Email Motherhood Maternity!

[minkajane]

I work at a Motherhood Maternity. We have a lot of breastfeeding supplies for sale (shirts, pumps, etc) which is wonderful. Another thing I like is that every mirror has a sticker that says "Breastfeeding welcome here." This is wonderful, except that the stickers are tiny and three of the four mirrors that have them are in dressing rooms. I feel like this sends the message that breastfeeding should only occur in dressing rooms. I think that it would be better to have the International Breastfeeding Symbol placed in the front window or other prominent location to let women know that breastfeeding is welcome anywhere in the store and also to let women know we sell more than just maternity stuff. So I decided to write to corporate:

I am an employee at a Motherhood Maternity shop. One of the reasons I chose to work for Motherhood is the company's support of breastfeeding. I have always been pleased to see the "Breastfeeding welcome here" stickers on the mirrors. However, I feel that since these are located in the dressing rooms, it sends the message that breastfeeding should only occur in the dressing rooms, as opposed to the main part of the store. I believe that Motherhood would support mothers better by placing the International Breastfeeding Symbol (which can be found at http://www.mothering.com/images/bfsymbol/bficon-hi.jpg) in a conspicuous location in the store, outside of the dressing rooms. This would show that Motherhood is supportive of breastfeeding whenever and wherever it occurs. Placing this symbol on the front window or door would also convey to shoppers that we have breastfeeding products available to them, not just maternity clothes. Again, thank you for supporting nursing mothers and I hope you consider my proposal.

Here is their Customer Service contact page. Please write to Motherhood and encourage them to be more outspoken in their support of nursing mothers!

[Jamie19]

Originally Posted by minkajane

I work at a Motherhood Maternity. We have a lot of breastfeeding supplies for sale (shirts, pumps, etc) which is wonderful. Another thing I like is that every mirror has a sticker that says "Breastfeeding welcome here." This is wonderful, except that the stickers are tiny and three of the four mirrors that have them are in dressing rooms. I feel like this sends the message that breastfeeding should only occur in dressing rooms. I think that it would be better to have the International Breastfeeding Symbol placed in the front window or other prominent location to let women know that breastfeeding is welcome anywhere in the store and also to let women know we sell more than just maternity stuff. So I decided to write to corporate:



Here is their Customer Service contact page. Please write to Motherhood and encourage them to be more outspoken in their support of nursing mothers!

You're LOCAL!!! I grew up in middletown just moved to Franklin about 3 years ago! YAY for other nursers!!!!

[Jamie19]

Probably wasn't you, but did I run into you at penn station once? That's the only time I've seen anyone NIP in Middletown, and I actually worked up the nerve to say YAY to the mom. Just wondering if it was you?

Originally Posted by minkajane

I work at a Motherhood Maternity. We have a lot of breastfeeding supplies for sale (shirts, pumps, etc) which is wonderful. Another thing I like is that every mirror has a sticker that says "Breastfeeding welcome here." This is wonderful, except that the stickers are tiny and three of the four mirrors that have them are in dressing rooms. I feel like this sends the message that breastfeeding should only occur in dressing rooms. I think that it would be better to have the International Breastfeeding Symbol placed in the front window or other prominent location to let women know that breastfeeding is welcome anywhere in the store and also to let women know we sell more than just maternity stuff. So I decided to write to corporate:



Here is their Customer Service contact page. Please write to Motherhood and encourage them to be more outspoken in their support of nursing mothers!

[minkajane]

Nope, not me. I've only been in Middletown since November. DS has been weaned for 2.5 years now, unfortunately.

[Jamie19]

Originally Posted by minkajane

Nope, not me. I've only been in Middletown since November. DS has been weaned for 2.5 years now, unfortunately.

LOL np I always wondered if that mama was on here! I was probably 2 years ago or so I think chlo was about 18 months.

[minkajane]

Back on topic. I got a form response.

Thank you for your feedback.

Your comments and suggestions help us to develop better accommodations regarding our customer’s needs.

Please know your message has been heard and forwarded on to our marketing departments for review.

Again, thank you for your feedback.

Regards,

Customer Service Team

Here's hoping I get a real response in a couple of days!

[clicksab]

I think this is an individual store issue. Two of my local MM have those signs on the outside windows also, so anyone walking by knows they can duck in there to nurse. In fact, it was because of that sign that I felt safe having someplace to go nurse during my first mall trip when my DD was a newborn!
Since you work there, have you talked to the management and up the line at your own store about this?

[minkajane]

That's great that some stores are doing it! I've been to three in the area and never seen it, so I guess it's not usually done in our district. I've talked to my manager about it and she suggested I email corporate. I'd love for it to be a corporate policy to display it! I'm definitely going to mention it to my DM next time she stops by.

[jocelynr]

I do like the fact that they have those stickers in there, but they are still WHO Code violators, as they give away bottles and formula coupons. That is the more important thing to write about IMO. Stop giving away bottles and subscriptions to Parents magazine!

[proudmomof4]

Hmmm, so it must have been a Motherhood Store back then...
We added two babies to our family while we lived in Michigan. I remember clearly how annoyed I was about the coupons and samples in the store when I was shopping for a maternity shirt (back in 2003). When I asked about the coupons I was told "You know the U. S. are a free country. You can do here whatever you'd like." (!!!)
I definitely feel your letter is going in the right direction but it wouldn't hurt to bring up the coupons.

[Belle]

Originally Posted by clicksab

I think this is an individual store issue. Two of my local MM have those signs on the outside windows also, so anyone walking by knows they can duck in there to nurse. In fact, it was because of that sign that I felt safe having someplace to go nurse during my first mall trip when my DD was a newborn!
Since you work there, have you talked to the management and up the line at your own store about this?

Yeah, I've noticed the stickers on the mirrors, but they also have one on the front facing the mall. I think the international symbol would be better, but they had those bfing is welcome stickers when I had Dd1 in 2004. Way before the international symbol was created. Perhaps writing to them will get them to switch to the newer, more recognized symbol.

[minkajane]

Originally Posted by proudmomof4

Hmmm, so it must have been a Motherhood Store back then...
We added two babies to our family while we lived in Michigan. I remember clearly how annoyed I was about the coupons and samples in the store when I was shopping for a maternity shirt (back in 2003). When I asked about the coupons I was told "You know the U. S. are a free country. You can do here whatever you'd like." (!!!)
I definitely feel your letter is going in the right direction but it wouldn't hurt to bring up the coupons.

I don't know how it was in 2003, but the way it works now is that we ask when you buy something from us the first time if you want to join the PERKS program. This gets you coupons and samples from Huggies and Enfamil. We have no control over what samples and coupons they send you and it will just be those companies. We don't sell your info, but I can't promise Huggies and Enfamil won't. Another thing we do is give you a gift pack the first time you buy something. I opened one and it has a bottle and a bunch of coupons for diapers, pictures, etc.

I am definitely going to write to them about breaking the WHO code. You can definitely say no to the PERKS program. The way our system is set up, we have to scan a gift pack to process your first purchase, but you don't have to take it if you don't want. Sorry you were treated so rudely. I would never speak that way to a customer!

[SashaBear]

HMMM. I hope they leave the sticker in the dressing room as well as putting in out front. I've seen those stickers and think, Good they yell at me for staying the dressing room too long because I'm nursing in here.

[proudmomof4]

@minkajane: Thanks for your compassion. I feel that my question back then was totally in line (not in a "how dare you" tone). However, I must have sounded quite surprised (like in "can you just put those out like that?", combined with a German accent) - so maybe she felt stepped on her toes.
Hurt feelings aside, this is a Code issue, so it would be great if you'd bring it up in a letter. Even so, as we all know, the U. S. didn't sign, so there...