you've made me want a beach holiday! Lol

    ReplyDelete
  18. So nice of you to share as I bet many mums find themselves on holiday and don't think about or plan for beach breastfeeding! Water is so important when you're breastfeeding in the heat but it's easy to forget how much you need!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Some good pointers here, especially the last one you make x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Some really good tips, I am sure it will help lots of people out! Something for me to bare in mind for the future

    ReplyDelete
  21. My mummy used to BreastFeed in a pop-up UV tent on the beach which was really handy. Definately agree with checking local customs!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Using a pop up tent sounds like a great idea. I breastfed all my kids, but don't think I ever did on the beach. I really need to move closer to the coast

    ReplyDelete
  23. Some very sensible tips here, and also as natural as it is, you rightly pointed out, check local customs too.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Really good advice Kerry. I admire anyone who breast fed, it wasn't something I could do. One day I'll share my story, but at the moment, I don't want the negative comments that will come with it. Can't wait to meet you in real life, with those beautiful children of yours x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yep, I really relate to this one having breastfed many a time on the beach. A pop-up tent was my saviour too, along with a good sarong. It gets really hot breastfeeding on a beach so yes, plenty of water is a must! x

    ReplyDelete
  26. love these ideas, wish I'd had them last year!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I think these are awesome ideas! I will be taking my boy on his very first beach trip this summer, and I know he won't be able to have an outing without his milk! <3 I LOVE the idea of building your own den-isn't that what mamas are for? Thanks for sharing (:

    ReplyDelete

Blogger Template Created by pipdig