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

[designermv]

Twice on our recent trip I was turned away at the Baby Care Center at the Magic Kingdom because I use bottles to feed my baby. I was told I was not allowed to use the room with the rocking chairs, and that I would have to sit in the open room with highchairs/regular chairs, with the TV.

The first time, I warmed the bottle, and chatted with the girl in the room with the micro/bottle warmer, and she was quite pleasant. I wandered into around, looking for the rocking chairs, and stepped in to ask her. She got kind of rude with me and told me that because I was not a nursing mother, I was not allowed to use the rocking chairs. I started to tear up and get upset (it's a very touchy subject for me as I tried to nurse and struggled for 6 months before I had to wean) and she just shrugged said 'Those are the rules'. Another mother in the highchair room told me that I should just knock and ask if anyone minded. I did, and no one cared.

The next time I stopped in a couple of days later, I warmed her bottle, and the woman (different worker) working there pointed to the room with the television again, and told me 'You are not allowed in the rocking chair room'. I told her that wasn't fair, and she said 'Those are the rules' I left and went straight to Guest Relations and told them I was upset and why, and they took my complaint. I doubt it goes anywhere, but at least I told them how I felt!

Has anyone else been turned away from the Baby Care Centers? I was so excited about being able to rock my baby and feed her in a dimly lit, quiet environment, just like we have at home. I rock her and feed her at almost every feeding, so she was majorly thrown off not having that quiet time. FWIW, I did use a rocking chair at the Baby Care Center at DHS - no one even questioned it (probably because they don't have workers there?)
What would they have done if I had come to the Magic Kingdom 1 month earlier, when I was still bottle feeding and breastfeeding at every feeding? Kicked me out once we were done nursing and made me bottlefeed in the open room?

OP, I see that you were able to use the rocking chairs in the Nursing Mothers room at least once, and I think this shows that if a bottle-feeding mom wants to use that room, she, like the OP, can just knock and see if anyone minds her coming in. Sounds like it was the CM who was rude, not any of the other mothers.

Also, I am glad you voiced your opinion to Guest Services. That is the best course of action.

It's good to know that this isn't an issue at Hollywood Studios.

 

[kidshop]

You will see I didn't originally use those words and put it in " "'s because that is a term someone else used.

My posts were fine until I started getting attacked about not having personally heard anything said to a BFing mom. And my use of the term "I can't believe" even though I clearly said I do believe but "can't believe"

I would be curious to hear what people have PERSONALLY overheard or had said to them about NIP. I have been taking a poll and and no one I asked has heard or been spoken to about NIP. I don't believe it doesn't happen.

As I said before ~ it could be a case of where you live and where you frequent.



Nope ~ could care less if you disagree with me. I don't like being called a liar.

I'll also say this: I haven't heard a bottle feeding mom trying to badger a breastfeeding mom into changing over to a bottle ~ yet I have heard the opposite again and again and again.

I'm guessing that is b/c you didn't breastfeed! The majority of women do not bfeed at ALL or only for a very short time. My MIL told me before my first that bfeeding is gross and my baby would be failure to thrive since breastmilk is so thin. There is so much misinformation out there and American culture is only comfortable with feeding babies by bottle, espcially past the first few weeks. If breastfeeding were accepted there would be NO NEED for the nursing room Disney provides. It is needed b/c of complaints about NIP. The place is sponsored by a formula company, I'm surprised it's not in a back alley somewhere! Is it really so hard to comprehend?

The whole world is a bottle feeding room! . Own your feelings moms, this nursing room is not an insult to you.

 

[designermv]

Yesterday I was lurking on a forum for Disney CMs (not here on the DIS) and a CM was talking about being grossed out when a woman breastfed her baby on Jungle Cruise. So yes, the 'disgust' with nursing is alive and well at Disney and all over the rest of this country.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I'm guessing that is b/c you didn't breastfeed! The majority of women do not bfeed at ALL or only for a very short time. My MIL told me before my first that bfeeding is gross and my baby would be failure to thrive since breastmilk is so thin. There is so much misinformation out there and American culture is only comfortable with feeding babies by bottle, espcially past the first few weeks. If breastfeeding were accepted there would be NO NEED for the nursing room Disney provides. It is needed b/c of complaints about NIP. The place is sponsored by a formula company, I'm surprised it's not in a back alley somewhere! Is it really so hard to comprehend?

The whole world is a bottle feeding room! . Own your feelings moms, this nursing room is not an insult to you.

This has not been my experience at all. Almost all my friends BF. The only mothers I know who don't at least try to BF are teen moms - for whatever reason they mostly seem to use formula. BFing is really the norm in my area. Maybe different regions are different in that respect?

 

[kirstenb1]

Since you asked last week, a friend of mine in Idaho was at the YMCA for homeschool activites and was discreetly nursing and someone asked her to move to the bathroom. She replied by asking for the manager, and asking him if he woud eat his lunch in the bathroom today!

Bottom line: society doesn't "make" anyone feel anything. You (and again, a general "you", not a personal one. Hate that I have to clarify) assign those feelings yourself and attatch them yourself (psych 101)

This is not a breastfeeing vs bottlefeeding discussion, but for the fact that people are defensive and keep bringing it back there. If someone does not hold a fastpass, they cannot use the fastpass line. If someone doesn't hold whatever they need for the meet and greets, they cannot access that feature. If you are not handicapped, you cannot use the handicapped entrances to attractions. And Dinsey has assigned a small room to be for the use of nursing moms.
Has anyone in the main feeding area ever asked if the lights could be dimmed while bottlefeeding? I would be interested to know.

And I wasn't argueing that toddlers weren't welcome, but pointing out the fact that over the course of this thread, we have decided that Disney needs to furnish
*A room exclusively for nursing moms
*A room for pumping moms
*A room exclusively for bottlefeeding moms, identical to the room for nursing moms
*An integrated room, so bottlefeeding moms felt they were not excluded and they can see nursing moms were not getting anything they weren't
*A nursing room for dads or creepy uncles that want to hang out and watch nursing and pumping moms
*A room with a TV and coloring books for todddlers.
*Another nursing room, with a TV so nursing moms and their kids won't be bored, so those nursing moms don't have to sit in the dark
*We'll probably need a room with video games for older children who need an air-conditioned break
*A ID wristband distribution center
*Smokers aquariums

Looking at the list above, I think we have found the new purpose of the Wonders of Life pavillion- the new Resort Wide Baby Care Center!

 

[iheartdisney]

Not sure if this has been addressed already as I haven't read the whole thread, but our local Babies 'R Us has a "Mother's Room." You can either nurse or bottle feed in there (there are changing tables also) but it is for women only. I usually go in with my partner even though she's the one nursing & no one cares. It's a fairly large room though, if it were small I'd wait outside so I wouldn't take up space. I always feel for the dads who are alone with their babies and have to try to feed on a bench outside the restroom or in the front of the store (and use the changing table in the restroom - at least the men's room there has one though, a lot still don't). Ideally they'd have a room for men & babies as well.

OP, you should definitely NOT have been turned away from the nursing room, unless all the chairs were occupied. I'd definitely follow up on the complaint you made to Guest Services.

Not to get off topic, but I have heard that the nursing rooms or family style bathrooms are known as good "hook-up" places for young people. That MIGHT be why TRU is making a "women only" room.

 

[CheshireSmile]

Yesterday I was lurking on a forum for Disney CMs (not here on the DIS) and a CM was talking about being grossed out when a woman breastfed her baby on Jungle Cruise. So yes, the 'disgust' with nursing is alive and well at Disney and all over the rest of this country.

I raise objection to this! I've been reading this thread out of curiosity but have no opinion as I'm not yet a mom and haven't dealt with this issue. But I do raise objection to this point, as that is one of my friends you are speaking about! I guarantee you I know that poster personally, and they are a fantastic person, and a great co-worker and CM. I'm sorry you have issues with things that make them uncomfortable. Jungle Cruise is recommended as one of those rides where a baby might be nursed because it's a long ride and very smooth. However, you are packed closely together with a bunch of other guests, and there is a CM attempting to keep the attention of 40+ people with varying degrees of success. If you've never tried it, it's tough, I promise! So I've never quite understood why it's on the list of places that are nice to nurse, because in my mind that seems hardly an ideal situation. I'm sorry you are annoyed at the CM in question, but I do raise issue with your post. I find it very hurtful to me and my fellow CMs, as we are only human and in that case of the Jungle Cruise if there's something or someone on the boat who is upsetting to us, we have nowhere to go. I would never point out a woman or draw attention to her who saw fit to nurse in that instance, but other people may not be as gracious which could put the CM in an uncomfortable situation. That is a loooong 10 minutes+ when you've got an angry person on the boat. Please understand I'm not meaning to enter the debate about when, where, and how is acceptable to nurse, I'm upset that you're calling out a CM and a friend of mine who didn't do anything wrong, other than state later that the situation was uncomfortable to them.

 

[NemoMOm]

This has not been my experience at all. Almost all my friends BF. The only mothers I know who don't at least try to BF are teen moms - for whatever reason they mostly seem to use formula. BFing is really the norm in my area. Maybe different regions are different in that respect?

I b'fd my 2 boys and hope to do so again, I'm in the minority. All my friends bottle fed. I have never badgered any one in fact have recommended people bottle feed. If you hate it, you should not do it. As far as the lactation cons. I b'fed and she badgered me as well. About how to do, not to apply anything, no drugs, etc. She made me a mess, so I think that is universal. I'm still scared of her.

My mom also made me feel weird about nursing because she also thought I should bottle feed because I had such difficulty (also universal)

 

[annette20071]

You will see I didn't originally use those words and put it in " "'s because that is a term someone else used.

My posts were fine until I started getting attacked about not having personally heard anything said to a BFing mom. And my use of the term "I can't believe" even though I clearly said I do believe but "can't believe"

I would be curious to hear what people have PERSONALLY overheard or had said to them about NIP. I have been taking a poll and and no one I asked has heard or been spoken to about NIP. I don't believe it doesn't happen.

As I said before ~ it could be a case of where you live and where you frequent.



Nope ~ could care less if you disagree with me. I don't like being called a liar.

I'll also say this: I haven't heard a bottle feeding mom trying to badger a breastfeeding mom into changing over to a bottle ~ yet I have heard the opposite again and again and again.

I really don't see any attacks but that may be how you perceive them. However, in almost all your posts you state how, although you don't disbelieve it happens, but you have just never heard or seen anyone say anything about BF. You can qualify it how you want but over and over again you say you have never seen it - but you also post how ofter bottle feeding mothers get something said to them. Well, I have never heard or seen a bottle feeding mother have anything said to them! You keep qualifying your statements but your posts come off like - well, I'm not accusing anyone of lying but really . . .

I mean this post right here says you would like to hear PERSONAL stories - like you are disbelieving. You either believe or you don't.

And when posters have responded with lots of info on the topic of bf issues you say you were attacked? I don't get it.

I actually find it hard to believe that a bf mother would try to get a bottlefeeding mom to switch. Why? Because it would be almost impossible. BF is all about supply and demand. If a baby has been bottlefeeding exclusively it would be extremely hard if not impossible to re-introduce the breast. What I do believe is that bf moms would say something to someone who is pregnant. I have done this myself. And the reason why is because someone did it for me. They brought up bf and the more we talked about it the more it interested me. Most women do not have mothers who bf because that was actually discouraged in the late 60s, 70s, and 80s. So, most women know very little about bf and have very few people to ask about it. That is one of the reasons why so many moms "can't" bf. They did not have enough accurate info and help. But, women who put themselves out there to try to help others are accused of being "nazi's". Yes, I know there are a lot of women passionate about bf. There are a lot who actually just want to help though. How many people on here said they tried but couldn't? Yet, they complain when someone says something to them about it or encourages it? Maybe that person wasn't trying to make them feel bad but was trying to help them. A lot of times, and I know I am included in this, we let our feelings color our encounters when there never was any ill intent.

 

[designermv]

I raise objection to this! I've been reading this thread out of curiosity but have no opinion as I'm not yet a mom and haven't dealt with this issue. But I do raise objection to this point, as that is one of my friends you are speaking about! I guarantee you I know that poster personally, and they are a fantastic person, and a great co-worker and CM. I'm sorry you have issues with things that make them uncomfortable. Jungle Cruise is recommended as one of those rides where a baby might be nursed because it's a long ride and very smooth. However, you are packed closely together with a bunch of other guests, and there is a CM attempting to keep the attention of 40+ people with varying degrees of success. If you've never tried it, it's tough, I promise! So I've never quite understood why it's on the list of places that are nice to nurse, because in my mind that seems hardly an ideal situation. I'm sorry you are annoyed at the CM in question, but I do raise issue with your post. I find it very hurtful to me and my fellow CMs, as we are only human and in that case of the Jungle Cruise if there's something or someone on the boat who is upsetting to us, we have nowhere to go. I would never point out a woman or draw attention to her who saw fit to nurse in that instance, but other people may not be as gracious which could put the CM in an uncomfortable situation. That is a loooong 10 minutes+ when you've got an angry person on the boat. Please understand I'm not meaning to enter the debate about when, where, and how is acceptable to nurse, I'm upset that you're calling out a CM and a friend of mine who didn't do anything wrong, other than state later that the situation was uncomfortable to them.

Oy...I'm sorry, I absolutely did NOT mean any ill will towards this CM. I wasn't so much trying to say that the CM was vehemently anti-nursing so much as I was saying that there are a lot of people at Disney, whether they're visitors or CMS, who could be uncomfortable with the sight of women nursing. I was trying to demonstrate my point that the Nursing Mothers Room is there with good reason. I tried to be vague in my post so as not to "call anyone out." Personally, I would NOT be comfortable nursing on Jungle Cruise due to the close proximity to other people. I should have worded my post differently, I think. And FTR, I never implied or said (or thought, for that matter) that they were not a fantastic person, coworker, or CM. I wouldn't want to deal with a boat full of people who were mad about a breastfeeding mother either.

 

[annette20071]

I raise objection to this! I've been reading this thread out of curiosity but have no opinion as I'm not yet a mom and haven't dealt with this issue. But I do raise objection to this point, as that is one of my friends you are speaking about! I guarantee you I know that poster personally, and they are a fantastic person, and a great co-worker and CM. I'm sorry you have issues with things that make them uncomfortable. Jungle Cruise is recommended as one of those rides where a baby might be nursed because it's a long ride and very smooth. However, you are packed closely together with a bunch of other guests, and there is a CM attempting to keep the attention of 40+ people with varying degrees of success. If you've never tried it, it's tough, I promise! So I've never quite understood why it's on the list of places that are nice to nurse, because in my mind that seems hardly an ideal situation. I'm sorry you are annoyed at the CM in question, but I do raise issue with your post. I find it very hurtful to me and my fellow CMs, as we are only human and in that case of the Jungle Cruise if there's something or someone on the boat who is upsetting to us, we have nowhere to go. I would never point out a woman or draw attention to her who saw fit to nurse in that instance, but other people may not be as gracious which could put the CM in an uncomfortable situation. That is a loooong 10 minutes+ when you've got an angry person on the boat. Please understand I'm not meaning to enter the debate about when, where, and how is acceptable to nurse, I'm upset that you're calling out a CM and a friend of mine who didn't do anything wrong, other than state later that the situation was uncomfortable to them.

I actually think you are emphasizing our point quite nicely . . . Why is it okay for a CM to be upset, grossed out, annoyed, or whatever that someone was nursing? Would s/he have had those same feelings if the baby were being bottle fed?

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I actually think you are emphasizing our point quite nicely . . . Why is it okay for a CM to be upset, grossed out, annoyed, or whatever that someone was nursing? Would s/he have had those same feelings if the baby were being bottle fed?

This.

 

[annette20071]

I b'fd my 2 boys and hope to do so again, I'm in the minority. All my friends bottle fed. I have never badgered any one in fact have recommended people bottle feed. If you hate it, you should not do it. As far as the lactation cons. I b'fed and she badgered me as well. About how to do, not to apply anything, no drugs, etc. She made me a mess, so I think that is universal. I'm still scared of her.

My mom also made me feel weird about nursing because she also thought I should bottle feed because I had such difficulty (also universal)

I actually think people just aren't honest with themselves and others at times. I was the first one in my family that I was aware of who BF. I did not get any good help or assistance from family. Right now my SIL is bottlefeeding. When she was pregnant she said that she did not think she wanted to bf because she heard xyz. Since no one else in our family has bf, of course I talked with her about bf and I said just because one person had xyz happen doesn't mean it would be like that for you. My brother then told me that SIL just did not want to bf. Fine, I dropped the matter. She never said "I don't want to bf" she said "I don't think I can bf because" . . .

I don't know if she felt "attacked" or upset or anything. But I often wonder if this is common. There was several posts on here about "I couldn't bf . . . and was attacked". Well, are bf mothers really "attacking" or are they offering suggestions and it being taken the wrong way because the mom is sensative about the issue? I think when someone says "I tried but can't" or "I want to but can't" it is human nature to offer information about that.

 

[designermv]

I'll admit it. I breastfeed because I'm cheap and lazy. I don't think I'm morally superior to anyone. Yes, I also do it because of the health benefits, but seriously. I am LAAAAAAAAAAAAAZY.

 

[CheshireSmile]

Oy...I'm sorry, I absolutely did NOT mean any ill will towards this CM. I wasn't so much trying to say that the CM was vehemently anti-nursing so much as I was saying that there are a lot of people at Disney, whether they're visitors or CMS, who could be uncomfortable with the sight of women nursing. I was trying to demonstrate my point that the Nursing Mothers Room is there with good reason. I tried to be vague in my post so as not to "call anyone out." Personally, I would NOT be comfortable nursing on Jungle Cruise due to the close proximity to other people. I should have worded my post differently, I think. And FTR, I never implied or said (or thought, for that matter) that they were not a fantastic person, coworker, or CM. I wouldn't want to deal with a boat full of people who were mad about a breastfeeding mother either.

Thanks, I was hasty in my rush to defend my friend and didn't mean to attack you for your wording. Next time I'll count to 10

I actually think you are emphasizing our point quite nicely . . . Why is it okay for a CM to be upset, grossed out, annoyed, or whatever that someone was nursing? Would s/he have had those same feelings if the baby were being bottle fed?

Why is it okay for a CM to have feelings? I dunno, I thought that was the right of every person on earth. Now had they drawn attention to the mom, told her to stop, or otherwise berated or belittled her, then I think they'd certainly be in the wrong. But expressing their feelings after the fact is hardly cause for upset, I wouldn't think. Some things make other people uncomfortable. Some people don't like PDA, some people don't like midriff tops, some people don't care for this, that, or the other thing, these are all just opinions. So long as the CM in question didn't draw attention to the mother or the situation, then I will gladly stand by them and say hey it's okay if it made you uncomfortable, it's also okay that it happened.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I'll admit it. I breastfeed because I'm cheap and lazy. I don't think I'm morally superior to anyone. Yes, I also do it because of the health benefits, but seriously. I am LAAAAAAAAAAAAAZY.

I am right there with you. I can't imagine having to make bottles, etc. When we had our first, buying formula would have been tough. DH had gone back to school, and I was workin social services for practically nothing.

We have always been a bit crunchy, though, and since we eat primarily natural, I wouldn't have expected anything less for our baby. It just wasn't something we would have considered, and hardly anyone nursed at all.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Thanks, I was hasty in my rush to defend my friend and didn't mean to attack you for your wording. Next time I'll count to 10



Why is it okay for a CM to have feelings? I dunno, I thought that was the right of every person on earth. Now had they drawn attention to the mom, told her to stop, or otherwise berated or belittled her, then I think they'd certainly be in the wrong. But expressing their feelings after the fact is hardly cause for upset, I wouldn't think. Some things make other people uncomfortable. Some people don't like PDA, some people don't like midriff tops, some people don't care for this, that, or the other thing, these are all just opinions. So long as the CM in question didn't draw attention to the mother or the situation, then I will gladly stand by them and say hey it's okay if it made you uncomfortable, it's also okay that it happened.

not "liking" muffin tops is far different than having an issue with feeding a baby. Sure, everyone can have "feelings." But some "feelings" are innapropriate. Those "feelings" are the same as people not "liking" people of color, or not "liking" people with different sexual preferences than oneself.

 

[annette20071]

Why is it okay for a CM to have feelings? I dunno, I thought that was the right of every person on earth. Now had they drawn attention to the mom, told her to stop, or otherwise berated or belittled her, then I think they'd certainly be in the wrong. But expressing their feelings after the fact is hardly cause for upset, I wouldn't think. Some things make other people uncomfortable. Some people don't like PDA, some people don't like midriff tops, some people don't care for this, that, or the other thing, these are all just opinions. So long as the CM in question didn't draw attention to the mother or the situation, then I will gladly stand by them and say hey it's okay if it made you uncomfortable, it's also okay that it happened.

I honestly don't think you are getting what bf mothers are trying to get across. No, it is not okay for ANYONE to express negative feelings about someone bf - even if it is after the fact - even if they did not specifically call the mom out - definitely not okay in a public forum like a message board. It is NOT okay. But, this is the reason why Disney has a nursing room. Because of people like this CM. A lot of bf moms don't like nursing rooms because they feel that moms should bf in public then eventually it would be so normal that people would not act like this CM apparently did. It doesn't mean he is a bad person. He just needs to be better informed.

 

[okeydokey]

You never know when a baby will get hungry and start fussing. After waiting in line for 30 minutes for the Jungle Cruise, if after we pushed off my baby was crying from hunger, you better believe I would feed him. The people around me would probably appreciate it too. I think they'd rather see the back of my quiet baby's head than his open and screaming mouth for the entire ride.

 

[designermv]

Since I am the one who brought up the Jungle Cruise CM, it's only fair that I say I am not sure if the CM *him/herself* was uncomfortable/offended or if he/she was venting about trying to deal with angry guests who were offended. My point was to demonstrate to other posters in this thread that there are indeed people at Disney who are offended/made uncomfortable by nursing moms.