Mum defends breastfeeding her baby on Disney World ride after backlash
Topics: Disney, Parenting, Social media, Real Life, Life
Annie Walton Doyle
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Meredith Barnyak /Instagram/@cupofjo
Topics: Disney, Parenting, Social media, Real Life, Life
When it comes to feeding your baby, it can often be a case of squeezing in a breastfeeding session whenever you find the time.
But it seems one mum may have taken this ideology to the extreme, after she was spotted breastfeeding in a rather unusual place.
Meredith Barnyak caused some online controversy after pictures of her breastfeeding her daughter on a Disney World ride went viral.
But now, she's responded to the furore and defended her decision ...
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The Pittsburgh mum was visiting the park with her baby daughter Poppy, her husband Jeremy, their son Graham, 3, and her mum and stepfather.
She decided to quickly feed her daughter on the Frozen Ever After ride at Epcot and it was caught on the amusement park’s camera.
People were quick to criticise the image, which quickly went viral.
“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,” one person wrote.
"You want attention and credit for this? As if it’s some kind of superhero moment?
‘“Hey look! Someone’s feeding their kid! Amazing! Put it on social media!’ The cries for attention are getting worse…” another said.
A third agreed: “I don’t have anything against feeding your baby in public and I actually encourage women to do it, but some people, like your cousin, just wants to be in the centre of attention!
"And by the way, having a baby on a ride at an amusement park."
However, Meredith has defended her decision and explained the situation for the haters.
“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,’” she told Today.
“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 went on.
“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,'” she laughed.
Alongside the slew of trolls, some commenters have also sprung to Meredith's defence.
“Love it. Taking care of that baby in every circumstance,” one wrote.
“This might be the best breastfeeding photo ever. It belongs in a museum," another laughed.
This isn't the first time breastfeeding has hit the headlines. One mum recently defended breastfeeding her five-year old, while another spoke out about drinking alcohol while breastfeeding.