Breastfeeing in the parks

[Jackson4]

I will be traveling in August to WDW with an infant and was wondering if there are indoor baby care areas where I will be able to breastfeed my 3 month old?

 

[Tink0513]

Ok I appreciate your respect for others by wanting to breast feed your child in a private area.

I was at the Little Mermaid show on Sun May 22 and the lady was breast feeding her child right next to me.....the darn thing was in plain site! And she would try to stop feeding her baby and then it would scream! I was just in aww!!!!

As far as your question, I have no idea!

 

[MommyPoppins]

I will be traveling in August to WDW with an infant and was wondering if there are indoor baby care areas where I will be able to breastfeed my 3 month old?

Each park has one Baby Care Center. They are really nice, but not practical at all for using each time your baby will need to nurse. LOTS of people on these boards will give people a TON of crud about nursing in public, but it is your right and if you can do it descreetly then nurse your baby anywhere he/she needs to nurse. If you aren't comfortable with that than I would suggest pumping in the morning and bring bottles to the parks. I don't understand why people get SO bent out of shape because of moms breastfeeding their babies when there are dozens of woman walking around with more than enough breast showing.

 

[Tink0513]

Each park has one Baby Care Center. They are really nice, but not practical at all for using each time your baby will need to nurse. LOTS of people on these boards will give people a TON of crud about nursing in public, but it is your right and if you can do it descreetly then nurse your baby anywhere he/she needs to nurse. If you aren't comfortable with that than I would suggest pumping in the morning and bring bottles to the parks. I don't understand why people get SO bent out of shape because of moms breastfeeding their babies when there are dozens of woman walking around with more than enough breast showing.

No....only when you have your complete breast hanging out, nipple and all and you don't even have the courtesy to use a blanket or something is the only time I get bent out of shape!

 

[Northern Lights]

Yes, in fact, look for a thread about this that I posted on earlier today. Click on my username to find the thread where I posted.

They were very practical for us but you will need to plan attractions, etc. accordingly. I'm not a prude and couldn't care less about exposed ****s. Nevertheless, you will appreciate escaping the August heat and crowds to nurse in a nice, quiet, comfortable, dark and air conditioned spot.

I can perhaps see them being a bit annoying if you plan on being a park commando. We found them to be awesome though b/c we only spent the mornings and evenings in the parks, and thus only needed to use the centers at most once in the morning and once in the evening. In either case, it was easy to plan what to do and where to be in the parks to be near the centers about the time the baby would be ready to nurse on his schedule.

 

[DVCLiz]

Just curious - has anyone ever nursed on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority ride? My nursing days are well behind me (DDs 11 and 16!) but I thought the last time I rode it, "Gosh, once around for each side and this would be a great and private way to nurse - people in the opposite car pass so quickly that I doubt they'd even notice!" Just a random thought...

There are lots of little nooks and crannies where I think you could discreetly nurse - places like the seating area near the bridge to Liberty Square, the English garden behind the United Kingdom, loads of places in AK, and all the baby care centers. Plus attractions like Hall of Presidents or American Adventure, the France movie, etc. Good luck!!!

 

[MommyPoppins]

Just curious - has anyone ever nursed on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority ride? My nursing days are well behind me (DDs 11 and 16!) but I thought the last time I rode it, "Gosh, once around for each side and this would be a great and private way to nurse - people in the opposite car pass so quickly that I doubt they'd even notice!" Just a random thought...

There are lots of little nooks and crannies where I think you could discreetly nurse - places like the seating area near the bridge to Liberty Square, the English garden behind the United Kingdom, loads of places in AK, and all the baby care centers. Plus attractions like Hall of Presidents or American Adventure, the France movie, etc. Good luck!!!

LOL! The TTA is the PERFECT place to nurse and with the breeze of being on a moving ride it would be bearable. I have never nursed there, but I have a friend who has used that ride for just that purpose.

 

[pjupton]

If you aren't comfortable with that than I would suggest pumping in the morning and bring bottles to the parks.

Hmmmm... I doubt most women could pump enough for an entire day of bottles by just pumping in the morning. And most would need to pump at roughly the same time the baby had those bottles to keep their supply up or to relieve engorgement since baby would be drinking a bottle instead of nursing. That's IF her baby even takes a bottle. Then there's the job of keeping the bottles at the right temperature during the day, finding a place to pump, keeping up with the stored milk from pumping during those missed feedings...

Sounds like a lot of work to me. Opening a nursing bra and latching baby on seems quite a bit easier.

I found that most people, Tink0513 excepted, are bothered much more by a screaming baby than a nursing baby.

 

[MommyPoppins]

No....only when you have your complete breast hanging out, nipple and all and you don't even have the courtesy to use a blanket or something is the only time I get bent out of shape!

lol. I am thankful that I have never had to experience that. I could see being a little uncomfortable sitting next to someone who is totally exposed. But there are some people who just don't care and it is still legally their right, so we can always just not look.

 

[Bev J]

The Baby Care centers are wonderful, rocking chairs and airconditoning!! Your baby will appreciate being in a cool, dim place and so will you. Otherwise bring a light open weave blanket and try to be as discreet as you can or even lightweight cloth diapers work. I breastfed 4 babies all over the world and really don't feel I offended anyone as I tried hard to not expose anymore than was necessary.
I am sure people would rather have a happy baby feeding quietly than one screaming!
Too far away from the baby centers- find a shady bench, nurse away and just smile at any one who is rude enough to stare.....

Bev

 

[MommyPoppins]

Hmmmm... I doubt most women could pump enough for an entire day of bottles by just pumping in the morning. And most would need to pump at roughly the same time the baby had those bottles to keep their supply up or to relieve engorgement since baby would be drinking a bottle instead of nursing. That's IF her baby even takes a bottle. Then there's the job of keeping the bottles at the right temperature during the day, finding a place to pump, keeping up with the stored milk from pumping during those missed feedings...

Sounds like a lot of work to me. Opening a nursing bra and latching baby on seems quite a bit easier.

I found that most people, Tink0513 excepted, are bothered much more by a screaming baby than a nursing baby.

Oh I totally agree. I nursed my last 2 babies while at WDW and I did it where ever I needed too. I have never had any problem with being descreet they don't mind being covered by a cloth or my shirt just tucked up to their mouths. But I know that when we went with my 5 month old I pumped in the mornings and it gave me enough for one feeding. I just carried it in inside a small cooler bag, that comes with the diaper bag you get at the hospital. Then I used the baby care center one time, had the bottle another time and then we went back to the room by the time of the next feeding. By 3 months you don't have to worry so much about skipping a feeding time. Doing it a couple times wont do anything to your milk supply. I LOVE the baby care center, but they seem to be in the dumbest places. Like at MK shouldn't it be in fantasyland?

 

[tmfranlk]

Like other have said there is one Baby Center in each park, but it's not always convenient. I have nursed DD all over WDW and DL and never found a shortage of good places to nurse. Personal favorites include - Hall of Presidents, Pirates of the Carribean, TTA, Small World, any of the movies, Voyage of the Little Mermaid (sorry for your bad experience Tink0513), American Adventure, Living with the Land, any bench in the shade.

Luckily, at 3mo your baby shouldn't be doing much struggling/pushing off the blanket yet. Plus, you will be getting into a groove of how nursing works best for you.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

There are a lot of quiet areas where you should be able to feed your baby discreetly. We noticed quite a few women on benches in rather out of the way places and no one seemed to mind. IN MK we noticed a few women on Tom Sawyer Island which tends to be very quiet during certain times of day.

 

[snowy76]

There are a lot of quiet areas where you should be able to feed your baby discreetly. We noticed quite a few women on benches in rather out of the way places and no one seemed to mind. IN MK we noticed a few women on Tom Sawyer Island which tends to be very quiet during certain times of day.

So I have to step in here, having once been a seven-year old child who saw her first breast on Tom Sawyer Island. We came around a blind corner and there she was, just sitting on a bench with it hanging out. Yeah, she had been breastfeeding, but not at that moment and she wasn't covering ANYTHING! I didn't even understand what she was doing -- so I asked my mom, who just loved having to explain this to me at this moment of all possible times.

I totally freaked out. I still would have liked to have had a choice as to whether I saw it or not!

 

[flminivanmama]

I'm trying to think of the best rides we nursed on - for sure Mexico, the land, spaceship earth, tiki room, POtC, the hall of presidents, ... well basically anything cool, sitting, moving, etc they asked to nurse LOL or even if they didn't I took advantage of the opportunity. I also wear my babies in slings and wraps, etc so I can easily nurse and walk

 

[GEM]

My little guy has just turned two. He's made two trips to Disney World so far, once at 12 months and once at 18 months - and we "nursed around the world" both times.

I've nursed him in many places around Disney World - benches, restaurants, curbs, rides, shows, etc. I never used the baby centers because we were never near one when he wanted to nurse. I did not cover up with a blanket (never do) but I can promise you that you couldn't see anything at all except the back of Paul's head. In fact I had several people comment on the cute sleeping baby, when he was really nursing. So, I certainly wasn't flashing the world or anything. I never had any negative looks or comments and I would encourage any mother who is breastfeeding her baby or toddler to do so when and where she needs to. I did notice lots of other nursing moms (only because I was looking for them) and I never felt the least bit odd or anything.

And, as someone said, slings are great! When Paul was little, I could nurse him in the sling while walking around, etc. It was a lifesaver! I didn't even have to sit down.

 

[Tink n Poohbear]

I second the sling! I purchased one before our trip and it was awesome! I was able to nurse even while standing in lines and walking around. And yes....I was covered, so no one saw a thing! I think it's a must-have for nursing moms.

 

[leighmidd]

If you want to breastfeed in the park, that is just fine, I have no problem with that. But please, just cover up your big ole' ****ies...no one wants to see that and we can't help but look, it's like a very scary train wreck.

 

[Amy&Dan]

If you want to breastfeed in the park, that is just fine, I have no problem with that. But please, just cover up your big ole' ****ies...no one wants to see that and we can't help but look, it's like a very scary train wreck.

Hmm, interesting comparison, train wreck/mother feeding baby. I don't agree with that one. Case in point, I saw a horrible car accident yesterday afternoon and then heard on the news the poor woman had died. Then I went to dinner last night and saw a woman nursing her sweet little baby. No comparison!

 

[3xthecharm]

I would not plan on using the Centers every time your baby needs to eat.
I also would not nurse with everything hanging out either.

I managed to nurse my 3 children for well over a year each (two of them in WDW), and I never exposed anything. I was also careful not to nurse sitting next to a non realitive.

A nursing top is a must. Ones that do not double as a maternity top are cooler than ones that do. These can be found in consignment stores for a reasonable price.

Cover up with a light baby blanket. The blanket can also be used to protect the baby from the sun while in the stroller. Practice nursing in the dark. Then, you won't have to peek under the blanket to keep him attached.

Always park the stroller infront of you while nursing. It keeps people at a slight distance.

A few of the restaurants in Epcot have a sitting room inside the ladies room. The one in Germany has a very nice one. I nursed in the Haunted Mansion and other times facing several bushes. There are some good ones over by Thunder Mountain. Most people realized that I was deliberately facing away from the crowd. They respected my privacy as much as I respected their right not to be offended.