Growing Baby Shelton: Traveling Back East, Part II: Diapering, Breastfeeding, and Family

I assume most cloth diapering families use disposable diapers when traveling. We didn't have much of a choice on the matter. Casey and I are, what I like to call, lazy cloth diaperers. Meaning, we require a diaper sprayer and all-in-one cloth dipes to be successful. (we still love prefolds, we just love all-in-ones more). Bringing the diaper sprayer across the country was not an option, and I knew the all-in-ones would never dry in the Connecticut humidity.

Let me tell ya, we missed our fluff! In a matter of 7 days we had two poopy blowouts and three leaks. Believe me when I say this was not user error - I know how to diaper my Goose. One of the blowouts occurred while walking around Time Square in New York City. That was fun. Since our car was parked a few blocks away, I got to wait in the ladies room with (a very unhappy) Goose for twenty some minutes, while Casey ran to get a new outfit.

One positive note, though, I was finally able to pinch Goosey's bum! Usually her tush is so buried under cloth that I can't do that. Heehee.

If I can make one recommendation for those planning to travel with little babes, consider transferring your diaper bag essentials into a smaller diaper bag for times when you'll be doing a lot of walking. You don't want to lug around any extra weight. Baby wearing in NYC was quite the workout! I can't imagine throwing a full size diaper bag into the mix.

Overall, diapering was interesting on this trip. Breastfeeding was even more so.

I breastfed in some of the weirdest, most public places you can think of: Carmine's restaurant, seaside in Essex, and the Intrepid (just to name a few). While breastfeeding at the Intrepid, a female employee came into the restroom and had this conversation with me:

Lady: Is there a woman breastfeeding in here?

Me: Yes...(thinking I was about to get kicked out of the family restroom)...

Lady: Can I get you a chair?

Me: No, thank you, I'm good!

Lady: Are you sure? Its no problem!

Me: Really, I'm fine! Thank you...

Lady: Alright then, well God bless you! That's terrific to see such a dedicated nursing mother!

Say it with me, folks, "A.W.K.W.A.R.D." There was probably twenty or thirty other women in the restroom at the time. The place was mobbed, more than usual, because we arrived just in time for Fleet Week.

Anyways... moving on...I also created a new breastfeeding position! Casey likes to call it "The Boob Dangler". We started out by pulling over every time Lucy got hungry, but that became tedious. So tedious, in fact, my mom yelled back, "Why don't you just dangle your boob in her mouth?!" Pffffff bahhhahaha!

I laughed for about thirty seconds, and then I did just that. I got on all fours, bent over the car seat, and stuck my boob in her mouth. I know, I know....I am SUCH an inspiration to breastfeeding mothers around the world. HAHA. Just try to imagine this balancing act while driving amongst all those crazies on the Jersey Turnpike. It turned out to be a *huge* time saver; it was uncomfortable for me, but Lucy didn't seem to mind one bit!

Fortunately, all this hassle was well worth it in the end. Lucy got to meet her great grandma, great aunts, great uncles, and even some cousins (firsts and seconds)! Here's a few photos from our trip: