Nursing at WDW Restaurants

[Jen D]

usually the people that have problems with mommies nursing in public don't have children of their own. And what is the main group found at WDW? Families...other parents are understanding and don't mind.

I agree with you in general-- but I never have believed there were many people left who had a problem with nursing until I visited various Disney internet discussions... there was a huge thread on RADP, and it has come up here on the Dis too... on the "Have you ever had a shock" thread someone posted "A Woman breastfeeding her baby right in the middle of Festival of the Lion King." Don't know why that is shocking. This led to a debate which I think got deleted from the thread. I nursed my baby at that show. Most people around you would rather have you nursing your baby than listening to your baby fuss. Anyway, I was very surprised to find there are still quite a few people left who think nursing babies belong in the baby centers only.

I was very discreet but nursed everywhere at WDW. There was one time I totally lost my head though. I was in a little cove at Typhoon Lagoon, kind of in my own world but there were other people camped over there as well. Anyway, at one point the baby just lost it and flipped out, I mean really crying. Well that "fix it now" instinct kicked in and without covering up or anything I just popped on right out of the top of my swimsuit and was about to feed him when I realized, oh, I'm in public, this is not how I nurse in public. Hastily I covered up a little and started over. Settled in I looked aroung anxiously to see if anyone had noticed.. no one had except one stern looking older gentleman who sat in his beach chair staring me down for the next few minutes!

 

[averysmom]

I nursed all through WDW - restaurants included. One of the best places I found was on the TTA at mk. DH was on alien encounter, so I took ds on the TTA and because it was early in the am, they let me stay on for a couple of trips. It was quiet, private and I got a great tour of tomorrowland!

We are planning to go in the spring, with ds and newbaby (approx 5 mos) and I'll nurse my way through wdw again.

 

[Barb D]

I had planned on nursing my then-5mo wherever we were, but was stunned when we got there to find out that she didn't want anything to do with it. There was too much to see, even if I tried to find out-of-the-way reasonably quiet places. There was no way I could be discreet when she kept popping off to look around! The baby centers turned out to be a Godsend. You get your own private, quiet little room with a rocking chair. That was the only way I could get her to focus! I hated having to leave the family, but it turned out fine.

 

[Gillian]

I'm sure it's been said before, but just because you are being discreet doesn't mean people don't notice. I notice. My husband notices. We just don't care. But don't think that people don't know what's going on just because they don't say anything. They might still feel uncomfortable about it but just deal.

THEY are being discreet by not staring or making a scene, which is what you would hope for.

Personally, it does make me a little uncomfortable when someone I'm talking to starts nursing in the middle of a converstation. I think it's nicer to be asked if it's okay or at least get a a warning. But if you're in a crowd of people you can't say anything, of course.

 

[GEM]

Originally posted by Gillian
I'm sure it's been said before, but just because you are being discreet doesn't mean people don't notice. I notice. My husband notices. We just don't care. But don't think that people don't know what's going on just because they don't say anything. They might still feel uncomfortable about it but just deal.

THEY are being discreet by not staring or making a scene, which is what you would hope for.

Personally, it does make me a little uncomfortable when someone I'm talking to starts nursing in the middle of a converstation. I think it's nicer to be asked if it's okay or at least get a a warning. But if you're in a crowd of people you can't say anything, of course.

I do understand the first part of your post - the fact that some people do notice, but just not say anything. (Although I can tell you from experience that many people honestly don't even know at all). And, as I said in my earlier post, I do nurse discreetly. However, I do not cover up with a blanket or anything like that.

However, I have to say that I would never "ask it was okay" before I fed my baby. Why on earth should I have to do that? Would a mom with a bottle of formula ask it was ok? Would the guy sitting next to you on the curb while waiting for a parade ask it was ok if he had some popcorn? Breast milk is baby food. When the baby is hungry, you nurse it. You don't need permission and you don't need to announce a warning, like it's some kind of bad or indecent thing. If you are sitting next to someone and you need to pass gas, you should probably warn them. If you need to feed your baby, no warning should be necessary.

I'm really glad this thread has been positive. There's lots of good info. and support. I will be heading back to WDW with my 20 month old nursling in December and we'll be nursing when and where we need to.

It's true that, even if you are discreet, somebody may know what you are up to. However, if just "knowing" that you are breastfeeding is bothersome to them, that's really their problem. Now, if you take off your shirt and nurse topless at Casey's Corner, that's a different story. But, I don't think anyone on this thread is talking about doing that.

 

[pixiedust!]

Nurse away (discreetly, of course as most Moms do)!!! After all, you are just feeding your baby in the most natural, beneficial way possible. Should anyone have an issue with this it is their problem not yours. If myself or my husband were to notice a nursing Mom and my children queried it, it would be my pleasure to tell them what a great thing you were doing.

 

[lovethattink]

DS(6mo) decided it was time to nurse as we were getting ready to leave our table at the Biergarten tonight. I went to the bathroom and saw that there were 2 benches in the front part of the restroom. He nursed there with very little distractions.

 

[tmfranlk]

It always makes me feel good to hear from so many bfing moms, especially those of toddlers.

My experience is much the same as GEM's. My almost 20 month old DD nurses anywhere and everywhere. I am just as discreet as possible. I don't cover with a blanket either. I actually found last week that covering with a blanket (just decided to try it for some reason) got me more staring and looks than any other public feeding over the last 19 months. I actually found that to be quite odd.

My best advice is to just do what you feel most comfortable with. For me, I was more comfortable discreetly nursing in public, then making my DD have her "dokies" (her new word for breastmilk) in a bathroom (the exception being the lounge areas of nice bathrooms) or a dark corner.

Have a great trip!