Breastfeeding & the Parks

[Amirah95]

I have dumb questions that I need answers to (forgive me). We will be taking our 6 month old to WDW next May and baby will be nursing. I have no experience with BF at WDW parks and I do fear the crowds. I didn't nurse my first born, but I'm going to be nursing my 2nd so I don't have hands on experience at the moment as I am learning all about it before baby gets here. I am very discrete, but still nervous about it. I'm sure I'll get over it, but I just need a little guidance as to what to expect. Thanks in advance.

1. In your experience, how many times a day did/does your 6 month old nurse?
   
2. Where do you breastfeed in the parks?
   
3. Where are the best places to breastfeed in each park?
   
4. Did you bring any backup breastmilk in bottles at all?
   
5. Do you take more park breaks (out of the park at noon and return in the evening) since you breastfeed?
   
6. There are laws that say mothers can nurse their babies anywhere, but do CM say anything about it?

 

[Tikicampers]

.

1. In your experience, how many times a day did/does your 6 month old nurse?
   
2. Where do you breastfeed in the parks?
   
3. Where are the best places to breastfeed in each park?
   
4. Did you bring any backup breastmilk in bottles at all?
   
5. Do you take more park breaks (out of the park at noon and return in the evening) since you breastfeed?
   
6. There are laws that say mothers can nurse their babies anywhere, but do CM say anything about it?

First off, congrats on your decision to breastfeed. I'm breastfeeding my 2nd, and feel so lucky to have been able to do it with both kids.
We just got back from DD's first trip, she was almost 3mo at the time.
1. You never know, it will be hot, so the baby may nurse more at the parks. I think DS nursed about 4 times a day at 6 months. We had already started rice cereal then.
2. They have baby care centers at the front of the 4 main parks. Each has a little nursing room. These are nice because the room is quiet so the baby won't get distracted. When we were too far from the baby center, I found a quiet little nook and just nursed as discreetly as I could.
3. See above, but at MK there is a nook to the left of the Dole stand as you look at it, and in Epcot, there is a shady spot past figment and Honey I shrunk the audience.
4. Nope, and didn't need it.
5.We did that even when we went with DS after he weaned. We did it this time too, and with the two kids it was perfect. Get to the park at opening, hang out, then go back to the hotel to swim, rest, and eat. Go back to the park in the afternoon.
6. No one said a word. Like you said, you are legally allowed to nurse anywhere you are allowed to be with your baby.

I nursed DS for 11 months (worked full time too) and am nursing DD now. If you have other questions feel free to pm me.

 

[Talking Hands]

Florida law says you may breatfeed anywhere want to.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Congrats on baby #2 and the decision to bf.!! I did all 3 of my and am so thankful I did. Get the book- A Nursing Mothers Companion- I really learned a lot from it. I did nurse 2 of my kiddies while there. At the parks there are baby care stations with diaper changing tables and rockers to nurse. I did that once. I was too far away other times.

I just found a bench or seat and covered us with a light recieving blanket.Some people never even noticed we were there. Don't be nervous, every body is sooo hyped at being there they are not going to even notice you. And if they do, it's probably other mommies who have nursed or grannies and will just smile at you. Or tell you about nursing their little ones!!

I think at 6 months they ate every 3hours, give or take a little. I was an exclusive nurser-meaning no other formulas, cereal, or anything until after they were older. I think like 9 months at least. But every baby is different-just make sure you eat good healthy and filling meals-your milk will be much better. And you will probably eat very well at wdw!!

I personally didn't take more breaks away from the parks. We did go into them later,like around 10, but once there we stayed quite a while. But, my babies were older than 6 months, so YOU may need a break. Usually, I let dh take the boys and do something they liked, and I would sit & nurse where it was shady, or some place cool. I always had a blanket and they could nap in the stroller. It was in cooler whether too, so they weren't in the extreme summer heat.

Hope this helps!

 

[mom2my3kids]

I think as long as you are discreet you wont have any problems.. Have a great time..

 

[disneyfreak74]

OK. . .we went when DD was 6 months. She was NEVER on a schedule (come to think of it. . . she still is not ). I fed her whenever she was hungry. I do not remember how many times it was that she wanted to nurse. But the BEST place that I found to nurse was on SPACESHIP EARTH!!! it was cool. . .it was dark. . . it HAD AC!!!!!!! Then when we were at MK. . I sat and had a DOLEWHIP FLOAT or either we headed to the people mover. . .DH and DS were used to DD feeding so it was no big deal.

All that said. . people the saw us prob just thought that DD was sleeping. . .she and I were GOOD!!! My mom bought the very light weight Disney Princess fabric and just finished the edges on it. . kinda like a sheet. DD would nurse and I tucked the "sheet" over her so it looked as if I was shielding her eyes or whatever.

I did not nurse my first child and regret it EVERY DAY!!! He had tubes. .breathing treatments. . all that mess by the time her was 5 months. DD has NEVER . . .I repeat NEVER (knocking on wood) been sick. . other than a virus.

 

[dfarner]

Good for you! I nursed at the parks last September w/ my little one. We used the baby care center as much as possible and just picked out shady, out of the way spots at other times. One time I even nursed at a Saratoga Springs bus stop before boarding a bus. Never got any looks, people really don't care or don't know. I was anxious about the whole idea of nursing on the trip, but my fears were unfounded. Have fun!

 

[Tikicampers]

I forgot to say that you will need to be sure that you stay hydrated. I drank a ton of water while we were there.

OT-The first couple of months of nursing are the hardest. I almost quit, and I am so glad I didn't. After a couple of months it just "clicked." If you find you have trouble, contact a lactation specialist, your hospital may have them on site. Just don't give up if it's hard in the beginning. It was well worth the effort.

 

[Ariel8676]

Congrats on baby #2 and on your decision to breastfeed...
I nursed on demand, so i couldn't really say how many times a day we were nursing..lol
These are really cool especially at around 6 months when the baby wants to see what is going on around them... http://www.bebeaulait.com/
I loved going on TTA..the CM's will let you go around a few times (just ask ), Spaceship Earth is another good ride..nice and cool and relaxing.
I like to sit on a bench in the shade and people watch too..lol
Good Luck everything will be great!

 

[allyphoe]

1) I was working when DD was 6 months old, and had a hard time pumping enough for her bottles during the day, so she made up for it by nursing at night. Six months is an easy-nursing age, IME - the first 6 weeks were awful, 6 weeks to 8 months were super-easy, and after 8 months things started to slide a bit due to distractability. Depending on how hot it is, and whether yours reacts to unfamiliar surroundings by nursing more or less, you may find yourself nursing only a couple times a day or all the time.

2) I'm not a fan of the babycare centers. I went in once to nurse in the air conditioning, and was told that the door to the nursing room (which only had uncomfortable chairs too tall for me) had to be kept closed at all times, even though I was the only person in the entire babycare center. I never had any problems anywhere else, and I nursed on the bus, on the monorail, waiting for shows, etc. Never on any rides, but DD was more interested in riding than milk at that point.

3) Wherever you are when the baby is hungry. No one notices a nursing baby, even without a coverup, unless they want to notice a nursing baby. *Everyone* notices a screaming hungry baby.

4) Nope. I hated pumping and was wildly unsuccessful at it (I worked, so DD nursed literally all night long because there was so little in her bottles during the day). You have exactly the right amount, at the right temperature, in a sanitary container already - why complicate things by carrying a backup of the wrong amount at the wrong temperature?

5) We took more breaks because of hot kids. Nursing actually allowed us to stay in the parks longer.

6) Other than the babycare center CM, I've never had a CM say anything to me. The only comment I've heard from anyone at WDW was from another mom, whose 4yo saw my almost-3yo nursing before Beauty & the Beast and wanted to know why she (the 4yo) had to wait until they were back in the hotel room.

(I've actually never nursed a 6-month-old at WDW, although she nursed plenty in public at home at that age. My DD had multiple food allergies as a baby, and was getting 90% of her nutrition from nursing at 12 months. We stopped nursing in public about the time she turned 2, although I've made an exception for WDW trips due to the increased stress and unfamiliar food. We were on a 4-nursings-a-day token system until 2 1/2, at which point I said enough and implemented a once-a-day at bedtime rule, with rare exceptions. She just turned 4 and I still have hope that she may be weaned before she leaves for college, although she'll tell you that isn't going to happen.)

 

[bumbershoot]

Congrats!

DS was never on anyone's schedule but his own, so I just followed his lead and fed him as requested. Therefore I have NO idea how often he nursed.

Keep yourself hydrated, that will be the MOST important part of it all. And fed, too.

I haven't been to WDW, but I nursed at Disneyland...POTC was excellent for nursing. Small World felt too bright. Random benches are good. Never checked out DL's baby station, but wish I had.

With a 6 month old, it's going to be less obvious than I was (DS was over a year on our nursing trip...he's still nursing, but we don't do it in public anymore). If your baby has a personality that allows being covered, a blanket will be nice. With my boy, any attempt to cover us resulted in full ****age being shown as he THREW off the cover, so I finally learned to just nurse, and we'd be more discreet than if I put the "WE'RE NURSING HERE, SEE MY PRIVACY BLANKET" sign up.

I never brought any bottled milk, and wouldn't have if he had been 6 months old at the parks. Pumping wasn't all that fun for me, and nursing was a thing for me and DS...once DS started eating, that allowed others to feed him; I never felt like feeding him while he was only nursing was anyone's job but my own (people get really weird about "feeding the baby" and it's just foreign to me and DH, who feel it's the nursing mom's job!). And bottles were NEVER more convenient than nursing...well, except for on long car trips, but then again, on our long car trips he never used them! We'd drive to Oregon with frozen milk, and it was never drunk, and I wasted so much hard work/liquid gold by thinking he'd eat it...

Hope some of that helps!

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh good gosh, I forgot the MOST important thing for many mother/baby pairings! Babywearing slings and pouches! I personally was only able to nurse while carrying DS in a sling twice, and the first time I had to be top-free to do it. (in our apartment)

But many other women are able to do it. Even in the heat, you can find a lightweight pouch or sling (the avatar picture is me wearing DS in a mesh-bodied lightweight mei tai) to carry baby in, and if you start practicing from the beginning and have the body shape to allow it (I think that was my own main problem), you can easily and discreetly nurse while baby is in the sling/pouch, and no one is the wiser. It's most excellent, and I'm still jealous of those who can do it.

 

[Princess Roo]

By 6 months you'll be a nursing pro!! Let me start by saying I was kind of shy about nursing in public, but I wouldn't have felt at all bad doing it on a bench or ride at Disney. Even if your baby doesn't like to be covered with a blanket (I think most don't mind, but some do), then as long as your shirt isn't too fitted and they're wearing a large-brim sunhat those will also give you a lot of coverage. You can also kind of park your stroller in front of you to give yourself a little more privacy on a bench. One thing I'm also hoping to perfect with baby #2 is nursing in a sling. I still don't know if I would do it while walking, but it is another way to get some "coverage" while nursing.

My 6 month old had just started a few solids and was still nursing ~8 times a day. Hydration is an issue with the hot weather, so you'll probably need to drink more than you're used to and baby will likely need to nurse more.

 

[LilGMom]

Congratulations!!!!


* In your experience, how many times a day did/does your 6 month old nurse? My ds's nursed about every 3-4 hours, more if they were hot so in May I would guesstimate that it would be closer to 2.5-3 hrs.

* Where do you breastfeed in the parks? You can nurse anywhere you want in the parks. If you want a nice comfy chair and A/C go to one of the Baby Care Centers (usually located near the entrance of the parks). Otherwise you can do it wherever you like.

* Where are the best places to breastfeed in each park? Baby Care Centers are the nicest but it isn't always convenient to do that every 2-4 hours. Long rides that are slow moving, shows/productions, while eating. You'll get used to doing things one-handed. A sling can become your best friend while carrying around a nursing infant.

* Did you bring any backup breastmilk in bottles at all? Up to you but you need to make sure that you have a way to keep them cool and if not is that 'liquid gold' (as my dh used to call it) worth throwing out?

* Do you take more park breaks (out of the park at noon and return in the evening) since you breastfeed? We didn't.

* There are laws that say mothers can nurse their babies anywhere, but do CM say anything about it? A CM might say something if they get a lot of complaints but I seriously doubt that would become an issue. Luckily bfing isn't viewed as negatively as it once was (not too long ago) and there are laws in place to protect a mother's right to feed her child.

 

[bamanole]

Congratulations! Both of my boys have been breastfed (the youngest is still nursing at 21 months) and both have been nursed many times at Disney. We've never had any problems with other guests. In fact, the only people that have noticed have been other breastfeeding mothers who stop to say supportive things! At six months, mine were usually nursing about every 3-4 hours. Both were exclusively breastfed until after 6 months when we started the rice cereal. I did not take any expressed bottles with me - my oldest wouldn't use the bottle consistently and I've not pumped at all with the youngest. As Allyphoe said you have the right amount at the right temperature without the fuss of the bottle. I enjoyed using the Baby Care centers too as they are cool, but we were able to find spots just about everywhere that we needed.

I was never able to perfect nursing in a sling - I wish that I had been able! My sister-in-law used the sling with her children and swears by it. Congrats on deciding to breastfeed. The first couple of weeks were tough with my oldest but it got so much better and I'm so glad that I stuck with it. The second, by the way, was easy from the beginning! It has been a wonderful experience. Enjoy!

 

[MiniGirl]

I have dumb questions that I need answers to (forgive me). We will be taking our 6 month old to WDW next May and baby will be nursing. I have no experience with BF at WDW parks and I do fear the crowds. I didn't nurse my first born, but I'm going to be nursing my 2nd so I don't have hands on experience at the moment as I am learning all about it before baby gets here. I am very discrete, but still nervous about it. I'm sure I'll get over it, but I just need a little guidance as to what to expect. Thanks in advance.

1. In your experience, how many times a day did/does your 6 month old nurse?
   
2. Where do you breastfeed in the parks?
   
3. Where are the best places to breastfeed in each park?
   
4. Did you bring any backup breastmilk in bottles at all?
   
5. Do you take more park breaks (out of the park at noon and return in the evening) since you breastfeed?
   
6. There are laws that say mothers can nurse their babies anywhere, but do CM say anything about it?

First of all... Congratulations!!! I nursed each of my girls until they were 2 years old. I never once bought formula. LOL!! I laugh tht I still don't know how to give a baby a bottle because I've never done it.

Anyway, you'll be a pro by the time your baby is 6 months old. Each child is different. DD#1 was nursing only a few times a day by 6 monhts. DD#2, however, was still nursing every couple of hours. I think any quiet, out of the way bench would be fine. Even some rides would work like TTA. You don't have to get off this ride. The CMs will allow you to go around as often as you like. Each park also has child care stations where you can go to nurse and they are air conditioned. I don't think May is bad at WDW, but you may feel differently and enjoy the cool air. I wouldn't bother with bottles, etc -- just more to have to lug around. Breaks are up to you, but I don't think nursing is cause for extra breaks in the room. And lastly, I highly doubt anyone (CM or otherwise) will say anything. A mother's right to feed her child is a well established law, and I would think most people know that.

Now, I would highly recommend a sling. I loved mine. I nursed while walking around our local mall. I nursed #2 while volunteering in DD#1's preschool class. I nursed on airplanes and even in church and Sunday school. I love the long tail on the sling. I would cover me and baby up with that tail and half the time people just thought the baby was napping -- not necessarily nursing. (Well, dd#2 was a very enthusiastic and could often be heard nursing, so she'd give away our little secret. )

Go and have a great time. The only problem you may have is if your little one no longer likes to be covered and wants to look around while nursing. In that case, a nursing necklace might work for you -- assuming of course, you don't want to bare all.

 

[Tikicampers]

I've been thinking about it, and I'm pretty sure DS nursed more than 4 times a day at 6mo like I originally said. Like everyone else, I nursed "on-demand" so I never really kept track.

I have no problem nursing in public, but if you find you are shy about it, Target sells a nursing shawl that works pretty well. Also, I pumped for about seven months with a medela electric pump, and it worked very well, but DS only got bottles when I was at work. And even then, he would hold out and cluster feed when I got home. He would never take a bottle from me. We get to see how DD does in just two months .

 

[monorailsilver]

In your experience, how many times a day did/does your 6 month old nurse?

Mine 3rd child probably nursed between 6-8 times a day at that point, or just prior. She did start table food then so we were weaning BFing (don't ask about my other 2 since they are 6 & 3½ & my 3rd is 15 months so I remember her the best right now.

Where do you breastfeed in the parks?

n/a

Where are the best places to breastfeed in each park?

I would think the baby changing stations or a quiet bench somewhere. And if your soon to be 6 month old is like how mine were you will need quiet. My kids got used to the surrounding noise & any sound would set them off & they'd unlatch & stop. I hated that so I tried to nurse in piece & quiet.

Did you bring any backup breastmilk in bottles at all?

n/a but if you do have a pump, I'd bring one with a bottle as a just in case.

Do you take more park breaks (out of the park at noon and return in the evening) since you breastfeed?

n/a

There are laws that say mothers can nurse their babies anywhere, but do CM say anything about it?

I am not sure about Florida laws but in CT you are free to nurse anywhere.

Have fun & just bring a light thing to cover you & the baby up with. I always kept covered when I was in public just because that is me. I didn't NIP that much.

 

[blessedby3]

Congrats on your decision to nurse your second baby. I nursed all 3 of mine and will do the same with #4 due in a few months. We are taking her to Disney at 3 1/2 months and I plan to nurse while there. I exclusively nurse at that age so wont be bringing any formula. My firstborn had some formula because she weaned herself at 9 mos., but #2 and #3 maybe only had it a few times. They both nursed until they were 2. It is so easy at Disney when you are nursing. The milk is always there and the right temp. I have never been uncomfortable nursing in public. We carry a light weight blanket to cover with if needed. I just want to say hang in there in the beginning. It is a bit rough at first with engorgment, leaking breasts and soreness, but it will pass. I think if I remember correctly (youngest DD is 8 now) that after the first 10 days to 2 weeks things are better established and much easier. It is a wonderful gift to give your child.

 

[AngieWin]

In your experience, how many times a day did/does your 6 month old nurse?
We started solids at 6 months, so nursing did go down a bit, but both my boys were still nursing 6-8 times a day. Never really kept track, we nursed on demand

Where do you breastfeed in the parks?
Everywhere!

Where are the best places to breastfeed in each park?
Look at guide books/park info and make a note of where the air-conditioned attractions are. The Epcot nursing station is really nice. MGM isnt though.

Did you bring any backup breastmilk in bottles at all?
No bottles for us.

Do you take more park breaks (out of the park at noon and return in the evening) since you breastfeed?
Never took any breaks outside the park. But I cant agree more with keeping yourself super hydrated!!

There are laws that say mothers can nurse their babies anywhere, but do CM say anything about it?
We never had any cm's say anything negative to us. It was actually quite the opposite! I did have more than one cm remark of how wonderful it was to see a little one like that.

DS1 nursed until 21 months and DS 2 is still going strong at 22 months!!!