Nursing in WDW?

[swilphil]

I know I can nurse in the baby center, but where are some of the other private places to nurse? Baby is easily distracted and does not like to be covered up with a blanket unless he's sleeping.

I will bring a couple of bottles, but I think it will be a nice break for both of us. Are people going to freak out if I'm nursing?

 

[mmiller711]

When I was nursing I did it in dark rides...carosel of progress etc. It was very easy for me as my dd did not mind the blanket over her head. There were also 17 of us so I had my family all around me and we always had at least one ride vehical to ourselves. No one ever noticed what I was doing (or they didn't comment.) Half the time my family didn't know! I personally have no problem with a nursing mother who is covered. It is Disney and there are small children probably not a conversation most parents would like to have with their children at that time. I had never even been to the Baby Stations until 2 years ago (my children are now 20 and 21). Just to let you know they are wonderful. Quiet, cool and relaxing for both mom and baby. They also sell baby items: tylenol, diapers and such and we were told it is not at regular Disney high prices!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Don't worry you'll find lots of places, easily. I Don't even remember where I nursed, but I remember it was not a problem.
I was able to nurse comfortably and discreetly through out vacation.

have fun!!

 

[hookedup]

One place I found that was great was in spaceship earth - not on the ride but if your family goes on the ride you can go in through the handicap exit and wait inside and it is air conditioned and fairly quiet in there. I found a bench in a corner and sat there while dh did the ride. The cm at the entrance was the one who saw how hot ds and I were and told us to wait inside.

 

[Nette]

DD was nearly 11 mo (last weekend) and very distractable, but when she was thirsty or tired, she'd hunker down and nurse just about anywhere. Some of the best places were in the rides. Spaceship Earth was cool and dark and she fell asleep nursing. We nursed on the boat from EPCOT to BWV (and had a long conversation w/ another mom about nursing and how great it was!)

We never used the baby stations for nursing, only changing (very clean and uncrowded). We just plopped down anywhere and nursed. No one said ANYTHING negative to us (I can guarantee they would have been sorry if they had) and it's easy to be discreet. If you ask me, the blanket over the shoulder/baby's head is a dead give away for what is going on. Most of the time when we nurse in public people just think the baby is sleeping. (except when she is being exceptionally noisy )

Remember a mom has the right to nurse her baby ANYWHERE that she is allowed to be.

 

[danicaw]

We are planning baby's first trip in January.
And I hope the little one and I have the nursing thing down by then.
He is four weeks old today and we are still learning. I hope we get it soon.
Anyway. I have always heard that WDW is a great place for nursing little ones. Lots of dark rides to nurse and great baby stations.
And its a family place I would be suprised if anyone said anything negitive about it.

 

[lindaso]

Anyplace that has air conditioning is a great place to nurse!! I nursed my then 6 month old just about everywhere. There was one time when we went to the baby station in MK b/c I wanted him to concentrate. It was very nice...private room with a rocking chair and lots of A/C. It was also nice to change diapers in there...not gross like some bathrooms can get.

I also believe that a blanket over the head is more of a giveaway...I'm very discreet and will nurse my babies anywhere at any time. Practice at home and you'll see how good you get with just your shirt. People will not freak out and if they do, it's their problem and not yours. You go ahead and feed your baby wherever you want!!

 

[SoonerKate]

According to FL law, there can be no restrictions on where women are allowed to nurse their babies.

There were quite a few memos passed out last fall at WDW to ensure that all CM's know the policy, so you ought not to encounter any problems from them.

I know my sister really liked the nursing t-shirts (that snap horizontally across the front) because they were very discreet -- that might be something else to check out for while you're down there.

 

[Kermit]

I agree that you can nurse just about anywhere you feel comfortable doing it. If the baby needs quiet, you won't have any problems finding quiet places to nurse. As crowded as WDW can be, there are always quiet nooks and cranies off the beaten path.

As long as you dress appropriately, there's no need for a blanket or anything else. I don't even like nursing shirts all that much. My favorite type of nursing outfit is just a shirt or tank top with a bigger button-up shirt (unbuttoned) over it. Hardly anyone can tell what you're doing unless they really stop and look for a while, and if they do know what you're doing, who cares? As long as it's an okay place to give a baby a bottle, it's an okay place to nurse.

 

[Kewz1]

I nursed both my babies at WDW and never had a problem. I loved the nursing stations because they were darkly lit and COOL! I hope, like myself and the other posters, you find the experience to be equally as comfortable and enjoyable. Have fun!

Kristen

 

[Bird-Mom]

We nursed everywhere in the world. My dd is very distracted and does a lot of popping off; it really doesn't bother me anymore. No one said anything to me (I have a bunch of comebacks ready just in case though!) and there would be no reason for anything negative since you are nourishing your child. My dd was nursing on Pirates of the Caribbean, and I was worried she wouldn't finish before it ended...there is no way I could get up from the boat and carry her out still latched (she's a toddler), but she finished just in time.

I always hope when NIP to maybe make an impression on someone that breastfeeding is a very normal part of life and there should be no shame attached. I hate the blanket over the head thing too. It makes me sad that a mama feels the need to hide her beautiful feeding babe.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I agree- nurse where you want and just be as discreet as possible. I also agree that a blanket over them would not only be too hot but it's a dead giveaway what you are doing and it only brings more attention to you (especially from those that don't approve or whatever).

It is Disney and there are small children probably not a conversation most parents would like to have with their children at that time.

Honestly I don't understand why that would be a conversation people would not like to have with their children. They aren't doing anything "naughty" or sexual/etc. All they have to do is tell them that the mother is feeding her baby -if they ask more questions then they can go into more detail about mommy makes milk for the baby and the baby is drinking it- compare it to any other nursing mammal if they like.

 

[crisi]

I had one of those easily distracted kids as well. Never did get the hang of nursing anywhere other than in a quiet place at home or in the back bedroom at a friends. She was just too interested in the world to eat - even if she was starving - if there was too much noise or commotion going on - and didn't want to be under anything - not my shirt, not a blanket. Disney simply would have been a no go - but not from a Disney isn't cooperative on the topic, or public disapproval.

If your baby cooperates and you are fine with nursing in public (and I know its ok, its just not one of those things every nursing mother feels comfortable doing) you will be fine, there are plenty of quieter places (if not quiet enough for a very stubborn baby).

 

[Samandmom]

Originally posted by BibbidyBobbidyBoo
I agree- nurse where you want and just be as discreet as possible. I also agree that a blanket over them would not only be too hot but it's a dead giveaway what you are doing and it only brings more attention to you (especially from those that don't approve or whatever).


Honestly I don't understand why that would be a conversation people would not like to have with their children. They aren't doing anything "naughty" or sexual/etc. All they have to do is tell them that the mother is feeding her baby -if they ask more questions then they can go into more detail about mommy makes milk for the baby and the baby is drinking it- compare it to any other nursing mammal if they like.

I have a 2yr old DS and a newborn DD (5 months)
When my DD was born and my DS saw me nursing he asked what I was doing. I told him that I was feeding the baby. I told him that mommy makes milk for babies and cows made milk for big boys like him. He has never asked anything more. But it is funny that I will mention that I need to feed the baby and he will say with your bobbies mommy.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

LOL

 

[TandyR]

I nursed my DD every where even on the Safari ride in AK, so I am not sure I am the person to answer the question about nice quite places to nurse, but I am sure you will stumble across them. I also have to say that my DD wouldn't nurse to sleep any place but the baby centers and they are really nice places to hang out for an hour or so while your baby naps (or in my case toddler, our last trip she was 2 years old). That is the other thing CM at WDW are wonderful about nursing even older children...when we went to Busch Gardens when DD was 13 months old I had an employee of Busch Gardens tell me I shouldn't be nursing a child that age in public like that. I have refused to go back there since.
Any how I am sure you will find some nice quite places to nurse...and you could always ask a CM if they know a nice place close to where you are they will understand if you don't want to go across the park to the nursing station.

 

[kfeuer]

Originally posted by Bird-Mom
I hate the blanket over the head thing too. It makes me sad that a mama feels the need to hide her beautiful feeding babe.

It's not the baby I'm worried about hiding, it's my size H breasts that I really don't want to see the light of day

Personally, you couldn't pay me to nurse in front of mixed company (I have a hard enough time nursing in a ladies lounge). I know it's my own personal hangup, but not everyone is comfortable nursing in public, and I think that's okay as long as the fear doesn't stop you from nursing altogether.

I'm thankful Disney provides the nursing stations--I'm sure I'll be familiar w/ them all by the end of our trip this September! Although if it's not too hot, I would consider using a bench in an out of the way nook or taking advantage of a dark ride/show.

 

[Amaris]

I nursed a BIG baby ( LOL!) at Disney last time and no one even noticed, at least that I could tell. I several women with nursing babies and it didn't seem to be a big deal... if people have a problem with it, let it be their problem. This is the only country in the world where people even *think* about breastfeeding as an issue.

 

[BevS97]

This is the only country in the world where people even *think* about breastfeeding as an issue.

Not quite true - although I think we are a little more liberal here in the UK, then in the States, it's still very rare to see a mum nursing a baby over 6 months in public. The hospitals and dr's surgerys do a lot to encourage breastfeeding, but the rate of breast vs bottle is still quite low, and most people who do start with breastfeeding have stopped by 6 weeks.

One thing I will say though, as that we do have a lot of nursing rooms readily available, at our local mall, or town center, there are quite a few designated rooms that you could use if you don't want to nurse publicly. Most large department stores have somewhere, as do specialist baby stores.

Bev

 

[want2kno]

I just wanted to also add that nursing in wdw was easy. I was surprised at how many rides I could go on with my baby, especially at Epcot. She nursed very comfortably & discreetly inside many of the dark, cool rides!