Bfeeding at WDW

[nucpharm29]

Just want to know if any of you have any advice on discreet places to breastfeed DS on our trip to WDW in a couple of weeks. I know about the Baby care centers, and they are great. DD was 18months the last time we went and the centers were great for breaks and diaper changes. But, I was wondering about other discreet places to bfeed in the parks; in case we're on the opposite side of the park from the baby care center. I'm not one to just feed any old place--I'm just too modest. I know I shouldn't worry, but I can't help it. So any advice would be appreciated!

 

[RCBlackburn]

Get yourself a big blanket that you're only going to use to cover yourself - don't use it for anything else - then find an out-of-the-way park bench or stop at an eating establishment where you can go sit in a back corner with your back to the room - we did this with both of our girls and it was amazing how people are supportive of you as well as leaving you to your privacy.

I will say that personally the baby care stations were great because they're air conditioned and very private - my first would only nurse if I had nothing on above the waist - so we had no choice but to get to the baby care station each time....

Good luck and congratulations on giving your baby the best!

 

[3littleHalls]

I agree...take a nice big baby blanket and find a bench. The baby care centers are very nice. You will also find lots of nursing moms on the benches near the restrooms. One area that I found kind of out of sight was the bathroom near Goofy's Barnstormer.

 

[amarberry]

I'm not a big fan of the big blanket. On DD's first trip to WDW (she was 4 months old), I bought one of those breastfeeding capes (it's a blanket that fastens around your neck) and hated it. My DD would freak out when I'd put her under it and I thought that it just screamed "HI! LOOK AT ME! I'M BREASTFEEDING!" I'm not big on public breastfeeding either, but I've found in my 18 months of breastfeeding my DD that with a little practice most people will just think that you are holding your sleeping baby close to you. The blanket just draws attention.

A couple of places that I thought were nice for breastfeeding were a bench behind the Space Mountain. Not a lot of people go back there. I also have nursed my DD on POTC (both at 4 months and 14 months). If your child is young enough to not be distracted, I think that any dark show is a perfect discreet place to nurse. I second the idea of finding a quiet corner of an eating establishment. I did this several times and would just sit facing a wall or corner.

Good luck!!! It looks like we'll be at WDW at the same time. Maybe I'll run into you in the nursing rooms at the Baby Care Centers.

 

[AngieWin]

At MK, there is supposed to be a theatre just inside the entrance to the right. One of the cast members was telling me that she would take her children in there to nurse and to take naps. I didn't get to use it, but she said that is one of the best places. It is air conditioned and usually overlooked by everyone so it is quiet.

I used a sling in all 4 of the parks and nursed just about everywhere!

 

[WAHMto5]

I nursed just about anywhere at all the parks. A bunch of the rides and shows are also great places, like the great movie ride, mermaid show, bugs life, ect.. There are also a bunch of stoops and benches all over that are out of the way of crowds.

 

[tracilicious]

I agree that the blanket attracts far more attention to the fact that you are nursing. There are plenty of quiet benches around. We've nursed on many rides. I'm kind of like you. I fully support nursing in public, but in the beginning I was really self conscious. I got over it, and have nursed in public hundreds of times. My life has been much easier since. There are many semi-private areas to nurse in though. Sometimes I wear a nursing shirt. It looks like a regular shirt, but has two layers. I wear it if I am in a place that is harder to find a quiet spot to nurse in. Not because I am afraid of showing my ****s (that never happens), but because I am worried about showing my tummy! LOL!

 

[mjbaby]

... but because I am worried about showing my tummy! LOL!

Oh, I was soooooo much more afraid of tummy flashing than nipple flashing! I mean, after 40 weeks of pregnancy and then delivery and no time to exercise and eating whatever can be had quickly, well...let's just say that I didn't exactly have "abs of steel"!

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I was recently on a trip with my son and daughter-in-law, and my dil breastfed my granddaughter Callista just about everywhere. I second the suggestion to use a sling - it was great for carrying her when she was tired and with the sling pulled up a bit behind her head, it covered everything when she was breastfeeding.

Teresa

 

[In Luv with Disney]

I went to WDW with my breastfed DD who was 4 1/2 months old at the time (we went in October). I am VERY self conscious of breastfeeding in public! When I had to do it, I would sit on a quiet park bench, with a blanket around my belly and DD (NOT over her head, she doesn't like that at all!!!) The best places I found were the babycare centers. They were GREAT! The one at MGM was very small, though. My favorite ones were MK and EPCOT. Also, if she had to eat and the baby centers were at total opposite sides of the park and I didn't want to do it in public, I just went into a bathroom stall for 10-15 minutes and did it there. We had a wonderful vacation!!!

 

[mommytomy3]

Im not a fan of the blanket, either...I thimk it screams "nursing baby here!" I bf'd just about anywhere, even sat down on the curb and nursed when I couldnt get a bench! It's alot easier to be discreet if you get yourself a few nursing shirts or tank tops, and you can nurse during shows.. it will just look like your sitting there holding baby. Good Luck!

 

[gnuthca]

I went several years ago when my DD was a nursing toddler and she needed a break from all the distractions to nurse. At MK, we enjoyed the peace and quiet (and air conditioning!) of the Hall of Presidents while the big kids in our group went through Splash Mtn/Big Thunder etc. She fell asleep nursing so I sat through 2 shows and the CMs were very happy to let me stay and rest! ;-)

We also found a bench or something in the shade of Tom Sawyer Island.

I think at Epcot and AK we easily found benches sort of tucked here and there in the shade. And we also took advantage of the other big theater w/seats and air cond at Epcot.

And I second the sling! We had the stroller too but used the sling alot when waiting in lines or watching parades (she was then at adult eye level).

Karen

 

[GeauxTigger]

I just got back from a trip, and at the start, I was very careful to find a quiet, out-of-the-way bench to sit with DS to nurse. I looked for the quiet spots mostly so that I could have a rest...we were with my extended family, and the large group was tiring at first. After a few days, though, that got old fast. I would just fling my blanket over DS and nurse him wherever we were at that point. In the Columbia Harbor House in the MK while everyone had lunch, during the "troll ride" in Norway at Epcot, during the show after the "troll ride" (he kept peeking out from the blanket during the "troll ride"!), outside of the Land in Epcot, and on the Carosel of Progress. I even nursed him standing up a few times (had him in a sling)...in line for PotC and Mickey's Philharmonic (magic? music?).

In any case, no one (outside of one very curious niece) ever paid any attention to us. Even though I had this big blanket thrown over my shoulder, people probably assumed DS was sleeping.

 

[grlpwrd]

I wear a lightwear coat which helps easily NIP (nurse in public). I unzip, lay my dd sideways, and cover her head area with it to keep things private and discrete.

I wear her in a sling and I tried to NIP with her in it, but I just couldn't do it because she's so heavy and long.

I have nursed my son when he was a baby at Busch Gardens and I remember finding a bench away from a lot of the action.

Be sure to practice before you go.

GL!

 

[Bird-Mom]

Practice in front of the mirror before you go. That way you can see how little you are likely showing! I have nursed all over WDW. The shows and longer rides are awesome. There are lots of benches tucked away too.

When I was in AK on our last trip, I was nursing my dd (then 15 months) at the exit of the Safari ride. A mama came up to me, and thanked me for NIP. She said she was watching me, and it made her braver to NIP. I was so proud of her when I saw her later in the day, NIP with no worries.

I never had any nursing clothes, but I know a lot of mamas who loved them. Also, wearing layers like the poster who had a coat can help-wear a thin T-shirt and a cardigan if the weather cooperates.

Blanket just screams nursing baby, and think about how hot it is under there!

For the poster who nursed in the bathroom, please don't feel like you have to do that. You are doing a wonderful thing for your child! The more people NIP, the more others will see it as normal and natural. It isn't something to hide in the dirty, germy restroom.

 

[sara74]

Blanket just screams nursing baby, and think about how hot it is under there!

For the poster who nursed in the bathroom, please don't feel like you have to do that. You are doing a wonderful thing for your child! The more people NIP, the more others will see it as normal and natural. It isn't something to hide in the dirty, germy restroom.

I second both of those thoughts. With DD I would go out to the car to nurse her and missed countless meals and moments with DH by being so self conscious. Then with DS I got some nursing tops (Expressiva is a GREAT website!) and nursed with confidence everywhere we went!. There was not a chance anyone would see actual breast (I am an A cup even when exclusively nursing a very robust boy!) I am way more concerned that someone will see my abs of jello!

The one time that anyone has even mentioned me NIP it was a woman who came up to me at the mall to commend me - and assure me that she only knew what I was doing because she had b/f herself!