Breastfeeding on the Trail: Tips for Outdoor Feeding
In August 1990, a declaration was signed to promote World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7) to encourage moms to breastfeed and improve their and their baby’s health and well-being. With all the benefits that come with breastfeeding, the decision to nurse also brings many challenges – including the many obstacles that come with nursing on trail. But don’t let that keep you from hitting the trails with baby. To help you overcome some of the fears you might have about breastfeeding on trail, we’ve gathered some firsthand tips from our Hike it Baby families to help you breastfeed on the go trailside.
Practice makes perfect
It takes some practice playing with your SSC carrier to drop baby down lower so they can latch and you are still comfortable. I keep the waist the same and loosen straps and just keep adjusting baby so that he can latch. Nursing camis work best because you have one shirt under your SSC hip belt. Try to make sure the shirt over your cami is not under the belt. It’s not the end of the world but it takes a little longer having to pull it out to get it up. I often pause until I get him lactched and then I can keep going. It’s easier to readjust after they unlatch while on the go. Practice before you go out on the trail (or store). It helps with your confidence when they are hangry. – Keira, Lexington Branch
In a front carry SSC, wearing layers and practicing loosening the shoulder straps to lower the baby is key! Nursing tanks with a shirt over makes it easy to lift the top shirt and still have a covering on your stomach. It also prevents baby from sticking to you (I have sweaty kids) while hiking. With a little practice, I was able to very discreetly feed my son on the trail or out in public and keep going. – Suzanna, Akron Branch
Use gear that works for you
I really love hiking with a short woven wrap because it makes it really easy to move baby from back to front or hip to nurse and keep on moving. For toddlers who want to walk on their own feet but may still want to nurse, a ring sling is awesome. They pack down small and it's super fast to get kid up and then back down when they're ready. – Courtney, Charleston/Lowcountry Branch
For me, layers are great. My favorite combo on the trail is a synthetic nursing tank top with a zip jacket or button-down shirt. Not having to pull my clothes up or down in weird ways allows me to get baby to latch quickly and usually I don't have to stop and remove my pack, etc. – Sarah, Albuquerque Branch
Learning to nurse in a carrier was one of the most freeing skills I ever acquired as a parent. I could simply loosen the straps on my SSC carrier to give my baby access and she would contentedly nurse as I walked along. In fact, she got so used to nursing in the carrier that she would grab for the carrier, even when home to tell me she wanted to nurse! The carrier hood also served as a good cover for those times I wanted to be more discreet. It worked so well that I once had a Monk (we were visiting a monastery) come up and pat my daughter on the head when she was nursing, thinking she was simply snuggling! – Rachel, Charleston/Low Country Branch
I loved how so often you couldn’t even tell I was nursing, like in this photo. – Rachel
Minimize breastfeeding stress on trail
If you’re nervous or shy about nursing in public or on the trail, find another mama to nurse with! It's a huge confidence booster when there are 2+ of you sitting together feeding your babies. It definitely helped me the first couple times nursing in public without a cover. – Sandy, South King County Branch
My advice is to make it awesome. Find the best possible spot with the best possible view and own it. Make it something to look forward to. – Kathryn
I personally don't like nursing in a carrier while walking/hiking because my kids would gag or choke if I was moving. I LOVE the "no hiker left behind" mantra of HiB because I never feel awkward asking to take a nursing break. Luckily, both my kids are fast eaters, so it's never a long stop. My advice: if you're not comfortable hiking while nursing, don't feel bad about asking to stop! – Colleen
What are some ways you’ve successfully nursed on trail that weren’t mentioned here? We’d love to hear your tips in the comments below.
Read more:
Ways to get back on the trail after having a baby
Babies on trail: 4 ways to feed your baby on a hike
9 Tips for soothing a cranky baby on the trail
How to prevent clogged ducts on trail
Photos by Jessica Human and Andrea Leoncavallo, as well as courtesy of Kiera Wickliffe and Rachel Adams.
About OutGrown
OutGrown is a national nonprofit working to ensure that every family, especially those with babies and young children, can experience the benefits of time outside. Since our grassroots beginning in 2013, we have supported more than 300,000 families with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country. We believe nature belongs to all of us from the very beginning. That means creating opportunities, removing barriers, and supporting families in finding their way outdoors, whether that starts with a stroller walk, a community outing, or a quiet moment under the sky. You can learn more and explore our programs at WeAreOutGrown.org.
Editor’s Note
Thank you for reading. At OutGrown, we believe content should offer more than information. It should create a connection, support real-life caregiving, and reflect how families grow together through nature. Everything we share is made with care by our team and volunteer community. If this piece inspired you or helped you feel more confident in your outdoor journey, we invite you to support our work by donating today. Your contributions help us keep resources free and accessible to all families.
Please remember that the experiences and tips shared in this article are for general information only. They are not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or safety advice. Always consult with a qualified provider if you have specific concerns or questions.
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When I was younger, in my head, I was going to be a really awesome mom to a daughter one day. We might be best friends, I wasn’t sure, but I was confident she would think I was the best mom in the world. The coolest mom. And we’d never fight. We’d tell each other everything and she’d share all her secrets with me. I would be her Person … her go-to in good and bad times. And there would be laughter. Lots of laughter.
Fast forward to the me now – mom of three (ages 11, 6 and 2) with the middle-aged years sneaking up on me. I never seem to get enough sleep, and the only time I’m not screaming at the kids is when I’m whispering under my breath in public for them to be quiet, keep their hands to themselves and stop running around.
And I’m far from that awesome mom I was sure I would be someday.
My 11-year-old daughter and I argue as much as she changes outfits in a day – that would be at least 3x in the morning, one time after school, and finally the final change of clothes right before bed. And all those change of clothes? Sitting in a pile … an arm’s length away from the hamper. But every morning I wake up with the best intention to use the new day as a do-over for better adulting and mommy-ing; however, by the end of the day, we’re both emotionally drained.
But there are two things we do together that almost always pushes the pause button on our constant mommy/daughter struggles: shopping and hiking. One brings us home less a few dozen dollars in the bank, so I try to avoid that option. But hiking always seems to break down the barriers and offer a welcomed reprieve from our bickering – albeit short, but I’ll take anything.
Sometimes after a VERY LONG week, we ditch the boys and go for a Mommy & Me Hike and spend some quality one-on-one time together. Our times together on trail are opportunities to talk, listen and mend. We’re both more relaxed, conversations flow easier and I see an inkling of that mom I was hopeful I’d be one day to a daughter.
And I am always humbled when I watch my daughter on the trail. She carries half her weight in supplies and never complains; she treks up and down canyon and mountain trails like a pro; and she fearlessly tackles shaky stairs into canyons that would’ve made me quit less than halfway through (which I only made it by taking deep breaths, putting one foot in front of the other and focusing on her back).
On the trail, she and I are different people. My tone softens and my steps feel lighter; I temporarily forget the dozens of tasks on my to-do list; and my spirit feels restored. And I notice my daughter matches my stride so we walk side by side, making it easier to talk to each other; her defenses are down and she smiles more; and her eyes sparkle when she looks at me, reminding me of the little girl who thought I was the best thing in the world next to chocolate.
There’s something about the trail that brings a sense of connectedness with others. It invites people to get to know one another without reservations … or say nothing at all and settle into a comfortable silence. The vast space that is the outdoors unifies people and brings an awareness of being together in the same experience while keeping each person centered and refreshed. And just like the sunshine and rains that make the trees grow all around, nature nurtures relationships that need repaired, promotes new friendships and creates tighter bonds.
October 20 is Take Your Daughter on a Hike Day, an event hosted by Hike Like a Woman. Invite your mom, daughter, grandmother or any woman and girl in your life who is like a mom or daughter and devote some Mother/Daughter time in nature and fill your individual love tanks. Dads – this one is for you too! But don’t let it end there; schedule hikes together with just the two of you sometimes to rejuvenate … and don’t forget the chocolate treats!
What have been some of your experiences like hiking one-on-one with a kiddo? Share with us in the comments below!
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