My take on Disney's nursing room - Page 2

[Faerieshadow]

Yes, DP had to listen to me gripe each time we looked at the map and saw the part where it listed the "Baby Changing Station and Nursing Room, proudly sponsored by Nestle Good Start". Although, I think the advertising may have worked on me because where I would probably have normally just NIP while we were in one of the air conditioned restaurants, I wanted to see what their nursing room looked like.

[stellimamo]

For nursing moms "only" - keep door closed at all times."

Wondering if this sign was up so that the door would stay closed so the air conditioning would stay in and keep the place cool? Thats how I would have taken it.

[Faerieshadow]

Originally Posted by stellimamo

Wondering if this sign was up so that the door would stay closed so the air conditioning would stay in and keep the place cool? Thats how I would have taken it.

No way - the nursing room wasn't very air conditioned at all. It was about ten degrees cooler than outside, which was still a blessing since it was over 90 degrees out - but in comparison, the other air conditioned areas in the park are at least 20 degrees cooler and they have breezeways and doorways wide open letting the air out.

[tash11]

Originally Posted by Shelsi

What about ffing moms? Don't they deserve a nice place to sit and rock their baby while they are eating? I had to ff ds after 4.5 mos (long sad story) and I always went into nursing rooms to sit and give him his bottle so we could have some peace and quiet together...especially at places like amusement parks. I just think it's sad that they assume a ffing mom wouldn't want a comfy place to sit and feed her child.

I would think ffing would actually need a place to sit more then bfing would. its not quite as portable you know (at least thats the way it seems to me, I dont really know).

[stellimamo]

No way - the nursing room wasn't very air conditioned at all. It was about ten degrees cooler than outside

Then that sign is totally out of order. Thats a shame it isn't really cool in there. I always disliked nursing in the heat as did dd. The theme park in our area that has nursing rooms is fabulous. The are rockers and air conditioning, boppies, bottles of water for moms, and toys in the room for siblings to play with.

[Viriditas]

Originally Posted by Avocado

Dh and I go to Disneyland pretty often with and without dd and I use the nursing room- mostly to get out of the heat and to be somewhere quiet. I also nurse in the park, but sometimes it's nice to relax in that room. I like that they have a little room to pump in when I leave dd with grandma for the day; It has a curtain and a little table and a plug. The most recent time when I was nursing dd, there was another mother nursing her dc, and her older dd (she looked about 6 or 7) was looking for her and softly calling her name... well, she pulled back the curtain that leads into the nursing room, and one of the women who worked there got very mad at her and said something like "you are not to go in that room" and I was closest to the door and I said "I don't mind" (we were the only two in there)... the woman who worked there shot me a mean look and said even louder to the little girl "you need to wait outside" and she pulled the curtain closed right in her face. The other nursing mother looked distraught. I felt bad and I was so annoyed. Also, yes, above the entrance I think there is a big Nestle sign. :

Ooh, I used to work with these women (I was in Disneyland Guest Relations and manned lost children sometimes, which is next to the baby center). They have worked in the Disneyland baby center for, like, 20 years and are REALLY old-fashioned and can be pretty fussy. I'm not suprised at this reaction.

[Rikki Jean]

We went to Disneyland over the weekend, but I never actually got to the Baby Care Center. I wanted to, because I figured that the changing stations were probably a little less crowded than the ones in the bathroom, but we never made it over there. I know that a lot of women in my playgoup had good things to say about it though (and these are VERY pro-bf mamas). I wore him in my mei-tai all day, and he nursed in there almost every time, except for during dinner and while I had him out for a little bit sitting on a bench.

As far as the sign goes, I think I would have freaked out about it too. But, now that I'm reading this thread, it doesn't seem so bad, as people are pointing out the reasons it could say what it does. My ds is also a very distracted nurser, and I could see how the door opening and closing all of the time, or just all the noise from outside, could be very distracting for him.

I don't like that your other children can't be in there with you. What if it's just your non-bf seven year old, the bf baby, and you? Who's going to watch your kid? They're not providing any kind of supervision for these children, so I don't think it's fair for them to say you can't bring them in with you. I guess this could stem from crazy out of control children being a nuissance to babies and moms trying to nurse, but I still don't think that's really a valid reason. I would want my older (but too young to be alone) children in there with me, and I wouldn't mind if someone else had their older children in their either. I guess this room is sponsored by a company that understands NOTHING about breastfeeding anyway, so go figure!

[AuntNi]

I might be mis-interpreting the sign, but I can see the reason for it. Our local mall has a "Family Room," a huge playroom with curtained-off nursing rooms (which nosey DD & I had to use,) changing tables, a restroom with Mommy & me potties (GREAT idea,) bottle/wipe warmers, and a TV. You wouldn't believe how many adults I've seen in there, because they were too lazy to find the regular restroom. A couple of times, I've seen creepy-looking solo guys in there, which I've reported to the management. And it makes me mad for my newly-trained DD to have to wait to use the little potty while some lazy grownup takes his/her time in the family restroom.

Plus, there are LOTS of creepy perverts at amusement parks and malls. I would like restricted access for security reasons alone. So I just *wish* my local mall had signs about "for families accompanying small children ONLY."

I do think it's unreasonable to not let the older sibling go in there, and I'd certainly have a standoff with any security personnel who tried to separate me from my child while I used the nursing room.

Just my two cents' worth, and another perspective.

[Faerieshadow]

Originally Posted by AuntNi

Plus, there are LOTS of creepy perverts at amusement parks and malls. I would like restricted access for security reasons alone. So I just *wish* my local mall had signs about "for families accompanying small children ONLY."

I do think it's unreasonable to not let the older sibling go in there, and I'd certainly have a standoff with any security personnel who tried to separate me from my child while I used the nursing room.

Just my two cents' worth, and another perspective.

That's a really good point. I think maybe a sign indicating "For nursing mothers and their children" might be a good idea. The story a pp mentioned about a child being told to stay out of the room really bothers me.

ETA because if they are concerned with weirdos at the park then they should want the older kids safe too.

[TCMoulton]

Originally Posted by cuqui

Maybe it said 'nursing mom only' to keep bottlefeeding moms out. Just a thought, maybe they don't want everyone woman feeding their children in there taking up all the rockers. Imagine you walked in and there were 4 moms bottlefeeding their babies, and you had to wait for a rocker to free up...

Or maybe they want to keep dad out. You know maybe dads would want to keep their partners company while they nurse the baby. A man in the room could make other nursing moms uncomfortable. Sometimes you need to really spell things out for people.

I think it's great that they have these rooms. I NIP, but I might go in there to get out of the sun.

Just a question - why would a bottlefeeding mom not deserve to sit in a rocker? Many bottlefeeding moms choose to cuddle their babies as if nursing while bottlefeeding, shouldn't they have a comfortable place to sit as well?

[Faerieshadow]

Originally Posted by TCMoulton

Just a question - why would a bottlefeeding mom not deserve to sit in a rocker? Many bottlefeeding moms choose to cuddle their babies as if nursing while bottlefeeding, shouldn't they have a comfortable place to sit as well?

Because since Nestle was sponsoring it, I'm sure they want the nursing women to feel like they have to lock themselves away to nurse while out and about, while the FF moms could sit on the comfy couches in the nicely lit, better air conditioned front room of the baby care center. To be honest I'd prefer a nice comfy couch to a rocker any day, I don't care for the hard wood on my bottom.

[cuqui]

Just a question - why would a bottlefeeding mom not deserve to sit in a rocker? Many bottlefeeding moms choose to cuddle their babies as if nursing while bottlefeeding, shouldn't they have a comfortable place to sit as well?

Well b/c I haven't heard any bottlefeeding moms complaining about be made to feel or feeling uncomfortable about bottlefeeding in public.

[phatchristy]

I went in that "baby care center" area, which had the nursing room. I used it a couple of times when my DD (who at that age was VERY distractable) needed to eat.

Though, I breastfed my second DD anywhere and everywhere. Waiting in line in fact (some of those lines were insane). I breastfed her standing up without a sling.

Now I have a maya wrap and KNOW it would be so much easier next time we go (we usually make it over there once a year as we live in FL).

I too consider nursing in public to be a "public service announcement of sorts"...though I nurse so discreetly that most people never even notice. Last weekend I nursed my son to sleep at a baseball game, and the woman behind us told me he was such a perfect baby for sleeping through everything...so apparently she couldn't tell even .

[lilyka]

Originally Posted by Joannarachel

Hey, if the sign encourages a mother who is sooo nervous about NIP to nurse rather than give a bottle of formula, I don't mind.

:

Some women absolutely refuse to nurse if there is even a hint that someone might know what she is doing. and those are the ones who are going to go out of thier way to find a private nursing room. whatever it taks to make them comfy. I would never insist that someone nurse publiclly if they didn't feel comfortable. I don't mind them catering to thier comfort level so long as no one is insisting that someone cover up or go nurse only in the nursing rooms.

and I can understand it being reserved for nursing moms. it sounds like a smal limited amount of space. and I have nevdr heard a bottle feeding mother say she wanted to learn how to bottle feed without indecently exposing herself or how to do so modestly, or covering her bottle fed babys head with a blanket for privacy. nor have I heard any bottle feeding moms being shocked and embarrased when thier baby unexpectedly popped of the bottle.

those rooms are for catering to the women who don't want to nurse in public. not creating a comfortable place to feed.

aren't there general rooms for rocking and relaxing and tend9ing to baby?