Breastfeeding at MK

[Princesspolly0110]

It's unfortunate that Disney creates special places for this, yet people still feel the need to do it out in the open. I know this is a controversial topic, but you can keep your miracle of life to yourself thanks.

I'm assuming it was out in the open though. If you are one of the decent people with the large shield things to keep covered up, then I have no issues.

He mentioned that she was covered enough to make herself decent. I am an aunt of 2 beautiful exclusively breastfed children. If a cast member had approached my sister, I would have educated them on Florida laws pertaining to the fact of a woman may feed her child where ever she feels fit, in whatever manner she feels comfortable with. You don't seem people ripping bottles out of children's mouths, do you? Have you ever had to deal with a screaming child who suddenly decides that it's acting like its never been fed? The baby care centers are extremely out of the way about 9 times out of 10 in the parks. Disney created these for comfort, not for convenience and mothers are not required to use them.
This judgmental comment of feeding a child needs to stop. After all, your mother fed you in the way she felt was best for you, let this mother do the same. If you feel uncomfortable with human nature, please by all means, look away, distract yourself and feel free to go hungry for the rest of the day.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I'm sorry you had that experience with CMs. I was explicitly trained that breastfeeding mothers are entitled to do so wherever they like, we're not to comment at all, and that if another guest complains they should be politely informed that Florida law permits it. My trainer went so far as to tell me that the only time I should even offer the baby center as a suggestion is in response to a specific inquiry about private or comfortable places to nurse.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

People who think that those who are made uncomfortable when they come across a woman openly breastfeeding her child have "weird sexual hang-ups" need to get a grip. That is tantamount to calling those people perverts, and that should not be acceptable on a board like this. You should be ashamed of yourself.

I like the Florida laws, but it will take time (likely generations) for some segments of our culture to feel comfortable about this. How about we try to understand their feeling without ridiculing them or casting disparaging remarks their way? Their feelings are real and they are not going to change just because the laws have changed. We are not talking about feelings that should be shunned, like bigotry. We are talking about feelings that come from cultural and societal "training" about the human body.

To those who feel uncomfortable, women should not have to hide the feeding of their child, and if it makes you uncomfortable, simply turn your head or walk away. It may not seem fair that you have to sacrifice your comfort for theirs, but this is the new normal and you really need to try and come to terms with it. At some point it may be your daughter or granddaughter doing this in front of you. You don't want her feeling shamed by you, right?

 

[Badgebunny12]

You just don't get it. By law a woman can breastfeed in public where and whenever she pleases. It's not like she running around the park topless (how you and Detroit dont ever end up in NY where it's legal to walk around topless). Tell you what, the next time you go to Disney in the middle of the summer and you need to eat lunch, go outside and find a nice bench to eat but make sure you throw a blanket over your head. Let us know how that goes.

I agree

 

[Dfdisneymomma]

Just the top of the breast. No nipple, I promise

No need to defend yourself here. It's her right by law and as a mother! I applaud her for breastfeeding and standing your ground! As a breastfeeding mother who will be coming to disney in November - thank you

 

[Ariel8676]

Wow i can't believe that in 2015 people are still so uncomfortable with breastfeeding. It is something that has been done since the beginning of time, feeding a child is what breasts are for. My goodness I can walk in the mall or down the street and see Victoria's secret posters that are showing more than a nursing mother, or clothes that some people go out in with their boobs and butt hanging out.
It's sad that people can be so uncomfortable, disgusted, embarrassed by a woman feeding their child. Its the only way my 4 children know and have never batted an eye at a BF Mom. Feed your child whenever, wherever you please..a happy baby is better to be around <3

 

[Magpie]

People who think that those who are made uncomfortable when they come across a woman openly breastfeeding her child have "weird sexual hang-ups" need to get a grip. That is tantamount to calling those people perverts, and that should not be acceptable on a board like this. You should be ashamed of yourself.

I like the Florida laws, but it will take time (likely generations) for some segments of our culture to feel comfortable about this. How about we try to understand their feeling without ridiculing them or casting disparaging remarks their way? Their feelings are real and they are not going to change just because the laws have changed. We are not talking about feelings that should be shunned, like bigotry. We are talking about feelings that come from cultural and societal "training" about the human body.

To those who feel uncomfortable, women should not have to hide the feeding of their child, and if it makes you uncomfortable, simply turn your head or walk away. It may not seem fair that you have to sacrifice your comfort for theirs, but this is the new normal and you really need to try and come to terms with it. At some point it may be your daughter or granddaughter doing this in front of you. You don't want her feeling shamed by you, right?

Very good points...

However, I do mock people who think that breastfeeding is rude and analogous to public urination. Because, culturally inculcated or not, some attitudes are simply wrong, and deserve a strong response, especially when there's any chance a weaker response might legitimize their view in any way. After all, TWO different cast members thought it was acceptable to tell a nursing mum to move... bet they wouldn't have thought that if they'd read a thread like this first!

Similarly, I think most of us would be properly horrified if a same sex couple were told to stop holding hands in public, and we'd be disgusted by anyone who jumped in arguing that the couple were being rude and that people shouldn't have to see that in a 'family park'. For me, this debate is directly analogous to bigotry.

That said, I am entertained at the thought of saying to the next person who compares breastfeeding to public urination, "Oh, you poor fellow. Your parents failed you, didn't they?"

 

[Magpie]

I was just reading this thread to a friend, a childless single woman in her late 40s, and she had an interesting response. She said the only time a nursing mother had ever upset her was when that woman decided to occupy the ONLY stall in the women's bathroom, and my friend desperately needed to use it. She said she was torn between being angry at the woman, and enraged at whomever it was who'd filled her head with so much body shame that she thought it would be in any way appropriate to feed her child in a bathroom stall.

 

[Magpie]

Be careful, not liking public breastfeeding makes you an ignorant caveman that hates kids apparently. Even when you say it's fine provided the mother isn't fully exposed.

Actually I wrote that cavemen would have been far more enlightened on the subject of breastfeeding, given they had no other way to feed their kiddos, and certainly wouldn't have expected their mates to hide their shameful nakedness from view.

Besides, I have no issue with someone saying it makes them squeamish, so long as they don't expect nursing mothers to accommodate them. Turkey legs make me squeamish, but I don't think it's rude to eat them in public.

 

[Ariel8676]

Actually I wrote that cavemen would have been far more enlightened on the subject of breastfeeding, given they had no other way to feed their kiddos, and certainly wouldn't have expected their mates to hide their shameful nakedness from view.

Besides, I have no issue with someone saying it makes them squeamish, so long as they don't expect nursing mothers to accommodate them. Turkey legs make me squeamish, but I don't think it's rude to eat them in public.

 

[ParrotBill]

I am so ashamed and aghast at Disney for not having educated all CMs carefully. This should NEVER happen in a Disney place. For those of you saying "cover up" - I am with the poster who said you'd better have all your meals in the hot Florida sun with a blanket over your head.

 

[isaboo]

It's unfortunate that Disney creates special places for this, yet people still feel the need to do it out in the open. I know this is a controversial topic, but you can keep your miracle of life to yourself thanks.

I'm assuming it was out in the open though. If you are one of the decent people with the large shield things to keep covered up, then I have no issues.

Wow, really?

 

[Tomh]

 

[Disney Khi]

I read the first page and part of this one, and I'm not reading more because my head might explode from irritation and annoyance. However, I wanted to post to the OP to say thank you for getting those CM's educated. I nursed my DD in public (including WDW) and thankfully never had any problems. The sheer ignorance of people today always surprises me. The funny thing is, this is a recent phenomenon brought about by the bottle-feeding prevalence in America of the last half of the 20th century. Before that, women fed their babies without all this hoopla.

 

[Rosebud123]

People who think that those who are made uncomfortable when they come across a woman openly breastfeeding her child have "weird sexual hang-ups" need to get a grip. That is tantamount to calling those people perverts, and that should not be acceptable on a board like this. You should be ashamed of yourself.

I'm not ashamed of myself, but I'll admit it probably was too strong of a response for a public WDW message board. I'm passionate about this issue and perhaps my passion caused a lapse in judgement. My apologies. The mods are obviously free to delete my posts. A weird sexual hang up has nothing to do with perversion, but I still shouldn't have typed that.
My intent was to suggest that people who are uncomfortable seeing women breastfeed in public feel that way because breasts have been sexualized to the point where it's shameful/gross to use them for their intended purpose. That's what I think is twisted.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I wanted to add that, having been raised in the Bible belt, it was about modesty, not the sexualization of breasts. I was raised to "avert my eyes" in the presence of a woman who is breastfeeding. Even that today is considered insulting to many.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Very good points...

However, I do mock people who think that breastfeeding is rude and analogous to public urination. Because, culturally inculcated or not, some attitudes are simply wrong, and deserve a strong response, especially when there's any chance a weaker response might legitimize their view in any way. After all, TWO different cast members thought it was acceptable to tell a nursing mum to move... bet they wouldn't have thought that if they'd read a thread like this first!

Similarly, I think most of us would be properly horrified if a same sex couple were told to stop holding hands in public, and we'd be disgusted by anyone who jumped in arguing that the couple were being rude and that people shouldn't have to see that in a 'family park'. For me, this debate is directly analogous to bigotry.

That said, I am entertained at the thought of saying to the next person who compares breastfeeding to public urination, "Oh, you poor fellow. Your parents failed you, didn't they?"

I am not saying that they are not wrong - just that they are not some sort of sexual deviants. And be careful when you support public shaming of something like this. If public shaming works, why are we no longer using it in other aspects of our society. Public shaming helps no one. It is just poor behavior.

ETA - shaming actually leads to behaviors like women breast feeding their children in bathroom stalls.

 

[Kelly014]

I'm not saying people need to trek to some place far away. But if you don't have bottles with you, and you need to feed a baby, the polite thing to do is to cover up. Especially in a family place like Disney.

Yes, and at the water parks can all the women please cover themselves with blankets? No portion of the breast should be showing ever, obviously.

 

[Ladyfish77]

OMG! You see more boob on many TV shows at at every disney pool/waterpark these days than you do breastfeeding. Seriously people have a problem with this?

 

[alicat8]

Yes, and at the water parks can all the women please cover themselves with blankets? No portion of the breast should be showing ever, obviously.

Don't forget the men too-they need to be wearing shirts..ya know, if we're trying to avoid the double standards! I'm tired of seeing all those man-nipples without babies covering them.