Stress-Free Shopping With Baby
Shopping and breastfeeding on-the-go
One of the biggest shopping hurdles for new moms is breastfeeding in public. Most newborns need to be fed every few hours, which means short trips or finding a private place to feed if you don't yet feel comfortable nursing with an audience. "You have about 90 minutes if you don't want to breastfeed in public," says Venezky. "It took me a while to get comfortable breastfeeding around others. I usually fed my baby in the car before or after shopping." Venezky adds that many department stores have lounges in the bathroom specifically for breastfeeding. "It's a private place to take a break."
And if your spouse or a friend can watch your child for a few hours, it's a great opportunity to fit some shopping in. "Any time a new mom can get some time by herself, she should take advantage of it," says Margaret Shinnebarger, founder of A New Mom and mother to two children and two stepchildren. You'll be able to relax and get a lot more done with someone else looking after your baby. Jambazian says she tried to go out whenever her newborn went to sleep. "I would leave him with my partner or aunt and know I had about two hours to shop."
