Every August, we celebrate National Breastfeeding Month—a time to reflect on the importance of supporting parents and babies in their feeding journeys. Beyond personal choice and health, breastfeeding is also a matter of rights. In the United States, laws protect a mother’s ability to breastfeed and pump at work, in public, and even while traveling. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Your Right to Breastfeed in Public

• All 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands explicitly allow mothers to breastfeed in any public or private location where they’re otherwise allowed to be.
• This means you can feed your baby in the park, at a restaurant, in a store, or on a bench at the airport—without being asked to cover up or move.
• A federal law also protects breastfeeding on federal property, such as courthouses or national parks.

Take-away: Breastfeeding in public is always your right—no state can take that away.

2. Your Right to Pump at Work

Returning to work doesn’t mean giving up your feeding goals. Thanks to the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (2022), nearly all employees now have federal protections:

• Break Time: You are entitled to reasonable break time to express milk for up to one year after your baby’s birth.
• Private Space: Your employer must provide a private, non-bathroom space shielded from view and free from intrusion.
• Paid vs. Unpaid: If you are not fully relieved of duties while pumping, that time must be paid.
• Coverage: The PUMP Act expanded protections to millions of salaried and hourly workers—including teachers, nurses, and agricultural workers.

Some states go further:

• California requires lactation rooms with a chair, table, electricity, and nearby water/refrigeration.
• Colorado protects pumping rights up to two years postpartum.
• Maine extends protection up to three years postpartum.

Take-away: If your state law is stronger than federal law, your employer must follow the stricter standard.

3. Your Right to Pump and Breastfeed While Traveling

Traveling with little ones is challenging enough—the law helps ensure you have support along the way.

• Airports: The FAM (Friendly Airports for Mothers) Act requires all medium and large hub airports to provide private, non-bathroom lactation spaces in every terminal. These must include a seat, a flat surface, and an outlet.
• Air Travel: You may bring breast milk, formula, and pumping equipment in your carry-on through TSA security. These are exempt from the standard 3.4 oz liquid rule, though you may be asked to separate them for screening.
• Breastfeeding on Planes: You are legally allowed to breastfeed your baby during flights. Airlines cannot require you to cover up.

Mama Tip: Look up your airport’s lactation rooms before traveling for peace of mind.

4. Why Knowing Your Rights Matters

Too often, parents face pressure, misunderstanding, or even harassment when feeding their babies. Knowing your rights helps you feel confident and empowered—whether you’re nursing at a café, requesting pumping breaks at work, or finding a quiet corner at the airport.

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This National Breastfeeding Month, let’s celebrate not just the bond between parent and baby, but also the laws that protect and support families. Every parent deserves dignity, privacy, and the ability to feed their child without barriers—whether at work, in public, or on the go.