For the adventurous moms out there who love exploring the great outdoors, the thought of hitting the trail with a little one can be both exciting and intimidating. One of the concerns that often arises is how to continue breastfeeding while on the trail. While it may require a bit of planning and adaptation, rest assured that breastfeeding on the trail is not only possible but can also provide a beautiful bonding experience between you and your baby amidst nature. In this guide, we will explore helpful tips and tricks to make breastfeeding on the trail a smooth and enjoyable experience, allowing you to nurture your little one while immersing yourself in the healing properties of the wilderness.

Offer a Feed Before Your Hike

Before you start your trip, I recommend planning your hike around nap times. You can feed at home before the drive or in the car before the start of your walk, depending on how far it is to the trail. Our babies always feed before nap time. So making sure I fed before getting in the car allowed for our babies to nap on the way to the trail. Then feeding before the start of the trail allowed for then to nap during the hike.

Wear Breastfeeding-Friendly Clothes

The best tip I can give you is to wear breastfeeding-friendly layers. A breastfeeding bra and tank top will come in handy, but you can also use what you have! Any tank top will do as a base layer, then you can layer on a shirt or oversized sweater to pull up or over your baby. Button-down or wrap shirts work great for only exposing certain areas. For cooler days, zip jackets, button coats, or baby carrier covers can help keep you completely covered, warm, and feeling less exposed while you feed.

Try to Find a Comfortable Seat

There are many options for sitting down to nurse! You can pack a pad, a backpacking chair, sit on your rucksack, a large stone, or a log. If it is a nice day, you can lay out a picnic blanket and make a break of the feeding time. Turning nursing time into picnic time can really help if you have multiple children. You know your baby best and how long it may take them to nurse, so find a spot that looks most comfortable and dry to you.

Feed in Your Carrier

One option for nursing on the trail is to find a spot to stop, or you can also nurse in a front wearing baby carrier. If you haven’t already, I recommend finding the best hiking baby carrier for you. You’ll want something comfortable and something that matches your baby’s age and weight. After getting comfortable baby wearing, you can learn how to nurse in the carrier! You may have to loosen the straps, hold your breast in place, or find some way to make sure the position is comfortable for both you and baby.

Practice, Practice, Practice

If this is your first time getting outdoors with your family, no matter what age, it will seem daunting at first. I recommend starting slow and increasing the amount of time you are outdoors over time. If you are wanting to feed your baby in the carrier, practice around the house and in the backyard before heading to the trail. Practicing and continuing to push yourselves in new ways will help boost your confidence and teach your children about perseverance.

Stay Hydrated

It is critically important to keep yourself hydrated while breastfeeding, and especially while being active outdoors. Make sure you pack plenty of water and take water breaks to keep yourself hydrated on the trail. Stainless steal water bottles are great for day hikes and keeping your water nice and cool. For long backpacking trips, we use water bladders. We also like to bring our Lifestraw bottles in case we run out of clean water!

Find a Local Nature Group

If you are nervous or shy about breastfeeding in public or on the trail, find other moms to nurse with! Finding similar parents getting out and enjoying nature can boost your confidence. It is also an amazing way to find a support group. All of these parents will be on different levels of learning out to enjoy nature with their kids. You will be able to find advice, parent support, and make friends along the way.

Relax and Enjoy It

The goal here is to get you out in nature. Nature provides everything our bodies need to regulate emotions and it provides the perfect levels of sensory exposure for our children. It will be hard at first, but I suggest trying to ignore strangers passing by and just relax by smiling down at your baby. Enjoy the view of your baby and the view of wherever you may be.

In The Winter

Everything in winter is either snowy, wet, or frozen, making it hard to find a dry spot to stop and nurse. You can use a sitting pad to keep your body off the cold ground. Wearing warm wool base layers for both you and baby will keep your bodies warm. You can find a wool base layer with a half zip for easy nursing access.

The best way to learn how to get outdoors with your baby is just to go do it. Over time, you will learn what gear you like best, types of clothing you prefer, how far and where to go, and you will gain the benefits of pushing you and your children outside your comfort zones.

If you have any more questions about breastfeeding, I’d love to answer them in the comments below or you can send me a message on Instagram!

Breastfeeding on the Trail: A Guide for Adventurous Moms