Mom sparks outrage after breastfeeding baby on Disney ride
A mom has sparked controversy online after a picture was posted of her online breastfeeding her baby on a ride at Disney World.
Meredith Barnyak, along with her husband, mom, and stepfather, had visited Disney World in Orlando, Florida with her children Graham, 3, and Poppy, 1.
The family had been on the rides at the theme park, and while on the Frozen Ever After ride, Poppy got a bit squirmy leading Meredith to realise that she was hungry.
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So the mom fed Poppy on the gentle ride, as she would normally do - but said she completely forgot about the complimentary souvenir photograph.
Speaking with TODAY.com, she said: "As soon as I saw the flash, I was like, 'Oh no, I think all these people have a picture of [me] breastfeeding my baby on this ride'."
Meredith explained that she feeds her children whenever they needed it.
The mom-of-two said: "I am a pretty big proponent of any way you can feed your baby you should be able to do it — in any place."
She continued to say: "She would just pull on my shirt and I thought, 'OK, it's dark out. We're all humans.
"We're all honestly going to enjoy the ride a lot better and you'll be happier being fed'."
The photo was posted by her cousin with her consent as she runs a women's lifestyle website called Cup of Jo.
She then posted the snap to Instagram, along with the caption: "My cousin @meredithbarnyak being an absolute MOM on this Disney ride."
And the family found the picture pretty funny, with Meredith adding: "I thought it was a great picture and our family was laughing about it.
"And so I was more than happy for Joanna to post it."
But while there were many supportive comments, some people messaged to express their disapproval - much to her surprise.
Some were quick to claim it was 'dangerous', with one person writing: "Sorry @cupofjo — big fan of you but this is stupid, dangerous and irresponsible.
@disney allowed this? Lifetime Orlando resident and year after year people get hurt or killed on theme park rides — usually for being dumb. I have no words."
Another posted: "Not to be a stick in the mud but this seems…kinda dangerous??
"Am I overestimating the thrill level on this ride? The rest of the adults seem to be clinging on pretty tight!"
However, others came to her defence, adding that they have been in similar situations before.
One mom wrote: "I did this on pirates of the Caribbean and in the tiki room, whatevs. Baby gotta eat."
While another said: "A mothers gotta do what a mothers gotta do."
Meredith explained that the ride was not an intense one, saying: "I guess if you look at this picture, it might look like it's an intense ride.
"But it's a boat ride. There's no seatbelts. It's a very nice relaxing ride except that the there is a drop that you don't see coming because it's dark. And that's what that photo was taken."
And Disney's website also says something similar, saying that the Frozen Ever After ride is a 'slow ride' with 'small drops', and is accessible for 'all ages'.
Kit Roberts