Ikea Banishes Breastfeeding Mom to Bathroom
A woman in the Red Hook, Brooklyn Ikea store reported being sent to the family washroom because she was breastfeeding publicly–though covered–in the store.
She and her 6 ½ month old daughter then had to wait in line at this facility, causing the hungry babe to get very upset.
The unnamed mother posted her experience on a Yahoo! group listserv, where she said that she’s going to file a formal compliant. New York law says that women are allowed to breastfeed anywhere in public or private.
Her experience follows:
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On Wednesday I was in Ikea Redhook in the middle of breastfeeding, fully covered, when I was told I had to stop doing “that” and go to the nearby family bathroom. The Ikea employee and security guards were extremely rude to us. I was hustled off to the bathroom and then had to wait because someone else was using it. I was humiliated, my daughter was upset from being interrupted in the middle of her feed.
When eventually I gave up and headed for the car to finish feeding, the security guards who had seen the entire event insisted on checking my receipts. I’m putting together a formal complaint to IKEA. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else?
There are no exemptions in the NY code that say that a mother and child must head to the bathroom to nurse. In fact, New York just passed a Breastfeeding Mothers’ Bill of Rights.
Chances are, your state protects your right to publicly breastfeed. Click here to check.
Image: Ian Muttoo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.
Original source: Examiner.com
[...] enough, the same week, a mother was pushed into breastfeeding in a family restroom at a Brooklyn Ikea store. (Maybe those lawmakers spent too much time bickering before passing the [...]
It is horrible that this woman was sent to the bathroom, but it would have been horrible even if she wasn’t covered.
Poor little thing! The daughter was upset too!
What a twit! Will she feel any better if a million or two get thrown her way by some fuzzy headed judge?
@ Russ - she didn’t say she wanted to file a lawsuit, just a formal complaint (I’m assuming that means with the company and not in a lawsuit… I may be wrong, but then again, that is her right too). So she can feel better next time she isn’t harassed and forced to nurse her child in a bathroom when it is her right to breast feed wherever she wants to.
Oh, russ. You just love to get those of us who believe in feeding their children naturally riled up, huh?
The mother said she was going to “file a compliant”, not a lawsuit.
We’re so sorry to confuse you with our public breastfeeding and attachment parenting.
(pssst…after one of my other posts, didn’t you mention fruitcake? I’m still waiting. Is there a coupon or something?)
I was just watching Michelle Duggar of 18 kids and Counting breastfeed on a parade float… no one had an issue with that very public feed! I was sitting in my living cheering at the TV… that woman will nurse her baby anywhere and I think we need to see more of that on TV and in the media so everyone pulls their heads out and realizes babies need to eat too!
I am wondering if another customer complained to the Ikea employee about her breastfeeding. Because I have seen some customers in other places look at breastfeeding mothers with disgust, like they wish they could send us to the bathroom.
As a breastfeeding mother, if anyone told me to go to a bathroom to feed my child, I would more than upset. I live in California, where the same law is upheld as NY.
I blame the formula companies for making it seem like breastfeeding is a sinful act.
That is horrible. I would have caused a serious scene right then and there, citing the law. argh. I’m glad she’s filing a complaint. I hope that this news spreads and affects store policies positively.
Carry your “Right to Breast-feed card with you (wallet, purse, diaper bag) at all times. It clearly states the law for every state so there is never a dispute. You don;t even have to speak, just flash it at the insensitive twit who harasses you. I laminated mine but luckily never had to use it.
http://www2.worldpub.net/images/parenting/pdf/btcard_0707latest.pdf
That sucks! Thankfully our local(ish) IKEA isn’t so misguided. When we were shopping for fixtures to open our store, My husband, 1 month old baby, and I enjoyed (endured?) a 13-hour marathon shopping day at IKEA. Seamus nursed in the cafe, the kids section, sitting at a desk chair in office supplies, lounging on a bed in the bedroom section, and on at least 4 comfy Euro-styled couches/chairs.
I don’t know what I would have done if they had given me a hard time. I mean, it’s IKEA. It’s like a week’s walk to the bathroom from most of the store.
@star: You said “…luckily never had to use [your bf rights card].” after a combined total of about 4 years nursing my two kids, my biggest regret is that some jerk never gave me a hard time. I have had all of these witty comebacks, and legal explanations saved up for years, and never had the chance to use a one.