As a breastfeeding mom, it can be difficult to plan around holiday events or family gatherings. Instead of stressing about how and when you will feed your baby or stick to a pumping schedule amidst the chaos, check out our favorite breastfeeding tips so you can enjoy time with your family and friends this holiday season!

Plan in Advance

If you know that you’ll be headed out to see family, give yourself some extra time before you leave to add in a pumping session or nurse your baby! This can make your life so much easier because you won’t have to stress about breastfeeding right away in an unfamiliar place. 

If you are nursing your baby, you can give them an extra feed so they won’t need to eat as quickly during the event.

If you are able to plan in advance, one of my favorite breastfeeding tips is to use your time traveling to the event to pump! Mobile pumps are an absolute lifesaver because you can simply put the pump in your pumping bra and drive without the hassle of tangled cords or car chargers.

If you want to learn more about pumping while driving and why it’s a great solution for a busy mom, check out this blog post!

Overall, remember that your typical breastfeeding schedule will not be completely thrown off by a few changes! Slightly falling off once or twice won’t mess up the schedule you or your baby are used to.

Use a Wearable Pump

One of the best breastfeeding tips to make the most of your time during the holidays is to get a wearable pump. These pumps can easily fit inside your bra so you don’t have to miss out on any of the fun while at a holiday party! Some great options for cordless, wearable pumps include the Elvie, Willow, and Momcozy.

To take this a step further, think about what you will be wearing to the event! A large, loose-fitting sweater is a great option because it can easily hide the pump and no one will even be able to tell that you are pumping during dinner! However, my favorite option if you are looking to dress up is an MLM brand dress. They have breastfeeding-friendly options that you can dress up or down depending on the party you are headed to! 

Keep Your Breastmilk Cool

One thing you don’t want to forget when breastfeeding during holiday parties is how you will keep your breastmilk cool until you get home! 

That’s why I love the Junobie cooling cup. The battery-powered cup keeps your breastmilk at a constant temperature so you don’t have to worry about it going bad while you are with friends and family or stress about finding a fridge to store your milk in. It’s easily portable and makes traveling for the holidays a breeze!

Wear the Right Bra

Your pumping bra needs to make your life easier! That’s why one of the best breastfeeding tips I can give you this holiday season is to have a bra that allows you to pump and nurse comfortably around friends and family.

If you want something that will allow you to nurse your baby, both the Ella and Sophie are great options! They both have an interior panel that gives you optimal breast-tissue coverage but still have clip-down access. On top of that, these two bras are easy to layer with cardigans and tops! You can get the extra coverage you are looking for to be in front of friends and family without exposure.

For pumping mamas, you can still use the Ella and Sophie (depending on what type of pump you are using), but I would definitely recommend the Autumn! This bra has high-neck coverage with a lace section that goes up to your neck. In addition, your pumping flanges can be placed lower or you can opt for a wearable breast pump!

The Holidays Should be Stress-Free!

Just because you are breastfeeding does not mean that you should be under extra stress this holiday season! These breastfeeding tips will allow you to enjoy your time with friends and family and focus on making memories rather than how you will breastfeed while you’re away.

And if you are looking for some alternatives to drinking during the holidays, check out this blog post so you can continue to celebrate with friends and family in a fun way!

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