I was not allowed to use rocking chairs at Baby Care Center

[emh1129]

I'm a very pro-bf'ing mom who breastfed all three of my children (although I struggled majorly with #1 and he had bottles, too. #2 and #3 were 100% breastfed, though).

I think the solution should be simply to add more rocking chairs. We encountered full rooms a few times, even when all of the moms were breastfeeding moms.
(Except for the AK one-- which is the nicest one! I think that one gets overlooked a lot).

I'm all for nursing in public (and have nursed 'round the world multiple times ), but it's nice to have the option to go somewhere quiet if baby is distracted or needs a calmer atmosphere.
I just adore the Baby Care Centers and think all moms & babies should be welcomed there.
So why not just make more room?

 

[NotUrsula]

It never crossed my mind that Disney would have the nursing rooms to cut down on nursing in public. Shame on them! I used them because they were comfortable, and I think bottle feeding moms have every right to be in there, too!

I don't think for a minute that the Disney Company itself dislikes having mothers NIP in the parks. What it dislikes is the customer-service headache that can sometimes result from others witnessing NIP (notice I did NOT say observing exposed mammaries, because 90% of the time, if a mother is experienced enough to be comfortable NIP, there is not going to be anything "showing".)

What it at issue here is keeping the largest number of guests happy insofar as that is possible. For Disney, creating a private nursing area in each park is a win-win from a PR standpoint -- it demonstrates how family-friendly they are, AND it takes some nursing mothers out of public areas, which means it reduces the number of complaints that they have to deal with from small-minded prudish people who have nonetheless paid their admission fee.

No, we should not have to hide, and by law we don't -- but when someone offers you a more comfy way to do something, it's human nature to take advantage of that if it is convenient. I've never nursed or pumped in a bathroom in my life -- rooms with toilets are not suitable for eating or for food handling. Did I use dedicated nursing rooms in stores and parks? Yes, I did, not because they were discreet, but because they were comfortable. I can nurse discreetly anywhere, but I won't always be perfectly comfortable while I'm doing it. A half-asleep toddler is a heavy thing, and I'd rather hold one sitting down if I have a choice about it.

I'm fine with bottle-feeding parents sitting in the nursing rooms, but I'm not in the position of having to deal with a complaint from a nursing mom who does not feel up to NIP but cannot find a private place to sit. Those whose job that is have determined that the space available is not equal to the demand, so they are attempting to limit access; it makes perfect sense.

 

[melancholywings]

I think it's bad buisness and I would write to the sponsor to complain. The formula company is paying for it - and those who support the company by buying their products should also be able to take advantage of what they are offering.

I wonder if they would have allowed one of those rare women who nurse their 5 or 7 year olds to use the rocking chairs over a young bottle fed infant.

 

[Schmeck]

Why is it considered a good idea to rock a baby while you are feeding him/her anyways? Why do they need extra stimulation or extra soothing while being fed? Doesn't that make them associate eating with attention, motion, etc?

 

[NemoMOm]

Yup, a brightly lit room with a lot of other children running around and a television blaring. Not quite the calm, soothing environment I was expecting!

I'm confused by this, do you mean that it is too distracting to bottle feed? Because that can also be said for feeding baby food. The difference is when a nursing baby unlatches to see what is going on, everyone gets a view of mom. As I said before, bfing moms get a lot of grief about NIP. I see no reason why she can't be in there if it is slow, BUT if it is full its for privacy. I can just see all the complaints from other moms about how they brought their kids to a family park and say NIP! That is why they have a private room.

Also I think is dark only because some moms are still very private even while nursing with only other moms. I see it a lot. I do not think it has anything to do with putting your child to sleep. In rooms that are only for single moms such as in AK or H&V the lights are on.

On another note, those chairs are NOT comfortable. They are terrible on the back

 

[mom2maggie]

Why is it considered a good idea to rock a baby while you are feeding him/her anyways? Why do they need extra stimulation or extra soothing while being fed? Doesn't that make them associate eating with attention, motion, etc?

I really don't mind my baby associating her feeding time with love and attention from me.

I rock my baby because I like to and because SHE likes to. Rocking your baby isn't a new concept

 

[mom2maggie]

I'm confused by this, do you mean that it is too distracting to bottle feed?

My point was that the main room with chairs, high chairs, and the television was not the environment I was expecting - I thought it would be a quiet room to feed the baby (IE like the nursing mothers room).

 

[NemoMOm]

My point was that the main room with chairs, high chairs, and the television was not the environment I was expecting - I thought it would be a quiet room to feed the baby (IE like the nursing mothers room).

Ah, AK and Epcot have better facilities for this, Hand V and MK are too small. Actually H and V is so awful that I don;t even bother unless I'm nursing. Its waaay too cramped. There are some really good options through out the park.

 

[la79al]

I wonder if they would have allowed one of those rare women who nurse their 5 or 7 year olds to use the rocking chairs over a young bottle fed infant.

I was wondering this too. If the BCC weren't so out of the way (in Epcot, the only one I have ever actually been to) I would almost want to go in and see what they say about my nursing 2 year old on our trip next month. And then if I could give up my chair to a bottle fed infant, even better. Of course, DD only wants to nurse on Disney buses so....

 

[TLCdisneyfan]

First, I'll say that must have been rotten to be asked not to use the nursing room. It's a nice, quiet space. My guess is, Disney may be trying to keep the nursing room for women only, but using a gender neutral rule. Allowing only nursing mothers will keep out bottle feeding dads without saying "no men allowed." Maybe they don't want to open a second quiet feeding room that men can use?

 

[es45]

I'm a very pro-bf'ing mom who breastfed all three of my children (although I struggled majorly with #1 and he had bottles, too. #2 and #3 were 100% breastfed, though).

I think the solution should be simply to add more rocking chairs. We encountered full rooms a few times, even when all of the moms were breastfeeding moms.
(Except for the AK one-- which is the nicest one! I think that one gets overlooked a lot).

I'm all for nursing in public (and have nursed 'round the world multiple times ), but it's nice to have the option to go somewhere quiet if baby is distracted or needs a calmer atmosphere.
I just adore the Baby Care Centers and think all moms & babies should be welcomed there.
So why not just make more room?

 

[LuLuO]

I really think that nursing stations are to please those who are offended by public nursing. I think that if people weren't offended by nursing mothers, then Disney wouldn't go through the expense of having the baby stations.

I have no problem nursing in public and I would much rather just sit on a bench where and when it is convenient for us than to have to go out of my way to a nursing station somewhere. While I appreciate a nursing station being available for hot days and for times when DS is being cranky or easily distracted, I am a bit put off by being expected to use them.

It would be nice if they provided nursing stations and bottle feeding stations that were both quiet and cool.

 

[Happiest mommy]

I was not aware that The Baby Care centers were only for nursing mothers I thought they were for all babies I was hoping to use it with my 8 month old bottle fed baby which I also tried to breast feed but could'nt due to illness.

OP I am so sorry I know how you feel

 

[rootbeer momma]

To OP, I am sorry you and your baby were treated that way. I firmly believe that it is an unfair practice to only allow nursing mothers.
What did my child do to not deserve to feed in a quiet, calm environment? Just because I was physically unable to breastfeed any of my children does that mean my child should have to bottle feed in a tv room with other children running around screaming? All babies deserve to be fed in a quiet, comforting environment...not just breastfed babies.

 

[livndisney]

I was not aware that The Baby Care centers were only for nursing mothers I thought they were for all babies I was hoping to use it with my 8 month old bottle fed baby which I also tried to breast feed but could'nt due to illness.

OP I am so sorry I know how you feel

Baby care centers are not restricted to nursing mothers. The nursing ROOM in the babycare center is restricted to only nursing mothers.

 

[Happiest mommy]

livndisney thanks for the info

 

[rootbeer momma]

i also bottle-fed by choice & i think this is very unfair. If you want a nice, dim, quiet chair to feed your baby - you should get one. Not get treated like you're second class. Breastfeeding doesn't make you special & if you're not comfortable doing it, don't do it. Not get a special room just for you & those like you. If it's for feeding - it's for feeding, however that might be done.

ita!!

 

[kimgg]

OK those of you asking why babies need a dark room and a rocking chair - I'm sure it helps get babies to go to sleep in an otherwise noisy bright place. Some people may not have the optiont to return to their room if they are not staying on property. Little babies still need to nap every few hours and some have trouble falling alseep in the sunlight (and some don't). This would allow a mom to feed and rock her baby to sleep and then slip him or her in their stroller to allow the family to enjoy their day much better than with a tired cranky infant. And I can see this would benefit babies fed either way.

I think Disney should accomodate infants and their moms equally. This is not a business conference we are talking about, it's Disney, for FAMILIES!! Why is that too much to ask? I saw something about the baby care center being closed at MK, is is possible they might be remodeling it?

FYI - I breast fed and I don't think I would have been more or less uncomfortable about a bottle feeding mom than a nursing mom being around me while I nursed. Another mom is another mom. Now Dads or BIG brothers, sorry, no . . .

 

[NemoMOm]

I also bottle-fed by choice & I think this is very unfair. If you want a nice, dim, quiet chair to feed your baby - you should get one. Not get treated like you're second class. Breastfeeding doesn't make you special & if you're not comfortable doing it, don't do it. Not get a special room just for you & those like you. If it's for feeding - it's for feeding, however that might be done.

I don't think anyone that b'feeds feel special and you can see from all the comments many do feel comfortable to NIP, HOWEVER most people are NOT okay with us b'fing in public. I've actually had nasty comments made to me while I was in the women's restroom because she didn't want her son to see. Which other than my shirt and the baby you could see nothing. We dont think we're special nor do we feel special, we just want a place to feed our babies and be left alone.

That being said if the room was empty they should have allowed her to feed the baby in the room. If it was full then that is their policy one you have to abide. I'm sure its their policy due to complaints about NIP, and since I've had them, I'm sure Disney has as well. I feel bad that the OP was hurt, but this is a policy that is posted outside of the room. Its a policy that is to appease a larger group of people because no matter how magical they are, they can not make everyone happy.

 

[roobug]

OP I"m sorry you felt hurt by the comments and the situation.

However I am a nursing mom of twins, and I have been turned away from the nursing rooms many times becasue they were full. I do not have a problem NIP but other people do especally at Disney. I have wiggly little ones who are not great at latching on and come off many times during a feeding giving a full view to anyone in the area and they will not keep a blanket or a nursing cover on them. I have gotten very rude comments EVERY time I've NIP at Disney - it is very difficult to get yelled at while you are trying to get a infant who is not good at latching on to eat. So for that reason I would hope that Disney does continue to follow through with their rules.