Swimming modestly and nursing

[journey137]

How do you do it? Is it possible? I was thinking about wearing a women’s one piece suit, a pair of men’s trunks, and a t-shirt. Is that overdoing it? We will be by a creek and it will be hot hot hot outside so there is no way I can use a cover while nursing. It seems to me that if I pull the t-shirt up and the one piece’s shoulder strap down that everything would be sufficiently covered. Opinions or tips from those that have been there and done that would be greatly appreciated.

Two other questions now that my main one is out of the way, what kind of sunscreen is good for the baby and can you use a Bummis Super Whisper Wrap as a swim diaper? The price for Little Swimmers in walmart is really high considering we’re only going to be swimming a few times this summer. I’d rather go to the baby store and buy a cloth diaper cover if it will work.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

t-shirt over the bathing suit sounds fine.

As for sunscreen, my DD has the most sensitive skin and many sunscreens give her a rash. The only one that has been fine is Aveeno for babies. I love it. Just find out if she is old enough for sunscreen. Other wise, I bought this cover for the stroller/carseat that says it offers spf 50 sunscreen protection and insect protection in one. I think the brand is safety first.

 

[Em_in_FL]

I wear mostly 2-pieces (I love tankinis! )… and just pull down the front of my swimsuit (that’ll work for any 1-piece)… and just use a towel or baby blanket or random t-shirt to cover up…

 

[dashso40]

I used the tshirt way, that way worked well, as for swimming, I’ve only used huggies swimmies, sorry…Good luck and have fun!

 

[EEgirl]

I think your idea for swimwear should work. If you are looking for more options, there are swimsuits designed for nursing at motherwear.com/cat.cfm/cid/40

For sunscreen, I have used Banana Boat baby sunscreen, as well as Aveeno baby sunscreen. I would guess any baby sunscreen should be adequate.

 

[Sr_Sally]

Mine kids are not summer babies so I didn’t have to worry about nursing when they were really little. DD was about 6-months by the summer so we could do a couple of hours at the pool without having to worry about nursing. I would say to use something like a crib sheet to throw over your sholder when nursing. If you get in the water with the t-shirt on, it won’t work as a nursing cover up. And a wet t-shirt doesn’t really help as a sun protection either.

At a public pool, you are going to be required to have swim diapers. If the lake is a public swimming place they might also have requirements. You might want to check first. If you aren’t really swimming, but doing more wading type stuff at the creek, then a tight fitting plastic cover would be ok. And you might be fine in just some board shorts and your regular nursing bra under the t-shirt.

 

[journey137]

I think your idea for swimwear should work. If you are looking for more options, there are swimsuits designed for nursing at motherwear.com/cat.cfm/cid/40

For sunscreen, I have used Banana Boat baby sunscreen, as well as Aveeno baby sunscreen. I would guess any baby sunscreen should be adequate.

Thanks for the link. Motherwear has some beautiful stuff, but it is too pricey for my budget.

Is there a difference between baby sunscreen and adult sunscreen? I’m talking the white pasty kind not the kind you have to put on half an hour before getting in the water.

 

[journey137]

Mine kids are not summer babies so I didn’t have to worry about nursing when they were really little. DD was about 6-months by the summer so we could do a couple of hours at the pool without having to worry about nursing. I would say to use something like a crib sheet to throw over your sholder when nursing. If you get in the water with the t-shirt on, it won’t work as a nursing cover up. And a wet t-shirt doesn’t really help as a sun protection either.

At a public pool, you are going to be required to have swim diapers. If the lake is a public swimming place they might also have requirements. You might want to check first. If you aren’t really swimming, but doing more wading type stuff at the creek, then a tight fitting plastic cover would be ok. And you might be fine in just some board shorts and your regular nursing bra under the t-shirt.

My baby is going to be almost 6 months when we go swimming next week, but we will be out about half a day so I’m sure she’ll get hungry at least once or twice. She gets hot and sweats easily and she won’t tolerate a cover when she’s hot. I don’t know what the weather will be like next week, but I imagine it will at least be in the 80s probably more like 90s so I don’t think she’ll tolerate a cover. We are going to a creek, but I have been told that the pools do not allow disposable swim diapers anymore (e.g. little swimmers) and the kids in diapers have to be in a “plastic pant” swim diaper.

 

[CountryMom27]

Target now carries a line of inexpensive reusable baby swimsuits that are acceptable by public health standards (they hold in the poop) made by Speedo. For my kids, I tried the Bummi but it wasn’t secure enough for poop, so I went with a reusable that I got from One Step Ahead.

As for nursing - very easy in a one piece too. I have a large wrap that I use, but you could also do it with a big beach towel. Wrap it around your shoulders and arms and sit down. Pick up the baby, then pull over the towel with one arm while you slip out of your suit, or better yet, just pull down the top of your suit and pull up your breast. You can hold the towel with both hands while the baby latches on, and once their on, just bring your hand with the towel under their head. Sounds complicated, but it’s quite easy and I’ve done it a million times. You might want to practice at home under a mirror.

Also when I’ve NIP, I like to turn away from folks just a little when latching on, get positioned, then turn back.

HTH! Oh, and any sunscreen will work just be sure to nurse a lot and consider staying in the shade as much as possible. And take lots of water for you!