I am SO pleased at most of the posts I've read here about breastfeeding in public. I am WAY modest (which you wouldn't think if you knew me), but managed to nurse three children for a total of four and a half years. My in-laws, too, were nearly frantic with worry about everything breast-related in the beginning (Enough milk? Dehydration? Embarrassment? How many ounces is the baby getting?) and drove me nuts. But then, unfortunately, they swung the OTHER way, believe it or not, and started embarrassing ME by saying things like, "Oh, you want some of that sweet mommy's milk? Mmm, mommy's milk is GOOD! Yum, yum." My MIL would stare at me nursing on the couch and it just felt... I don't know... gross.
Anyway, back to the original topic. You can ABSOLUTELY nurse in public at Disney. We lived in Winter Park a half-hour away from Disney for YEARS and so we were there at least once a month. (It's wonderful to be so close. You don't feel like you have to do everything, and going home for naptime is a cinch.)
I cannot begin to tell you how helpful the sight of all those nursing moms at Disney is. My kids know how pro-breastfeeding I am, but it's terrific to be able to show them that I'm not the only mom who breastfed. In fact, over the years I have seen HUNDREDS of moms nursing there. Most of the time other people would have no idea what was going on, they just saw a sleeping baby.
The problem with breastfeeding comes when the baby is noticing what's around them. When each of my kids was about 6-7 months old, they would "pop off" and start staring and smiling at anything and everything. I had to be VERY aware of what the baby was doing so I could instantly cover up.
The downside to this "scarf" idea that a lot of people have is that first, it identifies you as a nursing mom and invites people to look at you, or to judge you. Second, it is downright HOT under one of those things, particularly in Florida. The winter isn't so bad, but the summer is BRUTAL and even a lightweight scarf could easily overheat the baby.
Here are my solutions to nursing at Disney:
- First, try to map out an itinerary at the parks that allows you to be near the baby stations (there's one at each park) near feeding times. No, I'm not advocating you hide yourself while you nurse, but WOW these places are great! (My husband just said, "Did you tell them that the baby station at Animal Kingdom is my very favorite attraction in the park? It's air-conditioned, there's cold water, they've got those great movies..." He's serious. Actually, that one is definitely the nicest because the older kids have a playroom with movies showing. As long as there's an adult with them, it's perfect.) WARNING: These rooms are sponsored by formula manufacturers, so there are plenty of ads and brochures laying around, not to mention formula. The nursing rooms are generous and private, though, and you can buy diapers, certain meds, and jars of baby food at reasonable prices, or extra kid clothes (excellent if underprepared during potty training) and small snacks at "Disney" prices. You can also refill your water bottles.
- If you can get away with it, try to sit against the wall at restaurants. I would position myself so the wall was next to the side I was starting on first. (I could usually get away with nursing on one side only during feedings. Your body adjusts to just about anything!) That way no one could see my breast from the side and I didn't need to put too much effort into "hiding" myself. Ideal: sitting against a wall in a high-backed booth.
- NEVER sit in the middle of a restaurant at a table. When you walk up to a sit-down restaurant, just say matter-of-factly, "Hi! I'm ___, party of 3 with PS. I have a favor to ask. I'm a little uncomfortable nursing my baby in the middle of the restaurant... Do you have any tables off to the side where I could be a little more discreet?" I was never turned down, and we lived in the area for 7 years and went to restaurants hundreds of times while I was nursing.
- If you need to nurse in the middle of the day, try to find a counter-service restaurant with inside seating during off-peak dining times. You and the baby will be more comfortable with few distractions, they're climate-controlled and fairly private. Excellent options: that pizza place at MGM near the Muppets place; the typical counter-service place (Pinnochio's?) near Small World at MK.
- At resorts I would cruise around near the lobby to find an off-the-beaten-path parlor with couches or comfy chairs. You'd be surprised how many resorts have these.
- If you're staying in the hotels there, ask for a comfortable upholstered arm chair for your room. We've stayed at every mid and upper-level resort and were always accomodated. If you don't like the one they send you, ask for another. If you see one in the lobby outside your room, take it! (I would always call the front desk and explain that there was a wonderful chair I saw and moved it in my room so I could nurse better. That way they wouldn't think it had been stolen or move it out of the room.) Honestly, Disney employees WANT you to be happy, and they know if you're there while you're nursing, you will want to keep coming back afterwards. They're not going to get snippy!
I really do look back fondly at those days at Disney. My husband and I found the nice breaks to be the best part of OUR days, too. Even after I finished nursing the kids we would still build in time to visit the same quiet places we had before.
Enjoy these years!
Dyanne