i have been meaning to post this for a while and i just haven't gotten around to it until now. before our trip to dl in june i was very nervous about breastfeeding my then four month old son at the parks. everyone was very helpful and supportive with their advice. while i have no problems with moms nursing in public (in fact i think it is great!) i tried it and it didn't work out well. my son is at a stage where he is easily distracted and it was impossible to get him to eat with so many things going on around him. so, we ended up at the babycare center for feedings. they were great! it gave me and my son a break from the noise. i think this is important for babies. it also gave me a chance to talk to other nursing mothers. (i don't know any in real life). in the future we will probably spend less time in the babycare centers as he gets less distractable. but i just wanted to let moms know who may be facing the same dilemma that it really isn't a big deal. my husband would come in with me when their weren't any other moms. the rest of our party would go get fatspasses or get a snack, or let the other small children we had with us rest. i did notice a great deal of potential nursing spots that i will use in the future however. i believe avp has a great article on the subject.

a side note, we got a maya wrap sling before the trip and it was invaluable to us. it is much more comfortable and more you can wear it in more positions than a snuggli. we got it for nursing, but my son and i never could figure that one out. he is very long though. if he were a small baby then i'm sure it would be very easy to nurse in. i recommend it to all parents.

~<:) tracilicious

tracilicious, congrats on making your vacation a success! My Maya sling was what my baby and I lived in too, and I agree-- it blows away any other sling/wrap on the market!! I just wanted to comment on nursing in the sling-- don't give up! It does take practise but it can be done, I promise you.

My baby was a long one, too, so we faced all your same challenges. My best advice to you on nursing in the sling is to put the sling on and open it up huge, so it's draped around you but not cinched up at all. Then get the baby latched on and nursing and then carefully snug up the sling a little bit at a time (best if a friend or your hubby helps the first time or two). You keep the baby latched on and happy and let the other person work the sliing. Remember that you only need your baby to be physically in the sling up to their bottom; if their legs or part of their legs need to stick out it's okay, they're still safe and snug in there-- I promise!! Once you have everyone comfy carefully try to take away both your arms and experience the sling supporting the baby and make any adjustments as necessary.

Now that you're settled, look at how the baby ended up in the sling and what position the sling is in-- did you feather out the part where the ring meets your shoulder to better distribute the weight on your back? Do you need to roll up a cloth diaper and put that under the baby's head to help them be at the right angle to latch on? Try to make note of where everything ended up.

Next time, try it again but don't have the sling quite so loose this time since you have an idea of what you're doing. Don't wait until the baby is furiously hungry and impatient. Latch the baby on and gently tighten up the sling until you're back in the right position. It does take a couple of practise tries, but the results are oh, SO worth it once both of you figure it out!! Do you have a La Leche League meeting near you? Having someone IRL show you is the best way of all to figure it out.

We practically lived in our Maya wrap, and got compliments on it everywhere we went. I nursed wherever she was hungry, and we never had a problem once we figured the sling thing out. Keep at it! You're doing a wonderful thing for both you and your baby.

...--Alli

Tracilicious, I commend you on breastfeeding you baby and to want to continue even while at DL. We took our youngest when she was 11 months old and I was breastfeeding her and it was the easiest thing to to. Of course, by then I was an old hand at it.

I wanted to let you know that there is a group of breastfeeding moms out there that you can hook up with through Le Leche League International. Here is their website: Le Leche Legue International (http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebUS.html) . This group was invaluable to me for support and friendship during my breastfeeding years. I nursed three babies when all was said and done. They really helped with my new mom anxiety.

Merry

I also wanted to mention that I wore all my babies in slings and those slings were a lifesaver at times.

tracilicious -- congratulations on finding and using the Baby Care Center. Our own AdrienneK is a mighty big fan of BCC, and has written about it repeatedly in her Parenting in the Park column.

I'm sure she'll pipe in when she gets back from her summer trip.

I breastfed my youngest at DLR for a week when she was 10 months old, and I don't think I went to the Baby Care Center at all. (I have visited once previously for something else, I think......maybe a diaper change with one of the older ones once.) I just sat down on benches and went for it........and I didn't see another mother breastfeeding out and about except me! ;) My mom was with us and I'm sure she was mortified, but she didn't say anything.

I did have a few well-meaning people tell me about the Baby Care Center. :D Which I thought was cute and just took as helpful suggestions. After breastfeeding three children, nothing really phases me anymore and I'm well aware that some people are uncomfortable with it.

We just took advantage of the child switch passes while I fed the baby......my husband and mom would take the older girls on rides and I'd get to ride with one of the girls after I was done feeding. It worked out well and wasn't an inconvenience at all. If I'd ducked out to the Baby Care Center again and again, I wouldn't have enjoyed myself nearly as much on our vacation. But that's just me. :)

I nursed DD # 3 right on the spot, too. I don't know if it would have been as easy when she was about 5 months because she was at the stage where she had to see everything going on around her, like she had discovered there was a world outside her own skin, you know? Then I probably would have used the Baby Center. Fortunately, I was able to feed her on the spot, in Toontown, Tomorrowland, and so on.

I really wanted to offer the link to Le Leche League to put tracilious in touch with other breastfeeding moms for support and such.

Breastfeeding is a great way to travel with babies. Very convenient for us.

Merry

I'm one of those Nurse Anywhere Anytime moms. Fortunately, both of my babies have been Nurse Anywhere Anytime Babies. Hollywood Blvd waiting in line for a movie at El Cap (Bug's Life) and many places at DLR.

I personally think Pirates and Small World are great nursing rides for really small babies. Mine didn't get distractable until after they were older.

I've nursed at most of the restaurants in DLR, too. There's some legend out there about me nursing Matthew at Hungry Bear... Ah, good memories...

No, I definitely don't have any problems nursing in public.

I'd like to mention, too that the BCC is a great place to nurse or to formula feed. One very very special CM told me the story behind this: a Disney executive and his wife were visiting Disneyland with their adopted newborn. The mom came to BCC and asked to feed her baby in the quiet feeding area and the CM there steadfastly refused.

Let's just say the policy was clarified. :D

Personally, I don't like nursing there. The first time I went, no one was using the area at all but they still wouldn't let my husband come in with me. I felt very isolated and lonely. I do love nursing my boys but I kind of felt a bit outcast at the time. I'm glad to hear, tracilicious, that they let your husband come in with you when it was otherwise empty!

Here's an article (http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock/ak010921.htm) I wrote about breastfeeding at Disneyland and it mentions Florida, briefly, too. It was the first article I wrote after 9/11, so that explains the first paragraph's tone. I really like that article, actually. It has good diaper bag tips, IMO, too.

Adrienne

The DLRR is another great ride to nurse on. Since they don't kick you off, you can take as long as you want.

When I was nursing my son it felt like I was the only nursing mom in DL. But when my daughter came along, I spotted quite a few nursing moms.

During the time my son was nursing, we went to DL with my in-laws. I thought my mother-in-law was going to die of embarassment that I was nursing my son at DL. "You're going to do that here? " I wasn't really sure how she was thinking the baby was going to get fed. She has become more accepting of it and now that she's on her 3rd grandchild, it doesn't bother her a bit. Getting her through the first one was tough though.

When I went to DLR...with my 3 girls...as babies...I used the BCC all the time to nurse.

Like Adrienne, I felt kinda isolated...away from my husband and all. But...I found that I was much more relaxed than sitting on a bench...or ride. I found that I needed to relax more than my baby. I was so wound up...about watching my other girls, or what was going on, that I needed the quiet surroundings to just sit and calm down.

Every Mom is different...and we all do it our own way. It's nice that many can nurse around the park...heck...I tried. But, it's nice that Disney gives you the option of privacy if you need it. :)

thanks for all the helpful comments! i definitely will try to nurse him outside of the babycare center next time we go. when i did try this time it was in the Playhouse Disney show, which is very loud and i was very nervous, and it just didn't work out well. i was also very worried about overstimulating him and having some peace and quiet every few hours put my mind at ease. now that he is a bit older and i am a bit more experienced, i'm sure that next time i will see a lot less of the babycare center.

wannabe disneygeek - thanks for the sling tips. i will definitely try that. does nursing with the sling only work if you are wearing a nursing shirt? when nursing with a normal shirt on then baby covers your tummy, but i'm afraid that with the sling then my tummy will show.

merrymousewife - thanks for the tip. i know about La Leche League, but i have been hesitant in going to any meetings because some of the breastfeeding advocates that i have come in contact with have been so militant about breastfeeding. i.e. encouraging you to nurse until your child is in his early teens (i am exaggerating of course). the store that i bought my sling at has a bf'ing support group that i may attend though.

stinkerbell- comments like that are one thing that makes me nervous about bf'ing in public. not because i can't handle them, but because i am afraid of making sarcastic remarks back and embarrassing my group. i.e. "why don't i put a blanket over YOUR head?" LOL

adrienneK- sorry! i said AVP wrote the article. i got my adrienne's confused. that was a great article. one of the only articles about bf'ing at d-land that i have found.

disneynut- i know what you mean about relatives. my mother in-law was fine about my nursing in public, but when i asked her what she did she said that she just didn't go anywhere! and she had six kids! so i was more nervous with her there then i would have been with just my hubbie.

i think it is marvelous that disney gives us moms the option of privacy if we need it. and that it sells diapers for just $1 a piece. LOL. anyways, thanks again for all the tips.

tracilicious, the LLL group I belonged to (6 years) always advocated that the nursing relationship is just that, a relationship between two people and if one or the other wanted to discontinue it, that was okay. I nursed each baby for about two years, BUT that was me and my babies. Everyone is different and every baby is different. Visit a group near you for the full four month series. If you like it, great, if not, that's fine, too. Take the info they offer that works for you and disregard the rest.

One thing that might help with BF'ing in the park is to practice in noisy, busy places so baby is a little more used to the sounds and you have had practice nursing in public under many situations.

Anyway, I am glad you got to go to DL, with your baby, and that you are nursing him and that is good for both of you. :D

Merry

Originally posted by tracilicious
adrienneK- sorry! i said AVP wrote the article. i got my adrienne's confused. that was a great article. one of the only articles about bf'ing at d-land that i have found.

No problem. That happens all the time. I'd love to read a bfing article by AVP though. Could be interesting.

Re: "Why don't I put a blanket over your head?" Can I please borrow that one? I think you should totally use it. I think you're far too nice to be concerned about embarrassing your group, LOL. The person who should be embarrassed would be the person to put a blanket over yourself!

Re: MIL's and Moms reactting to bfing. My mom only bf me for 6 weeks, mostly she says because she had NO support from ANYONE at the time and she didn't have at the time the stubborn (pushy) personality I do. Her MIL used to make her go to a room to nurse me because they didn't think it was something that other people should have to watch.

I was kind of a brat. When I would go to my grandma's (my mom's MIL) and anyone said, "Would you be more comfortable feeding the baby in a bedroom?" I said, "No, I'm fine here, thanks!" Well, it was true! In fact, some people would get up and leave the room. Too bad they can't be mature about it.

My MIL didn't nurse her older two and only nursed her youngest a very short time. I don't think she understood 1- why I was so determined to nurse for at least a year and 2- what I needed to do to nurse for a year. For example, she kept saying, "Why don't you two leave the baby overnight with me so you can get away just the two of you?" Uhm, because I'm nursing him. I can't just LEAVE. Plus, it was a very small thing for me to be "tied" to my baby for one year of my lifespan, KWIM?

I fully agree with M4M- All moms need to make the best choices for themselves and their babies. Whether you prefer to feed your baby alone or in public, do what's best for you.

I once saw a mom sitting on the floor of the Fantasyland bathroom on Matterhorn Way, under the changing table, nursing. I just don't ever want any mom to think that she has to sit on the floor of a smelly bathroom to feed her child. (Not only that, I don't want to eat in a dirty, smelly bathroom- why should my child??)

I know what you mean about feeling a bit put off by potentially radical breastfeeding groups. It's nice, Merry, that your LLL experience believed that if one party wanted to discontinuen nursing, that's ok. Two of the reasons I didn't attend local LLL meetings were that I was already stubborn, determined, didn't embarrass easily, and I had an awesome awesome support staff of lactation consultants through my health insurance/local hospital (Kaiser! Very Very VERY strong support for nursing moms!)

Adrienne

I was kind of a brat. When I would go to my grandma's (my mom's MIL) and anyone said, "Would you be more comfortable feeding the baby in a bedroom?" I said, "No, I'm fine here, thanks!" Well, it was true! In fact, some people would get up and leave the room. Too bad they can't be mature about it.

My MIL didn't nurse her older two and only nursed her youngest a very short time. I don't think she understood 1- why I was so determined to nurse for at least a year and 2- what I needed to do to nurse for a year. For example, she kept saying, "Why don't you two leave the baby overnight with me so you can get away just the two of you?" Uhm, because I'm nursing him. I can't just LEAVE. Plus, it was a very small thing for me to be "tied" to my baby for one year of my lifespan, KWIM?

Adrienne, your MIL sounds just like mine! She thought bfing was a bodily function and should be done in the bathroom.

I must have been very fortunate with my group. I never felt that anyone else's opinions or viewpoints were forced on me or that I could not attend because I didn't agree with some of the ideas advocated by LLL. Child-led weaning and tandem nursing were not for me and if my group had been very forceful in these ideas, I don't know that I would have stayed in the group as long as I did. However, I had no support from family, a very high-need baby and complete sleep deprivation. They were the only support available in my area.

Although I had nurse-anywhere babies, it's nice to know that DL provides a place where nursing moms and babies can go to get away from the noise and hustle if they need it.

Merry

ugh, stories of moms nursing in bathrooms always make me sad. not only the fact that there are so many germs in a bathroom (i won't even open a stick of gum in the bathroom and put it in my mouth), but also the fact that babies dad, or grandma, or anyone else didn't say, "Don't go feed baby in the bathroom. Let's go find a quiet bench (or a babycare center, or anywhere!) and we'll wait for you." my MIL has never suggested that i leave the room. in fact she commented on what a good idea it is to nurse on pirates after i told her about the article. i guess it is just the fact that she never nursed her babies in public that makes me nervous around her. although, my mom nursed all of us in public and i am nervous around her. so go figure.

i have told childless friends about my dilemmas nursing in public only to get responses of, "Well can't you just go in a bathroom?" or better yet, "Just go out to your car." i live in arizona! i am not going to go to my car in 115 degree heat to feed my baby. my sister said one time when we were going out all day, "Can't you just pump and take it with you?" duh - not a whole days supply. she thought that breasts just supply an endless amount of milk at one time. LOL. lesson here - don't take well meaning advice from people who don't have a clue.

i know what you mean about it only being a year of your life. i tell myself that all the time to keep my baby off of formula. although he is almost six months now and i know the next six months will be infinitely easier than the first few were, so i have to tell myself that a lot less often lately.

i'm sure our daughters will have a much easier time breastfeeding than we have. so many people's moms didn't breastfeed at all out of our generation. hopefully the next generation won't even have to think about nursing in public because it will be so common.

~<:) traci

I really enjoyed reading through this thread. I have a crystal clear memory of nursing my son by the Indiana Jones ride with a million people milling about and many of them 'noticing' me. The rest of the week went fine but in that place I felt as if I stuck out like a sore thumb. My husband used the bcc once I think to change the baby and told me about it but I was never nearby when either child wanted to nurse it seemed because I never went there. I never made the baby wait and since I was busy having fun I didn't anticipate the next feeding either so wherever we were, oh well, I sat on a bench and they had their food.

I applaud any woman feeding her baby in the parks, I smile when I see it although I'd really like to high five her.

I am curious about the acceptance of he general public toward breastfeeding in the open. When I was growing up, that just wasn't done. I mean, what if you could see something. I am thrilled that women have gaiined acceptance in wht is so natual a thing. Comments?

Originally posted by adriennek

I'd like to mention, too that the BCC is a great place to nurse or to formula feed. One very very special CM told me the story behind this: a Disney executive and his wife were visiting Disneyland with their adopted newborn. The mom came to BCC and asked to feed her baby in the quiet feeding area and the CM there steadfastly refused.

Let's just say the policy was clarified. :D

Adrienne

Well, it's a week later :rolleyes: , but that post stirred up a memory from when my youngest was a few months old--that would be around six years ago.

I was refused a spot in the quiet feeding area because I was bottle feeding Char at that time. Talk about making one feel like a reject (those of you who have struggled with the whole bottle/breast thing will know instantly what I'm talking about.) :| Real moms--this way. Fake moms--find a bench outside.

Sorry. That was a bit of a sore spot for me after all these years. I'm glad to see things have changed.

Originally posted by TecTalker2K
I am curious about the acceptance of he general public toward breastfeeding in the open. When I was growing up, that just wasn't done. I mean, what if you could see something. I am thrilled that women have gaiined acceptance in wht is so natual a thing. Comments?

I have to admit that it amazes me that this is still an issue with some people. I guess I'm so used to being around people who breastfeed in public or are used to people breastfeeding in public. Some of the women I know have used blankets or towels, and some have not, just using their clothes. Sure, sometimes, I suppose it's possible to "see something", but you really have to try, and it would make me wonder about the people who are trying that hard to see something when it's just a woman feeding her baby.

Just a quick question.....If there is a baby center at DL where Moms can go to breast feed their babies, why would anyone want to breast feed in public instead?

Oh my gosh, convience. The baby center is all the way at the front of DL and if you are in Toontown, it is a looooong walk with a crying, hungry baby. Whereas, sitting on a bench under a shady tree, throwing a blanket over your shoulder and letting baby get down to business is much more convient and relaxing. In my humble opinion, of course.

Merry

Originally posted by MerryMouseWife
Oh my gosh, convience. The baby center is all the way at the front of DL and if you are in Toontown, it is a looooong walk with a crying, hungry baby. Whereas, sitting on a bench under a shady tree, throwing a blanket over your shoulder and letting baby get down to business is much more convient and relaxing. In my humble opinion, of course.

Merry

Isn't that uncomfortable for the baby to try to suck milk out with a blanket over his head especially in the heat? Wouldn't it be hard for the baby to breathe comfortably? I know that it would make me uncomfortable.

My wife has nursed all 3 of our kids in public, under a blanket. None of them had a problem with it. Babies don't have the same likes or dislikes as adults. What makes an adult squirm might not necessarily bother a baby. I know that if I were to ride around in a stroller all day I'd get motion sickness, but it doesn't seem to bother babies.

However, I'm sure it's possible for some babies to be bothered by it and they'll certainly let mom know. In which case mom will just have to adjust to fit the baby's needs. No big deal.

I BF'd three babies in Arizona and never had any trouble with the heat bothering the baby. However, every baby is an individual. Mom knows her baby best and what he/she can handle. If the Mom thinks the baby will not be able to nurse comfortably on a bench, then she can make the decision to go to the Baby Center. Thank you, DL for providing such a place.

Apparently you don't know the unique physical aspects of a baby's nose. Most babies have little round, slightly upturned noses to allow for breathing while nursing. It really is an amazing thing.

As for the blanket over the baby, I would usually start out that way and then take it down once baby was latched on. Also, my babies usually fell asleep so they didn't even know that a blanket was covering them.

One more thing, babies don't "suck milk out" as you so delightfully put it. There is a coordinated action between the jaw, the tongue, and the palate that actually milks the breast.

A baby does suck formula out of a bottle, but it is a little more complicated when at the breast.

Originally posted by MerryMouseWife


One more thing, babies don't "suck milk out" as you so delightfully put it. There is a coordinated action between the jaw, the tongue, and the palate that actually milks the breast.

A baby does suck formula out of a bottle, but it is a little more complicated when at the breast.

What is wrong with saying that a baby is sucking out the milk? That is what the baby is doing. I didn't realize sucking out milk is a offensive to you. Also, I am not a doctor. I don't know EXACTLY how the sucking works. That wasnt even the point I was trying to make. :rolleyes:

I was merely concerned about the babies' health....i.e. not being able to breathe properly with a blanket over their face. Seems like common sense to me.

Have you ever used the breastfeeding facilities in Baby Care Center, Fairytalelover?

While I found them comfortable enough, I felt very isolated. Outside, I don't have to leave my family and friends to feed my baby.

Also, if I'm on the other side of the park and the baby is hungry, he's hungry NOW. Not 15 -20 minutes from now when I can get us to the Baby Care Center. All I need to nurse is a place to sit and the ground will work! Heck, I've nursed in line for the El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Blvd. I guess I just squatted there, that time.

I don't use a blanket at home, so I stopped using one at Disneyland. I find that pulling up my shirt kept my top covered enough that I didn't need a blanket to cover my top and my baby covered my sides sufficiently. Sometimes I pulled my blankets around my babies if I wanted to cover my side- that didn't suffocate the baby or make me uncomfortable.

When my babies were newborns, when I was "training" them to nurse, sometimes I needed more privacy to get them latched on. But by they're a month or so old, we're both experts at it!

In the beginning of my breastfeeding experience, with Matthew, I used a blanket to cover myself and the baby out of courtesy for my friends, none of whom have (or had) children. At some point, they told me that it seemed silly for me to go to that much trouble and I agreed.

When you nurse(d), fairytalelover, did you use nursing tops or have to pull down your shirts from above? I never wore nursing clothes but I just pulled my shirts up from the bottom.

My question is why would anyone not want to breastfeed in public? The only answers I can think of are: They don't feel comfortable nursing in front of others _or_ their babies require a quiet area to nurse.

In my case, neither of these issues applied. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family and being "sent away" to feed my babies seems silly to me. I'm not short term nurser. My sons both nursed for 13 months. We had plenty of "alone" time when we were at home and Daddy was at work. Disneyland is a place I enjoy with my friends and family.

And I would dare say that my friends and family enjoy being part of the experience of raising my children. Several of my friends are childless but tell me that they enjoy being around my kids and then watching them go home with me, LOL! Something about babies brings joy to people and part of that, in my experience, is sharing the joy of nurturing a baby.

Heck, I've had friends volunteer to change my babies' diapers! And yes, they did it "in public" in the stroller because it was the most convenient location at the time. As long as diapers are properly disposed of, it's while people are eating, and people are clean about it, I don't have a problem where people change their children's diapers.

Adrienne