Official Breast Feeding Support Thread for WDW Parks

[GoinToDisney]

With my first, I did a lot f feeding in the car-- more for my own comfort than for anyone else. But now that I have 2, I have had to nurse at the aquarium and a small theme park, and it just wasn't convenient to go to the car. My LO doesn't like to be covered, and I find that I really don't care as much about feeding her in public. However, SHE will not nurse when we are out and about. She nurses quite often at home about every 2 hours. When we are out, she'll ask to nurse, and then only nurse for 2 or 3 minutes. I go to quiet places where there really isn't much to look at, and still can't get her to nurse. She makes up for it later, but it would be more comfortable for me if I could just get her to nurse. She's almost 8 months old now, so it won't be too many more months until she will probably cut back when we are out and about, but for now, it's tricky. Any tips? I just got her to take a bottle, so I was thinking about pumping and seeing if she would drink from the bottle so she can still look around.

 

[belle&beast]

With my first, I did a lot f feeding in the car-- more for my own comfort than for anyone else. But now that I have 2, I have had to nurse at the aquarium and a small theme park, and it just wasn't convenient to go to the car. My LO doesn't like to be covered, and I find that I really don't care as much about feeding her in public. However, SHE will not nurse when we are out and about. She nurses quite often at home about every 2 hours. When we are out, she'll ask to nurse, and then only nurse for 2 or 3 minutes. I go to quiet places where there really isn't much to look at, and still can't get her to nurse. She makes up for it later, but it would be more comfortable for me if I could just get her to nurse. She's almost 8 months old now, so it won't be too many more months until she will probably cut back when we are out and about, but for now, it's tricky. Any tips? I just got her to take a bottle, so I was thinking about pumping and seeing if she would drink from the bottle so she can still look around.

My oldest weaned herself- refused the breast once she had a bottle because she was always looking around! In my experience, make sure you have a really good pump! I didn't for my first 2 kids and wasn't able to make it work. I had a hand pump the first time and a travel Medela pump the second time (can't remember what it was called) This time I have a Medela Pump in Style and went back to work 4 days a week after 12 weeks of leave and have not had to use formula at all! My baby is also 8 months and he is taking 4 feedings a day along with 3 baby food feedings. He will nurse anywhere- being the third with big sister's and brother's schedules, he has had to nurse wherever we are.

I guess my advice is to make sure you have a great pump. I established pumping early- added an extra time while my baby was younger to ensure a supply of frozen milk before I went back to work. At first I got very little, but as I made that time consistent, I ended up pumping more and more and would end up with enough milk for a feeding. I hope this helps!

 

[moparop]

My favorite nursing place is actually Mickey's Philharmagic. Has anyone mentioned TurtleTalk? Another good one! Of course, Finding Nemo and FotLK work great too!

 

[sritter78]

I nursed on Small World, Pirates, Peter Pan, Pooh, Snow White, etc. Anyplace that didn't have someone else right on top of me, I nursed.

The shows are great places to nurse (Circle of Life, Little Mermaid, Nemo, etc.)

DS is 13 months and nurses all the time when I am home (I am a teacher). I want to try and wean this summer, but I don't know how easy that is going to be.



23 days until we leave.

 

[Duke&Tree]

I haven't bf in WDW, and I don't plan on it...our dd will be almost 4 when we bring here. We do practice child-led weaning, but I don't know that we'll go that long.

Anyway, no specific story from me. I'm just offering my support!

 

[Jaymie]

I breastfed both my boys in WDW. So much easier than lugging bottles everywhere. I nursed them pretty much anywhere. I used an infant carrier and covered with a receiving blanket. I don't recall ever getting any funny looks, but then again, I wasn't worried about it either. I was a big fan of the nursing tops too. I think another poster mentionned being more worried about flashing their stomach than a little nipple, I totally agree!! LOL.

 

[FourLeafClover]

Wonderful thread! I will be taking my 4 month old to MK in a week. I am very confident about NIP after 4 kids, but it's nice to know I won't be alone. I am thinking of picking up a nursing tank for the very reasons stated here - after 4 kids in 5.5 years, my tummy is scary A previous poster mentioned using a bella band and that would probably work well, too, unless it was too stretchy... I can use a blanket with DS - its actually a stroller blanket with built in SPF that we got for the beach, but its really lightweight and of course protects him from the sun! I will def visit the baby care center at least once for a break from the action, but otherwise, he'll eat when and where he is hungry! Good luck everyone!

 

[AngieWin]

This thread just gives me such good feelings! No trip for us in the near future, but ds3 was 6 weeks old when we went to Disneyland last May and still nursing!

 

[MommyPoppins]

I'm way more concerned about flashing my stomach than flashing my nipple.

Me too. I have much pregnancy has been much nicer to my breasts than my belly.

I looked at those covers and it seems they are discontinuing them. The only sizes left were xs, s and 2x & 3X. I wonder how easy they would be to make?

I also cannot figure out nursing in a sling. I have a hotslings sling and just cannot do it. I did however pick up an Ergo Baby Carrier yesterday for our DS. I am so excited to use it and wonder if anyone has ever tried nursing in one of those?

I would think it would be very easy to make. It's just a tube. Target also sells their version of a bella band, that is basically the same thing. http://www.target.com/BeBand-Maternity-Band-White/dp/B001DDRYDE/ref=br_1_2?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&qid=1274096924&searchView=grid5&sr=1-2&node=1271975011&searchRank=price&searchPage=1&searchSize=90&id=BeBand%20Maternity%20Band%20White&searchBinNameList=purchasing_channel%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin

It was very tricky learning to nurse in my hotsling. I couldn't do it until about 5 months. At that point they could sit on my hip and lean down to get to it, or I put them in the cradle hold and stuck their legs out the side so there was room to get them to the nipple.

A Beco is very like an Ergo and I had great luck nursing in ours. It does take a second person to adjust it all for me though. My DD was 17 months and 19 months on our trips this spring so it might be height that works for or against you though. I just loosen the straps and the waist strap a bit. So instead of sitting on my natural waist she is a little lower on my hips. Then I have someone loosen the back strap till it feels "right"- enough slack for her to pull back if she gets warm or wants a break. I usually wiggle my shirt up in the front before I strap on and I wear a nursing tank underneath in the same color (white or black) so if it works up in the back you can't tell. Then just peek out the vital part and she's set!

This has been GREAT late at night, she nurses, falls asleep and I don't have to carry a toddler as dead weight! I my Ergo.

I want an ergo or beco SO stinking bad! That is the same way I nurse in my mei tai.

Anyone wanna trade their beco or ergo for it? ;o) I love how pretty my mei tai is I just really want to try an ergo! I wondered if you could nurse in a ergo too. Good to know you can.

I haven't bf in WDW, and I don't plan on it...our dd will be almost 4 when we bring here. We do practice child-led weaning, but I don't know that we'll go that long.

Anyway, no specific story from me. I'm just offering my support!

This is my first time doing the child led weaning. I seriously thought he would be weaned by now(2 1/2). No such luck. lol. It was torture forcing my others to wean though when they were just 12(ish) months.


NINE days until I'll be breastfeeding at WDW again! Woot!

 

[MoeFam]

I also just wanted to lend my support for this thread!

The last BF'ing experience I had at Disney was great. My son was only about 5 mos. I paid careful attention to what I wore...I wanted the shirts to be easy to slide over, I am not so much into the lifting if I don't have to! I did have a cover ( which are easy to make) - it was the first time I ever used one and I loved it. I remember we were waiting at HS for rope drop and realized that DS would need to nurse. I plopped down on a bench and nursed with probably a hundred people looking right at me!! It was fine and at that age DS was small enough to not care about the cover at all. I had several moms comment on the cover and the ring slings we used to carry DS and our nephew who was 11 mos at the time. I even had one mom offer to buy the sling right off my body!!!

I did see the hidden camera piece on the news on Friday....they would have had a serious piece of my mind if I had encountered that type of situation!

 

[Legendofthehawk]

Here to show my support as well.

For those with younger babies depending on what time you go, I fully suggest a wrap. We have a didy, but it would work with a moby as well. Front carry is super easy to breast feed, and if you pull up the cumberbun that you make with the wrap, its also a cover.

This is how we feed my DD in public most of the time when she was newborn.

Toddler nursing happened mostly in our MT, or whereever we could sit.

 

[acename]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I was really nervous about taking our son to WDW with us because of nursing in public. But it's either that or try to find time to pump and be uncomfortable with "girls" full of milk. I think it'll be easier to take him. I just don't have support from anyone around me (except my DH of course). They all think I should wean just so I don't have to take him!

I'm going to try the tip about always wearing a cami under things. That should help not look so obvious. I'm still getting the hang of nursing in public. I'm pretty much to the point where I only need a blanket when he's latching on and when he's finished.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to it more now. I don't think it'll be so bad. In fact it will probably force us to slow down and rest more and will keep everyone happier. Thank goodness DS is a quick nurser though.

 

[jkstewart1800]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my Ergobaby! DS is now almost 4 and we STILL use it.... !!!

 

[dheinz]

Hey! Just jumping in! I have 4 kiddos & have nursed one at WDW. I am going agin in July with 8 month old & worried about nursing b/c it will be WAY to hot to wear my usual nursing tank under my shirt. I thought I would just take our favorite blanket (aden & anais) to cover up with.
Any other suggestions?
Also, I have had my eye on a Ergo carrier. I love our Kozy mei tai but...was wanting something with a little more support & that could go on the hip.

 

[jkstewart1800]

Hey! Just jumping in! I have 4 kiddos & have nursed one at WDW. I am going agin in July with 8 month old & worried about nursing b/c it will be WAY to hot to wear my usual nursing tank under my shirt. I thought I would just take our favorite blanket (aden & anais) to cover up with.
Any other suggestions?
Also, I have had my eye on a Ergo carrier. I love our Kozy mei tai but...was wanting something with a little more support & that could go on the hip.

I never liked the way the ergo felt on my hip.....I think it works wonderfully for front or back wearing... it was so comfortable and I could support a lot of weight on my hips with its design.... I know it says that it can be worn on the side, and I saw all the happy mom's in the video... it just never felt 'right'.... ya know?

 

[MommyPoppins]

Hey! Just jumping in! I have 4 kiddos & have nursed one at WDW. I am going agin in July with 8 month old & worried about nursing b/c it will be WAY to hot to wear my usual nursing tank under my shirt. I thought I would just take our favorite blanket (aden & anais) to cover up with.
Any other suggestions?
Also, I have had my eye on a Ergo carrier. I love our Kozy mei tai but...was wanting something with a little more support & that could go on the hip.

You can wear your mei tai on your hip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYQEXfMLOsc I don't think it would be comfy though. I think a ring sling is always going to be your best best bed for carrying on your hip.

Have you seen these? http://www.moboleez.com/ This might solve your nursing in the summer dilemma. Plus keep you baby's head/face out of the sun.

 

[dumbo_buddy]

this is an awesome thread! just came across it and think it's just so great to see all this support! DH and i took our son to WDW this past january (hi erin!) and i was nursing my then 7 month old. he's 11 months old and we're still going strong although that's mostly because he refuses to take a bottle or cup or anything!

anyway, i bf'd all over the world. right in front of space mountain was a favorite of mine as well as the bench by the bathrooms behind peter pan. it gets a TON of traffic but nobody pays attention. yeah, maybe you'll get a guy who does a double take but that's about it! i have a link to my trip report below and i basically talked about where i bf'd. lol!

if you have an ergo you can bf in it. i pretty much did that while waiting for any and every ride! everyone just thought he was sleeping. i had several conversations with people in line while bf'ing and they had no clue !

 

[Ar1el]

You can wear your mei tai on your hip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYQEXfMLOsc I don't think it would be comfy though. I think a ring sling is always going to be your best best bed for carrying on your hip.

Have you seen these? http://www.moboleez.com/ This might solve your nursing in the summer dilemma. Plus keep you baby's head/face out of the sun.

Well that moboleez is the cutest thing. I love it.

For all posters.............I will be taking a 6 week old to Disney in Dec and I hope to be breast feeding. What would be the best way to breast feed the little one without really being noticed. I would like to just be able to breast feed where ever with out having to stop really. What type of sling would be best for this? Any help is much appreciated. I am not a baby wearing person..........did not with my other 2. But then again we never went on any vacations when they were that small. TIA

 

[MommyPoppins]

Well that moboleez is the cutest thing. I love it.

For all posters.............I will be taking a 6 week old to Disney in Dec and I hope to be breast feeding. What would be the best way to breast feed the little one without really being noticed. I would like to just be able to breast feed where ever with out having to stop really. What type of sling would be best for this? Any help is much appreciated. I am not a baby wearing person..........did not with my other 2. But then again we never went on any vacations when they were that small. TIA

I would think a ring sling would be best. A 6 week old doesn't have much head control, so I don't know if you could nurse in a beco or ergo. I know I couldn't have in my mei tai. Plus they are still getting the hang of it at that age. You will probably be better off finding somewhere to sit, unless you are just really good at getting the baby latched on without having to see what is going on. lol. A ring sling is possible, you can always have someone with you to hold up the tail of the sling as privacy while you get the baby latched. Just make sure you carefully watch to make sure the baby's airway is in proper positioning and your breast isn't pressing against his/her nose. lol. It won't be hands free, but at least you can walk around while doing it.

 

[Ar1el]

I would think a ring sling would be best. A 6 week old doesn't have much head control, so I don't know if you could nurse in a beco or ergo. I know I couldn't have in my mei tai. Plus they are still getting the hang of it at that age. You will probably be better off finding somewhere to sit, unless you are just really good at getting the baby latched on without having to see what is going on. lol. A ring sling is possible, you can always have someone with you to hold up the tail of the sling as privacy while you get the baby latched. Just make sure you carefully watch to make sure the baby's airway is in proper positioning and your breast isn't pressing against his/her nose. lol. It won't be hands free, but at least you can walk around while doing it.

Maybe I should just find some place to sit. That might be the answer for a baby so young.