Back seat boobie.
Last week we were at Walmart when Nate started to cry. Not a little whimper, mind you, but a “OMG I HAVE TO EAT NOW OR I’M GOING TO DIE” cry. He also needed to be changed, so I took him to the bathroom to change him. While we were there, an elderly lady asked me how old he was.
“Two weeks today,” I told her as I wiped him down.
“What a little sweetie,” she said. “If you need to use the bathroom, I could babysit,” she offered.
Blink. Blink, blink, blink.
“Oh, that’s okay, he just needs a change,” I thanked her.
For real? Did she really think I’d leave my brand new, two week old, precious baby boy with a total stranger while I went pee? I guess she’s just from a different generation, but no way would that fly these days.
We were disappointed to find that there was no family washroom in the store, no chair for us to sit in and nurse. As he cried to be fed, my mind raced, trying to figure out where I was going to feed him.
Is there a chair in a furniture department somewhere?
Do I just camp out, crossed-legged on the floor in the corner somewhere?
Do I sit in the bathroom stall on a toilet to feed him? (Perhaps the least appealing option…)
I decided that I would go to the McDonald’s in the store and sit in a booth near the back to feed him. In the end, though, we found Graham in another department and decided I would just feed the baby in the car, which worked out great.
While Nate nursed, I realized for the first time how very amazing this whole breastfeeding deal is. I really CAN do it anywhere, even in the parking lot of a crappy non-family friendly discount department store.
I have fed both Cara and Ollie many, many times in the car.
Changing rooms in Target also come in pretty handy.
I've breastfed at weddings, at funerals, at my FIL's sportsman's club, in Bass Pro Shops, at the table in restaurants. In the car, tons of times too
You gotta do what you gotta do.
So many times in the car. Turn it on for the heat/air. Turn on the radio. Lock yourself in. Nursing is sooooo convenient.
I had to do that in the parking lot of Best Buy last week! It is pretty convenient!
I dont bother looking for the family bathroom or somewhere private… I wear a low cut tank top under whatever shirt I'm wearing and just pull my stuff out the top of the tank top, under the other shirt, and nurse that way. I nurse in public multiple times a week, baby is 8 months old
I miss those days of breastfeeding
I have had MANY encounters like the one you had in Walmart, seriously…it must just be our Walmarts.
I've also had many backseat boobie moments
and front seat. I remember on the way home from visiting Matt's family up North, we stopped at a McDonalds and parked so I could feed Nolan and we could eat. We parked in the far back lot, and some teens pulled up beside me .They noticed what I was doing and left pretty quick lol. 
Just stay warm: my last 2 were born in winter and fall, and the car cooled off VERY fast once I was sitting in the backseat nursing! Front seat is also better because you can reach the radio/CD controls, at least in theory.
After a few months when you have the whole nursing thing down, you may not think as hard about it – you'll just do it wherever your baby needs you!
I have nursed in the backseat of the car in numerous parking lots, in the corner booth of restaurants and even in the back corner of a bar/restaurant we were at for a family gathering in addition to many strange places. It was convenient and made life so much easier than it did with my 1st 2 kids. Way to go!
Another reason to want Target to come to Canada!
Jenni, is it weird that I picture you nursing at BPS at the side of a fish pond?
I'm really starting to see how convenient it is! Way less gear to cart around.
Don't you need to find a place to sit, at least? Or have you mastered the art of nursing in motion? That would be the ultimate…
Ha, I wonder why they wanted to park in the back far lot?
Jennifer, I'm sure I'm still in the "over-thinking" phase of new motherhood. I sat in the back seat this time because Graham was up front and I had been sitting back there to ride, anyway. From now on, it's front seat, within reach of my satellite radio!
Thanks for your encouragement, Anne! After last night's lack of sleep I really needed to hear words like these.
Once you've mastered the nurse n' walk, you're good to go. Get a good sling that puts him right at the bewb.
I've been through many of those nights as well. My daughter (the middle child) was a cluster feeder. She spent A LOT more time eating than I did sleeping but by 6 weeks was on a good schedule and started sleeping through the night. Hope you can catch a break. Hang in there-it gets better…WAY better….I promise!
I loved that freedom with nursing – I had a massive oversized muslin that I could drape over me. I could juggle baby onto boob without the person opposite me even realising.
Amy – he is gorgeous! As for nursing in public, the hooter hider comes in handy (bebe au lait). Amazing. I also do the low-cut tank under the shirt thing. Very easy.