Breastfeeding & Pumping when Traveling

As much as we’d love to try, sometimes your baby’s feeding and/or pumping schedule doesn’t always line up with your travel plans. There’s nothing more stressful than being stuck 45 minutes in an airport security line, and your baby is screaming to be fed. Breastfeeding and/or pumping when traveling isn’t always simple, but don’t let it stop you from travel plans. Here are some helpful tips.

Breastfeeding

  • If your baby can take a bottle of pumped milk or formula, keep one ready to go just in case your bébé gets hungry when you’re dealing with airport check-in and security. Breastfeeding in the middle of a long security line is a little too tricky. Even with liquid in the bottle, it can go through security (read more about traveling with milk and formula here).

  • If possible, wait to breastfeed until takeoff (do it at landing too) to help alleviate ear pain.

  • Privacy is hard to come by on a plane, but window seats feel the most private. Also, pack a nursing cover for extra privacy, especially if you’re sitting next to a stranger (as frustrating as it is, breastfeeding makes some people feel uncomfortable).

  • Use either a breastfeeding pillow or neck pillow (the ones you can buy in the airport) to support your arm.


 

Pumping

If you are able to breastfeed rather than pump while traveling, I highly recommend it. However, there are many different scenarios why mothers need to pump instead (the mother is traveling without her baby and still needs to produce milk, the baby doesn’t latch to the mother but will drink breast milk in a bottle, etc.) Pumping when traveling is tricky, but here are some tips to make it manageable:

  • Pumping before a plane ride: It will be much easier to pump in the airport than on the plane (although some plane trips are so long that you can’t avoid it). The best case scenario is to find a mother’s lounge, however these are not at every airport. I’d recommend contacting the airport ahead of time to see if they have an area to pump. Some other options include pumping on the car ride to the airport, a restroom or an empty gate area.

  • Pumping during a a plane ride: You’re very limited in where you can pump. Essentially you can pump at your seat or in the bathroom.

    • If you pump at your seat, it will be more comfortable. However, you will have little privacy (bring a nursing cover to help, and try to get a window seat). Although the plane does have a lot of white noise, people around you may still hear it. Afterward, you’ll need to wash any pumping accessories in the bathroom (use bottled or filtered water).

    • If you pump in the bathroom, it’s not the most comfortable place, but you will have total privacy. Be sure to let a flight attendant know. In this day in age when everyone is on high alert, it’s a good idea for someone to know why you are in the bathroom for 20+ minutes. You can also ask them when the least busy bathroom times are so you won’t feel like you’re holding up the line.

    • Also, consider if your baby has his/her own seat, or if you’re traveling with someone who can hold your baby. Pumping while holding a lap child with no one assisting you is extremely difficult and stressful. If it’s a long flight, it may be worth getting your baby their own seat so you can have your hands free.

  • If you’re pumping on-the-go, in particular a plane or car, a battery-powered pump or manual pump is key. Don’t assume you’ll have access to an eletrical outlet when you need it.

  • Don’t forget you can bring pumped milk through airport security. Visit my page on how to travel with breast milk and keep it fresh for more details.