Have Baby, Will Travel.
We all know breastfed babies travel lighter - but what stories do you have of travelling with your BF baby? Where have you taken your children on holiday? What have been your experiences of breastfeeding in other countries? Which places are "breastfeeding friendly"? Would you like to recommend any “family friendly” places, you have visited, at home or abroad? Here's the place to share your experiences – please contact us with any information you might have!
Click here for Venues in the UK
(this list is broken into regions then specific venues)
Venues around the rest of the world listed below
Cyprus (Fiona)
On the whole we found people in Cyprus to be extremely helpful and friendly. Children are warmly welcomed pretty much everywhere and I felt comfortable breastfeeding in the cafes and tourist attractions we visited. Particularly good was Paphos Bird Park : well-kept birds and animals, and very pleasant restaurant with friendly staff. The Time Elevator in Limassol was very popular with the rest of the family, and I was made very welcome in the adjacent café as John needed feeding whilst the others went in. Baby changing facilities were thin on the ground wherever we went, but generally a great family holiday.
Turkey (Jenny)
I had no BF in public problems, we spent a lot of time in the apartment complex as the beach was so hot and we had air-con to cool off in and stay out of the midday sun, so I could BF in the shade on our terrace or in the bedroom with no problems. I only fed her twice "in public", once in a restaurant quite late at night with my sling for discretion, and once on a beach, whilst sunbathing topless, so there was no disguising it, and no need to!! In fact a Turkish woman nearby gave me several big smiles as she was nursing and once she was asleep, so no problems on that front, ha ha!!
Northern Spain (Fiona)
Off the beaten track in “Green Spain”, English is not widely spoken, but the people are very friendly and welcoming to children. I felt the need to be somewhat more discrete whilst b/f than I would do at home, especially in the mountain villages. Something of a shortage of “no smoking” areas, and not much by the way of specific baby facilities however. Not the part of Spain to visit for frantic night life, but if you want wide open spaces, clean beaches, great sea food and a warm welcome, definitely worth a visit.
(Hannah)
Have just returned from my holiday and BF appears to be unheard of in Northern Spain! I got some seriously major glares for bfing in public (which I did loads) - and the glares just made me feel less and less inclined to make any effort to be discreet LOL! Of course the fact that I speak fairly reasonable Spanish - certainly enough to stick up for myself should anyone dare to comment - gave me a bit more confidence. We saw lots of babies and young children, and they all, without exception, seemed to have bottles and dummies. I didn't see one other woman breastfeeding, but saw lots of babies being bottle-fed.
I wouldn't want to put people off too much - we were in predominantly Spanish areas and I have no doubt that in more touristy spots (and topless beaches LOL) it would not be quite so glare-ridden. I just got hit by the evil eye of middle-aged Spanish women.
Puorto Banus (Amanda)
Could not find any baby changing facilities or BF rooms - however I have been informed that they are very relaxed in Spain and welcome you to do it anywhere. Didn't feel so comfortable in bars though...
France (Shel)
Honestly I have never had any problems breastfeeding whenever, wherever in France - Monaco, Paris, Rural Western France or anywhere -
no funny looks or anything. And this in spite of the fact that BFing rates are even worse there, than here! On one occasion I was BFing a 3 week old Riley in a pavement cafe on la Condamine (the marina) in Monaco, and an old lady came over and commended me (in French!) on feeding my baby 'the right way', which I thought was lovely. Baby changing facilities practically non-existant, but toilet cubicles in restaurants etc generally more sizeable than here and so I had no problems changing nappies either.
Prague (Anthea)
Just spent a few days in Prague and BF in restaurant and cafes and no one seemed to mind at all. No one asked if I needed anything or go anywhere else but I figure being left to get on with it is better than being asked not to. Didn't actually see any specific BF rooms but wasn't really looking either (but wasn't in shopping centres etc either).
Singapore has a lot of baby rooms in their shopping centres with a separate part for BF mothers.
Florida (Nat)
Sea World are amazing they have several nursing rooms with the most comfortable rocking chairs, dim lighting and calm music. A wonderful escape when it is too warm to feed outside. They are marked on the map.
Aquatica has two nursing rooms. Both are air conditioned, have a rocking chair and are marked on the map.
Wet n Wild, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure do not have nursing rooms. I frequently fed on benches, in cafes, during shows and didn't have a single funny look (that I noticed).