Nursing moms - a question about toddler

[MonkersMama]

DD (15mo) is still nursing, starting to wean, but I am anticipating she will not be weaned by our trip next month. Which, to be honest, will be completely fine because I can take her cues when she's getting irritable and needs some quiet mommy-time.

As a baby, I had no discomfort or qualms nursing her in public or in private, but I have not nursed her in public for a few months now (had no reason to), and here comes our trip. She is performing crazy mad gymnastics while nursing - trying to sit up, roll over, feet kicking my head, etc. I need a plan to deal with this while on our trip. She yanks off the nursing cover, so that would be pointless. I was trying to come up with thoughts of dark, quiet, less distracting places, but I anticipate she's still going to be flailing about. Any suggestions? I especially would like to hear from other nursing moms of toddlers who have managed this in the parks. Or should I just accept that a couple times a day we make a dash to the baby care center? (I'm ok with that too).

 

[natnelliesmom]

Use the baby care center at each of the parks. It might mean a bit of a walk depending on where in the park you are, but maybe you can plan ahead to visit them at her normal tired times?
They are air conditioned and each has a pretty private area with rocking chairs or other comfy seats where you can nurse and not worry about those funny looks. I think each center has a special nursing room.
I know it's easy to say not to worry about what others think, but when you are hot and cranky and trying to comfort an equally tired toddler, it's hard not to feel offended by rude people.
Many people nurse toddlers, but many other people just don't understand. Save yourself the stress and use the care centers. They are wonderful!
-Sarah

 

[disney_family_1247]

I've nursed three different toddlers in DW with no problems. I never even got a nasty look If the kid was feeling squirmy, I told him/her that we couldn't do it that way. It usually worked-they'd either settle down or decide to quit. There are plenty of dark rides and shows that offer more privacy. I also tried to sit in quiet corners when we stopped to eat. I tried the baby care centers once to nurse with my youngest. It was so dark and totally quiet that she was freaked out! She kept stopping to look around. I did find that at that age, they nursed less often during the day than usual, and then made up for it at night in the hotel room.

 

[kevschickee]

I only got to nurse my baby until she was 11 months because I was 3 months pg and she weaned herself but I would say if she is weaning herself anyway maybe just cut her down to 2 feedings a day when she gets up and at bed time. If she really wants to nurse in the park I would do it on a bench or a quiet ride. I wouldn't run to a baby center. Who cares if people look let them. Good luck

 

[tjbaggott]

Another thought is to be prepared for the chance that your DD might ween herself DURING this trip! Thats what my DS did at 11 months old. I took him to visit relatives in California. He'd never been on a plane before, and a whole new change of scenery ect. for an entire week. He was nursing lots right up to and including the first day of the trip, but after that, his attention was diverted to everywhere else. By the time we arrived back home, he was not nursing anymore at all (my goal had always been at least a year). He was my 3rd child and the first to make it closest to that 1 year mark before quitting! My first quit at 8 months old on her own, my second quit at 9 months old on his own.
Finally my last (my 4th), made it that treasured one year mark, but then 13 months rolled around, he was still nursing, and I thought, "OK, now what?". I had always planned on 12 months, but never imagined going beyond that. 14 months, 15 months 16, 17 and 18 months rolled on and he was STILL nursing! I had no idea how to ween him as I'd never had to do that before. I thought surely he will quit on his own by the time he turns 2 if NOT before.
But sadly when he was 19 months old, I had no choice but to have him go Cold Turkey as my oldest DD, then 13 was diagnosed with cancer. I stayed with her in the hospital for her intial stay of 2 weeks while DH held down the fort at home with our 3 boys. Not a great way to ween a child, but circumstances were what they were.
I'll always wonder when he would have quit on his own if Cold Turkey didn't have to happen. LOL
P.S. My DD, now almost 18 is healthy and doing very well after 2 1/2 years of cancer treatment!

 

[bean]

I agree with the PP. I nursed one DD to about 17 months and the other until 2 with many trips to WDW in between. I've never had a rude look that I've noticed either. I agree that they were often busy during the day but would settle and nurse in dark rides such as PoC. There are many shady spots under trees where I would sit to nurse...turned away from passersby so that my DDs would not be distracted. Food courts often have a few dark corners. I liked the baby care centers but it made no sense to me to have to walk all the way around the park to find a place to nurse.

 

[bean]

Hi Tjbaggott..I was 17 when I was diagnosed with an agressive form of cancer. I'm 34 now and very healthy with no ill effects from high dose chemotherapy thus far. Congrats on your DDs health! That's a long road!!

 

[MonkersMama]

Thank you for your responses Mommies!! You gave me great info and more things to think about - it hadn't occurred to me that she might wean on our trip because of all the activity and distractions.

 

[MonkersMama]

tjbaggott - thank you for sharing your wonderful news on your DD(nearly 18) YAY!!!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I nursed DD until she self-weaned at 21 months. We took her to WDW when she was 15 months, but never had to nurse her in the parks, just first thing in the morning and right before bed at night. I didn't refuse her, but she never gave me any signs during the day that she wanted to nurse. I think she was far too interested in everything else going on around her to think about it. I just gave her a sippy cup of cow's milk and she was a happy camper.

If your DD does want to nurse, I've read mothers who recommended the TTA and Spaceship Earth as two good rides to nurse during. I know there were others recommended, but they escape me right now. The babycare centers are good spots because they are air conditioned, but if you don't want to make the trek across the park to get to them, you could find a table in an air conditioned CS restaurant. Upstairs in Columbia Harbour House comes to mind.

 

[erin327]

My daughter was 22 months old on our recent trip and still nursing. I found that she did nurse far less during our trip than before, but she picked right back up when we got home (and still going now at 26 months). We mostly nursed at night and in the morning at that point. She did ask a few times though and I nursed her without any issues in the parks. Waiting for parades or shows worked well for us. I think she was calm enough at those times to think about it. She didn't want to nurse once the parades or shows started. She was also too interested in what was going on around her to want to nurse during any rides. We tried the baby care center once when she asked to nurse, but when we got there she just wanted to play with the little tables and chairs. When we left the baby care center she was ready again to nurse.

 

[cuppycake]

I agree that it's too much of a pain to always run to the baby care centers. When I was nursing my toddler, she tended to not really care about it except for when she was tired and early in the am.

So, when it was close to nap time after lunch, we'd just find a quiet/dark ride, or (believe it or not) a movie (Honey I Shrunk the Audience comes to mind). She was so exhausted, she would just nurse to sleep, then we would plunk her into her stroller and keep on going.

My most interesting nursing at the World story was when my younger daughter was 17 months old. She was totally pooped at the end of the night after Illuminations, and I knew that she wasn't going to make it back to Pop without nursing. It really was the only way she would peacefully go to sleep. Because of my older daughter, we were hell bent on making it on one of the first buses back (she was pooped out, too). So, I just latched her on and started walking. They keep it pretty dark in the park after the show. The ONLY person who even noticed was a wonderful CM as we were exiting the turnstiles who made a very lovely comment about how happy and peaceful she looked

I was like you and hadn't NIP for quite a while, but we adapt when we have to. I think there are MANY private spots that you'll find here and there, and it's actually amazing when you really think about it how many rides are dark and private

Good luck, and congrats on being able to give your little one such a great start in life!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Even though I'm all about extended nursing, with my particular little dude I was NOT all about NIP. We went to Disneyland the first time when he was 17 months old, and I think he nursed once out in the open, but the other times were on rides....POTC, small world, etc. He was indeed very busy with the trip and being with his aunt and uncle (we had a long so cal visit to them, one day up to Anaheim), but there was no chance he was going to even think about stopping.

But by our next trip the following year, I was done with NIP. He was just too wild and I was just too modest.

And after that he was pretty easy to put off until we were in a darker area or back at the car, etc. I could also talk to him about it, which was nice. His only word for milk was, actually, "milk", so when he'd yell about it it was obvious (not like my word as a toddler, "sip sip", LOL).

He finally stopped on his own (well, I think he has...no one has asked him about it, LOL) just before his 5th birthday (after a very very loooooong slowdown), and he still pats where the milk was, but doesn't need or want it anymore. He got almost a year more of mama milk than I did.


So i got off on a tangent there, good for you, and it's OK to not want to NIP if you don't want to, and use the centers and the darker rides (just be aware that there are cameras *everywhere* so if you feel like you're alone, you aren't really) if you want to. But if you do NIP, I gotta tell you, just focus on your bebe, and IGNORE any looks you might or might not be getting. Though I'm sure I missed a lot of KIND looks, b/c I refused to look around me while NIPing, because I didn't want the less kind looks.

 

[Reese]

Ive nursed many a toddler at the parks and have yet to see a baby care center. I just couldn't see trekking around to get to one. If they were in the mood to nurse we would head to a nursing friendly attraction such as one of the shows or slower rides (Haunted Mansion, Pirates, It's a Small World, The Great Movie Ride, Finding Nemo, ect.) I find that at Disney they really only wanted to nurse when they were getting tired other than that there was just too much to look at.
On a privacy note I understand that a squirmy toddler does not co-operate well with covering up. I usually make sure I wear a shirt that is big enough I can cover up and bunch a little on baby's cheek so your well covered. I have also stolen DH's hat for the occasion and just held it over top.

 

[NotUrsula]

I could also talk to him about it, which was nice. His only word for milk was, actually, "milk", so when he'd yell about it it was obvious (not like my word as a toddler, "sip sip", LOL).

LOL. Be thankful you don't have to deal with DD's nursing signal: She pants. Like a St. Bernard.

I tried *everything* to have her come up with a word or a sign, but she's having none of it -- panting is it.

 

[irene_dsc]

Ive nursed many a toddler at the parks and have yet to see a baby care center. I just couldn't see trekking around to get to one. If they were in the mood to nurse we would head to a nursing friendly attraction such as one of the shows or slower rides (Haunted Mansion, Pirates, It's a Small World, The Great Movie Ride, Finding Nemo, ect.) I find that at Disney they really only wanted to nurse when they were getting tired other than that there was just too much to look at.
On a privacy note I understand that a squirmy toddler does not co-operate well with covering up. I usually make sure I wear a shirt that is big enough I can cover up and bunch a little on baby's cheek so your well covered. I have also stolen DH's hat for the occasion and just held it over top.

My kids were much older when we went, but I have much experience with NIP at other plenty-distracting places. I never used a cover - I used the "lift-the-shirt" method, and draped it over everything that the kid didn't cover. I did find that with squirmy toddlers, I often had to hold the edge of the shirt in place quite firmly sometimes! I sometimes also used my free hand strategically as a visual shield, lol. Toddler tantrums from over-stimulation were often solved with nursing, so being able to NIP just about anywhere was a lifesaver! I usually tried for relatively secluded spots, but sometimes you just gotta do what you just gotta do. (My kids weaned at about 2.5 & 3.5, tho I rarely had to NIP after the toddler stage.)

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

I nursed my DD until she was a little over two and I nursed on demand and never had any negative experiences nursing in public. I was discreet but never used a cover up. With the heat and crowds I would welcome a "break" to nurse and relax in the stations. I'm sure you'll have no problems regardless of where you choose to nurse.

 

[Madzac]

I can relate to your concerns. I also have a acrobatic nurser right now! Got to love those toddlers! I usually stop NIP shortly after a year, just out of my own comfort. I am totally pro extended nursing and nursed my first two kids to 2 and DS is almost 21 months and still going strong.A trip to WDW is a little different situation however, and I have made two trips now with a nursing one year old. I found nursing very helpful at time to calm him down if he was overstimulated, or to help him fall asleep. I often nursed on rides or in shows. Sometimes I would go to the quiet corner of a counter service place. But there were a few times I just needed to nurse more out in the open. I too just made sure I was discreet and while I felt a little anxious, I never once had a stare or comment. Not once! And I never managed to get to a baby center to nurse either.

I found both trips with one year olds they nursed MORE than at home just due to being off routine. But we did take a trip just after DS#1 turned two to DL and we were busy and by the time we came home he was almost weaned.

I know this can produce a little anxiety but really I have found WDW to be one of the best places to NIP, even a toddler!

 

[tzolkin]

I never used a cover - I used the "lift-the-shirt" method, and draped it over everything that the kid didn't cover. I did find that with squirmy toddlers, I often had to hold the edge of the shirt in place quite firmly sometimes! I sometimes also used my free hand strategically as a visual shield, lol. Toddler tantrums from over-stimulation were often solved with nursing, so being able to NIP just about anywhere was a lifesaver! I usually tried for relatively secluded spots, but sometimes you just gotta do what you just gotta do. (My kids weaned at about 2.5 & 3.5, tho I rarely had to NIP after the toddler stage.)

I always hooked my thumb under the hem of my shirt and held it up to baby's cheek. It also allowed me to instantly cover if s/he popped of or turned his/her head. Even as infants, my younger two would kick, pull, stand up, and twist all over the place. Whenever someone began to talk to me, they turned their head completely around to look at the person-- while still attached.

We didn't NIP often when they were past the toddler stage because they were usually too busy to think about it. The only time I offered was if they were starting to cry (for whatever reason). Probably not the best parenting method, but my kids usually prefered nursing to crying (and I think most people were happier to see a kid nursing than screaming).

My youngest was a week shy of two when we made our first Disney trip. He was still nursing 3-5 times a day. While there I only nursed him before nap/bed, but several times we skipped it even then. We usually got up early for EMH, so we skipped the morning "snack". And the rest of the day he was too happy and busy to think about nursing. I think I nursed him once in the parks, but I can't remember what we were doing that he asked. Maybe he was really tired that day? We were on vacation for two weeks and I know there were a few days where he did not nurse at all. When we returned home, he continued nursing once or twice a day for 6 months before he fully weaned.

 

[DumboPrincess]

LOL. Be thankful you don't have to deal with DD's nursing signal: She pants. Like a St. Bernard.

I tried *everything* to have her come up with a word or a sign, but she's having none of it -- panting is it.

I remember having younger DD at the ped, waiting on shots. She was on the table, stripped to her diaper (13 mos. old) and started yelling "b" and making the sign for please...except using both hands, instead of her right hand.

The nurse was, "What on earth?!"

But my baby girl just wanted her milk...she was asking "pretty please".