Babies R Us unsupportive of breastfeeding moms

[abtst6]

I went to the Sunnyvale, CA store Saturday to pick up some stairway gates and to try out gliders - my son needed to nurse, so I decided to multitask and nurse and try out a glider at the same time. Within a microsecond, an employee [name withheld] came over to me and told me that if I needed to "do that", that I had to use the mother's room in the store (mind you, I was COMPLETELY covered by a nursing cover). I told him that I did not want to nurse my baby in a room that smelled like baby poop. He stood there, shaking his head at me in disgust, and told me that it was store policy, and that if I needed to "do that", it had to be in the mother's room. He stared me down, and I have no question in my mind whatsoever that he would have called security if I hadn't gotten up and left. I attempted to feed my baby in the parking lot (impossible since he is very wiggly and easily distracted at this stage), and ended up driving home with a hungry, sobbing baby.

Quoting California Civil Code 43.3: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, except the private home or residence of another, where the mother and child are authorized to be present." A cramped and smelly room hardly counts as "any location". I will no longer support this store.

[lolabear]

that disgusts me when people want us to feed our babies in some stinky bathroom or something of the like. i bet they wouldnt like to have their lunch break in there! and its a baby store, how can you be so mean towards a nursing baby :( theyre overpriced anyway lol

[Shaunsmom]

I am sorry to hear that you went thru that. There will come a day (although not soon enough) that bfing mama's can nurse their baby ANYWHERE without someone making them feel like they are doing something wrong.

I personally would follow up with that person's manager and this is the perfect opportunity to do breastfeeding education to that store. If you are not satisfied with the manager's feedback, then go up the chain of command.

Yes, it's a total PITA but at least you are educating them.

[rissa523]

Just because they offer a nursing room does not mean they are complying with California law. Florida has a similar law and i've never had a problem walking around babies r us here and nursing at the same time. it sounds like a personal problem with the employee, not with store policy. some stores here offer mother nursing rooms (like the mall has one) but it is only available for mothers that are modest and do not feel comfortable nursing in public. I've gotten tired of covering my baby when she's nursing. She just gets too hot, and other than getting some dirty looks from employees at wal mart, I have very little problem. I just dare them to try and call the police, so that they can report themselves for breaking the law. That would be just fine with me. Sorry you had this terrible experience.

[nycmama]

That sucks... ppl and their ignorance! Here in NYC the Babies R Us has a mother's room but I swear its so uncomfortable. It has no A/c and its stuffy/hot! Horrible!

[kohlby]

That's awful! I haven't been in BRU in ages, but I used to go quite regularly when DS was a baby/toddler. I nursed him in those gliders pretty much during every visit. People did notice me but all I ever got were some sweet smiles - and I never wore a nursing cover.

[dewoman81]

I am sorry you had this experience. The mothers room at my local BRU is wonderful. Free diapers, a nice love seat, two rockers... I thought of BRU as being the most BF friendly place I have ever been. I took all of my pregnancy classes there, even the breastfeeding class.

[MommytoLuke]

The BRU here has a stinky, stuffy room too. But I haven't been there since CHloe was born so I haven't nursed her there.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

[Bumpy]

I am sorry that you had to go through that.
I have nursed while I was shopping at a BRU and a couple of employees thought that I was doing so good for her.
I only had one of the employees say something because I think I was looking uncomfortable, and she said that they had a nursing room. I told her It was busy and she said I could use one of the gliders.

[monkeysmom]

I want to commend all of you who nurse in public. I havent yet, and am not sure if I ever will. I don't go too far from home with DD, and if I go out for any length of time, I go with my mom just in case, and end up nursing her in the backseat of my mom's car (I know, its dangerous, but if she's hungry, she gets fed). I hope that someday (soon!!) I will be comfortable NIP, especially since I have a gift card from Xmas to a mall about 45 minutes away that will start losing its value soon!

[CatSoup]

I haven't NIP yet,but I wanted to look up the state laws. This lists them all. :)

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/breast50.htm

[Lindsey55]

I am a very modest person, so I usually bf in a room if available, or use a cover. I wish I wasn't so modest! But no matter what, that employee does not have the right to tell you where you have to bf at. I bf in restaurants all the time, right at the table and nothing is said. You should definitely report this incident. First to the local manager of the store and if nothing is done, then take it higher up. BF is the best thing for our babies and we have a right to do it where ever we see fit! Sorry you had such a bad experience there!

[Hana]

If I'm in a mall, I'll go check the cleanliness and availability of the nursing room...typically because I usually have to go to the restroom every time the baby needs to eat too...lol But if the "nursing area" is part of the bathroom, i.e. a nice comfy chair IN the bathroom, then I will feed my baby in the mall area. But if the nursing area is separated from the bathroom, and is clean and tidy, I don't mind nursing in there as my baby doesn't like a cover anyway. The only problem that I have with the separate nursing rooms is the parents that think it's a place to contain all 5 of their kids while they pee, reapply makeup, fix their hair, and take 20 minutes to rearrange their clothing. The kids don't mind sitting in there, staring at you while you're trying to nurse, trying to catch a glimpse of your nipple, and not trying to distract the 2 year old who keeps trying to talk to you and take the cover off of you to see the baby. The worst thing is that the parent doesn't care that you were in there first.

[JennMomof3]

Our BRU is wonderful in Tampa, FL. The nursing room is great, plenty of room, rockers diapers wipes. Never had any issues with this store. Most likely it was an ignorant employee.

[tracylee]

I am sorry you had this experience. The mothers room at my local BRU is wonderful. Free diapers, a nice love seat, two rockers... I thought of BRU as being the most BF friendly place I have ever been. I took all of my pregnancy classes there, even the breastfeeding class.


That has been my experience in any BRU I have been to as well (only 2 really). Nice rockers, free diapers, etc. I have pumped there too and the staff was wonderful. I think it was the personal opinion of the employee. If your BRU has a crappy mother's room, you should complain to the corporate office.

[messy_madhouse]

I too, was scared to nurse in public, but I quickly got over that. I needed to get out of the house!! I've got a car load of kids and can't be stuck in the house forever. I'll tell yout though, the first few times, I was soo scared, that the baby couldn't hardly nurse. I was afraid of someone saying something to me. Now, I welcome the stares and gawks, I know that I"m doing what is right by my baby and screw the naysayers! I also nurse in my sling now, so that I don't have to sit down and nurse, nobody knows what is going on in there and it's great!

[StaciMN]

Wow that is terrible. Im sorry that happened to you!

[Katsume]

In the beginning I used to give DS a bottle of formula when we were out, but since I put a "bottle ban" in the house and tossed them all I am proud to nurse in public. At first I was a bit shy about people looking at me, but after reading many encouraging posts on these forums it made me say "If they can do it I can too!".

[debsmooth]

First of all I loathe BRU. They sell nothing but crap and it's overpriced crap to boot. All manner of things to help parents avoid actually holding their babies. I have, on occasion, been there to satisfy my mother who seems to love that store. I have nursed both inside the store (in the glider department) and used their smelly mother and baby room. Much prefer the glider department. No one has ever said boo to me and lord help them if they tried it. I used to be very uptight about nursing in public with my first baby. Now that I am on my second I'm kind of blase about it. Sometimes I use a cover-up. Sometimes I don't. Nursing babies is part of life and I'm hopeful that if I don't make a big deal about it then no one else will.

[BrandiJR]

I am sorry you had to deal with that.

I would have sat there and nursed my daughter. We have the same law in Michigan that it is not illegal to bf in public. I also use a cover though. I would have sat there and when they got security or whatever happened, I would have then gotten a big wig's number and also a lawyer! My daughter will eat, and I will do it in comfort!

I was in Menards one time and I sat on one of the beds they had on display to nurse my daughter!