Breastfeeding: Have sling will travel!

At the beginning of the new year we promised more articles about the benefits of breastfeeding, both to mom and to baby. We have posted many other articles in the last few months as well but haven’t written anything new about breastfeeding for a while so I wanted to take a few minutes to put something short together.

This article stems from a couple of questions I have received through email and in my breastfeeding classes recently. It may be helpful for those of you who do not live in the Greater Toronto Area to know that our classes run, for the most part, in a richly diverse portion of the GTA and many of the couples that come to our classes have recently moved to Canada from countries overseas.

Many of these couples are excited about the arrival of their new babies and can’t wait to return for a visit to their countries of origin to introduce the newest addition to their extended families. In addition to the “how soon can we travel with the new baby” question come questions about how to help baby travel, how to breastfeed in modest cultures and how to protect the baby from being exposed to multiple potential viruses and illnesses.

Travelling outside of the country with your new baby can happen quite quickly (in terms of weeks rather than months). A few simple steps need to be taken to get the paperwork sorted before you go.

Things have been made much more convenient in the recent past. A quick trip to www.ontario.ca starts the birth registration process for you. Click here and it will take you to the page on the Ontario government website where you can register your baby in the community in which you gave birth as well as applying for both a birth certificate and passport.

It is important to note here that it is NEVER advisable to purchase airline tickets for travel UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR PASSPORTS IN HAND!!!

Now, you may have wondered how breastfeeding fits into the travel commentary. It is simple. By breastfeeding your baby in a sling on the airplane you can help them transition to the flight by aiding in the release of pressure in their ears. You will also keep the baby close and this will help him or her to settle more easily in an unfamiliar environment. The sling is especially helpful because airlines will not let you simply hold your baby to breastfeed them while taking off or landing. The baby must be more physically restrained than they are able to be in your arms.


The sling offers discretion when you need to feed your baby in a crowd as well. I am not advocating covering yourself up but in some cultures the fact remains that it is not acceptable to show any skin on the breast whatsoever and a brief family reunion may be made more comfortable if societal, cultural and/or religious norms are respected.

A breastfeeding newborn needs to be snuggled in close to mom as often as is possible. This not only helps with milk supply but it also enables mom receiving the signal from baby that it is time to breastfeed. A sling keeps baby close as well as helping to keep other people away. Your breastmilk will protect your baby by providing immunities and antibodies but the easiest way to prevent your baby from coming in contact with those potential contaminants is to keep him or her in your sling.

This is beginning to sound like more of a post for my favourite baby carrier than it is for about breastfeeding. I must admit, I don’t think I could have done one without the other.

Not every mom travels across the ocean with her new baby. Some of these tips can be helpful for those who plan to visit families or friends regardless of how far you need to go.

Most new moms that I meet want their babies to be with them. You have just waited +/- 40 weeks to meet your child and you don’t want to forfeit the new bonding time by playing pass the baby with well meaning family members and acquaintances. A sleeping newborn in a sling goes a long way to keeping your baby in your arms. No one ever wants to wake a sleeping baby and thank goodness for that.

The biggest thing to remember is that babies are portable and they are forgiving. If you want to sit on the patio relaxing the in the summer breeze, take your baby along for the ride and enjoy the freedom you get by having him or her with you. There will be a time when they are too big for the sling or you will feel you can’t take them to the patio but for now, relax and enjoy that “slinging” feeling!

For more tips on "Breastfeeding on an Airplane" check out the blog entries of PhD in Parenting! Annie has MANY great ideas posted!!

Posted by Sam