Hi there. Just about to take off to DL next week with a toddler and a nursing infant of 3 months (only the infant is nursing, in case that wasn't clear!). I've gotten the skinny on the Baby Center and that sounds great but does anyone know about official or unofficial positions at DL regarding breastfeeding? I'm very discrete, but I understand that there are varied social and cultural issues which might come up. I don't want to offend anyone nor do I want someone (CM or public) confronting me and embarrassing me. Do I have to hoof it back to Baby Center, or perch on a nasty toilet? Are there secret unofficial nursing hideaways?

Thanks in advance for your help!

erin

Wow, that's an excellent question!! thinking back to when my kids were babies at DL I'd have to say the nursing thing was not a big issue there. I have never heard of a CM making any deal about it--as long as you don't strip off your shirt and bra while in line at Autopia I don't perceive you having ANY problems. Any place that is a nice place to relax will do.

I liked the Hungry Bear restaurant if you could find a nice table towards the corner, or there is a little rest area in Toon Town next to Goofy's bounce house that is nice.

The train station benches overlooking Mainstreet would work, as well as the nice little trail between Fantasyland and Frontierland.

So there quite a few off the top of my head--I'm sure you will find it quite easy. Adrienne will be the big expert on this as she has a wee one right now--

Lisa

As a twenty year old male I know I am not offended when a woman feeds their child. Its natural and necessary. People who complain should just learn to divert their eyes. I agree that you shouldn't be to blatent about it but that's a given.

Thanks for that, Ralph. (ladies--this guy is a catch..:-)

Hard to believe, but I've actually heard guys complain about moms feeding their babies discreetly in public. Idiots.

Originally posted by ErinW
I don't want to offend anyone nor do I want someone (CM or public) confronting me and embarrassing me. Do I have to hoof it back to Baby Center, or perch on a nasty toilet? Are there secret unofficial nursing hideaways?

OK, I will now step onto the podium of my soapbox....

First of all, I'd like to say, I classify myself as a breastfeeding advocate. I don't think of myself as an extremist, but I do think it's a basic human function and it's a very important one and anyone who thinks it's perverted or who thinks it's inappropriate can just go... well, I can't give that suggestion in polite company....

A few weeks ago, I actually had a pimple-faced security guard at a mall make a comment about me nursing my son. Apparently, he didn't think I was being discrete enough and asked me if I had a way to cover myself up more. I said, "Nope" and he said "OK" and walked on by. I never had anyone ever make a comment to me when I was feeding Matthew for a year, and this was the first and only time, so far with Spencer (Note: This was NOT at Disneyland.) My point is this: No one can ever legally ask you to stop nursing your child. It's illegal. I was legally dressed, I was covered up enough that he couldn't "force" me to cover up anymore. Now, people may try to say that Disneyland is exempt from that law: No, they're not. They cannot have any policies about Nursing or tell you where you "have" to nurse. They can provide something, that's nice of them, but they can't tell you that you must use it.

That said: I do not eat in restrooms and I do not expect my children to, either!

My experiences nursing at Disneyland have been a piece of cake. I'm not a person who really likes to be shuffled into a corner to nurse. I prefer to enjoy the company of my friends and family. I have nursed at the Hub on the benches there and on the Mark Twain Steamboat (they have seats there. If someone's using them, I have been known to POLITELY ask them if they would let me use one.) I have nursed on attractions. (Pirates, Small World, the Train are all nice and long, so they're great spots. In fact, you can just keep going around and around on the train until you're finished!)

I've sat at the tables around Coke Corner and then up on the Plaza Pavillion deck, where it's shady, but closer to Coke Corner, away from the smoking area. Basically, anywhere I've found a shady tree or bench, I've nursed.

Covering your baby with a blanket may make you feel more comfortable. In Southern California, the sight of a mother nursing her child in public is not uncommon and Disneyland does have a high percentage of locals visiting, not just tourists. So the Southern Californian and European population at Disneyland should be fine with it. I have not run into a CM who has ever questioned me.

Now, I realize that I'm more comfortable nursing in public than other women are. In fact, I've done some things that a few people would probably call "too blatant": I nurse in restaurants and I nurse even if I've forgotten to bring a blanket. So I'm trying to assume that not everyone is as comfortable feeding 'anywhere' as I am with my suggestions above.

If someone tells you that you can go to the Baby Care Center, they're probably just letting you know that it's available if you like, and I suggest the response: "Oh, thanks, I know, but I'm fine here." And as for being embarrassed, I can't tell you not to because it's not that easy. I can say that I don't think you have anything to be embarrassed about. It's natural and it's legal.

The people who should be embarrassed, IMO, are the ones who can't handle the sight of a precious miracle sent from heaven and the extremely self-less and loving actions of a mother who is blessed with the ability to nurse her little angel.

Not that I have an opinion about this,
Adrienne K

Hooray for Adrienne K, I really couldn't have said it better! But I just wanted to put a quick 2 cents in about the Baby Center - It's air conditioned.....enough said. ;)

Wow! Such wonderful info and support! Thank You! I must add that my little one and I are (literally) breastfeeding poster-girls already. We posed for the Marin General Hospital "Breastfeeding Awareness Week" posters and flyers. So as "abassadors of breastfeeding" I think we should actually be afforded some special throne at DL or something, don't you think?

I will take ALL your advice and chill out about it. I'm not usually embarrased for myself, and now I'll try not to worry about others' embarrassment. As you say, it is totally natural and as long as I'm not flashing, it will be fine. I'm glad to have some responses though, so that if I do get a comment (which I never have and probably won't) I'll certainly use them. And when I get back I'll let you know anything else I learn.

Thanks again!

erin

P.S. Adrienne, did you say you breastfed on Pirates? With those drops down the river I wouldn't think they'd let you on with an infant? I was hoping to take my 2 1/2 year old but thought she was too small.

Originally posted by ErinW


P.S. Adrienne, did you say you breastfed on Pirates? With those drops down the river I wouldn't think they'd let you on with an infant? I was hoping to take my 2 1/2 year old but thought she was too small.

First of all I hope you waited until after the drops to feed your child. :D Secondly, you shouldn't have any problem with a child of any age. Of course I don't need to tell you to watch your child and make sure he is not too close to the edge where he could fall out and be injured, but that goes without saying ;)

Originally posted by adriennek


OK, I will now step onto the podium of my soapbox....
<snip>
Not that I have an opinion about this,
Adrienne K

Adrienne, you're usually so quiet and demure... I had no idea you had such strong feelings on this subject.

Originally posted by Andrew


Adrienne, you're usually so quiet and demure... I had no idea you had such strong feelings on this subject.

:)

Adrienne K-- I think I've stopped laughing long enough to send this now...

Originally posted by ErinW

P.S. Adrienne, did you say you breastfed on Pirates? With those drops down the river I wouldn't think they'd let you on with an infant? I was hoping to take my 2 1/2 year old but thought she was too small.

Nope. There are actually very few attractions at Disneyland with height restrictions. The mountains (Space, Thunder, Splash, Matterhorn,) Indiana Jones, Autopia has a 1-year-old minimum and a height minimum to drive, Gadget's Go Coaster, Star Tours and that's about it. A child has to be old enough to sit up without assistance on Roger Rabbit (whatever that means.)

Actually, it was easier to take Matthew on Pirates when he was nursing than now. He wasn't as aware of it then; now he's a little hesitant of the darkness, loud noises, etc.

Adrienne K

I'm not sure I'm totally clear, Adrienne, what is your opinion on this issue.;)

As a man I don't really have any problem with any of this. I support every womans right to take off as much of their clothing in public as they feel comfortable with. (Before you start hurling bricks down on my head, that was a joke, ok).

I see women nursing in public places, malls, DL, etc. and I think most people accept it as no big deal. Don't be concerned about it but make sure you are in a place where YOU are comfortable.

A couple of days ago I was at the local mall. There was a younger woman their who was nursing her baby in area near the food court. At first, I noticed it and thought nothing of it because I see this all the time and it doesnt bother me.

She was sitiing on a bench in the middle of the major walkway and so every single person in the mall walked right by and stared. She wasnt very modest at all, and it almost looked like she was enjoying the attention. I have no problem with the nursing in public, but I also thought that the "nursin' time" was also a special mother/baby bonding moment that didnt need to be flashed around. Instead of it being a natural way to feed her child it became a fun way, for her, to attract attention to herself. It's hard to explain, but she was making sure everyone knew what she was doing. There was no subtleness or just focusing on the babies needs. She really seemed to be flaunting herself!! Whenever I see other mother's nursing, it's usually in a corner or a less populated spot so they can sit peacefully with their child. But this lady was all about her!

I was shocked(and i think you had to be there, because it's hard to explain what she was doing..)

Then again she was young...early twenties...immaturity?? Or is that still no excuse? Or do I have really no idea what im talking about?

If I just posted the dumbest post ever because I dont know anything about nursing a child, then I'm truely sorry. Especially AdrienneK!!

-JRob

You are coming through loud and clear my brother. If your analysis of the situation is correct (and NPFCers are a very perceptive bunch) it leads me to a comment that I hope will not throw AdrienneK back up on her soap box.

Breastfeeding is a normal, natural, loving, and perfectly legal act. Agreed? Ok, so is me kissing my wife. Lets say we are sitting somewhere (a mall bench, the hub at DL, church) and I lean over a give her a smooch. A little quick peck on the lips. No problem right?

Ok, what if I grab her about the buttocks, jam my tongue down her throat, moan loudly, pull her down on the ground, and roll around with her. Still ok? If someone asked me to show some restraint, that there were other people around, should I say "Kissing is a normal, loving act, get over your hangups about kissing, you've got the problem, not me."

My point is obviously, that someone breastfeeding their baby isn't doing anything wrong and should be allowed to do it without feeling embarrassed or asked to move away from everyone. But that doesn't mean that "anything goes." If the women JRob saw was "putting on a show" then that is inappropriate for a public situation. Breastfeeding isn't a "get out of jail free card" so that any conduct you do while breastfeeding is a-ok.

I know nobody is claiming that it is, but wanted to make the point. Not sure why now.

Don't worry about it, JRob-- Here's my comment:

Who knows why she was doing what she was. To play devil's advocate here, based on some younger moms I've encountered, (And keep in mind, these are going to be very stereotyped comments,) maybe she doesn't get a lot of support from her family for raising her children and/or breastfeeding, so she was looking for someone to say, "Good for you!" so she could get some attention and reinforcement.

Another thought: Maybe she's a person who really really really feels strongly, to a political level, about nursing. Maybe she was challenging someone to say something to her so she could bring an awareness to a situation that she thinks needs attention.

I also have to remember that one person's discrete is another person's blatant. Yes, it's too bad that she seemed to not have the perfect attitude, but at least she's able to nurse her child and she lives in a country and a state where she's allowed to do that. I would much rather see a woman acting this way while nursing than a woman sitting on the floor of the Matterhorn Way restroom, under a counter, nursing! (Yes, I saw someone doing this once. Can you imagine? YUCK!) Maybe this girl thought that she was doing a good thing so that people would see her nursing and know that they can nurse in public and not get hassled. Sure, she ended up looking unattractive to some, but she may not have thought so.

No matter what her motivation, I know that I tend to get a tad judgemental of people I see in public. What I've learned to do is: 1- try to ignore them and 2- resolve myself to behave differently or in the manner that I would expect them to behave. For example, I would probably think: Geez, it's too bad that this girl can't nurse her baby in the food court the way I think she should, so I'll do it the more polite way. ;) Yes, it's with a bit of attitude, but it doesn't weigh on my mind nearly as much that way, LOL.

And yes, I do nurse in restaurants and food courts if my child is hungry. I try to be discrete. I've been told I am.

Adrienne K

I was worried there for a minute that I was going to get the wrath that is AdrienneK!!!;)

I wasnt offended at all, but there were obviously a lot of people who were. And I mean ALOT!! But from what I saw, not one single person actually said anything to her. (Not that I was uh, watching....;) )

So I dont know, I just thought the whole situatuion seemed a bit odd.

But thanks for the comments!

-JRob

Originally posted by JRob2k1
I was worried there for a minute that I was going to get the wrath that is AdrienneK!!!;)


Oh, don't be silly. It's not a wrath, it's my opportunity to take advantage of a teachable moment. ;)

One thing I did think about after I made my earlier post: TBT, nursing isn't always a magical moment where the lights soften, Mom starts glowing, and the Angels of Motherhood play their harps and light candles while mother and child bond.

Sometimes, in reality, Mom's yelling at an older sibling, or on the phone with somebody making a doctor's appointment or arranging for a group of kids from a group home to go to a theme park, or watching TV. I'd love to be able to stop my life every time the baby's hungry, but I just can't. Keep in mind, I've been feeding Spencer, so far, every 2-4 fours for the past 3 months straight. And we still have about 3 more months of this to go-- that's just until we start solid foods, he'll still be nursing then, too! If I tried to make every single feeding moment a special bonding time, I'd go crazy. I try to consider all of my moments with my children precious, even if, from the outside, they look hectic.

Adrienne K

Good points AdrienneK.

That's why I almost felt dumb posting that because what did I know about nursing an infant???

And if I did....:eek:

-JRob

Originally posted by JRob2k1
Good points AdrienneK.

That's why I almost felt dumb posting that because what did I know about nursing an infant???

Thanks, JRob-- but I'd like to think that the only dumb questions are ones that are unanswered. I'm glad that I could help.

Adrienne K

These are all great points, and the issue about "one persons' discrete is another one's blatent" is really what I was concerned about. As AdrienneK pointed out, nursing is not always the easy, perfect, bonding moment (especially when in public). For example, my little one is now starting to become distracted while eating which means that while her head usually covers me up, she can (without notifying me first) bob up to look around and then I'm left flapping in the wind! Since I only have two hands and they're both useful for holding her, I have to scramble to cover up or get her back on quickly enough before someone notices that I'm violating a couple of laws. It's a juggling act! Or worse, she decides to look around WITHOUT letting go of my breast (ouch and geez!)

So anyway, it's nice to see everyone is trying to be understanding, I hope this forum has helped, I know it's helped me!