Toys r Us Worker told me to go to the bathroom...

[Island_Mama]

..to do "that"!

Yes, I was nursing my DD in the storre when I hear behind me "ma'am, if you are going to do THAT you need to go in the bathroom"
Iswear I was like huh? So I said "excuse me" and she said it again, with a little more attitude, so I told her "No I do don't" and she said "Oh yes you do!" I told her "Oh no I don't and you are harrasing me and violating our rights and you need to go talk to your manager to straighten you out because you can get the company sued telling me that"
She storms off and calls out to me "WHATEVER" as she goes in search of the manager to I guess kick me out or something.

I was actually just nursing my daughter for a minute because my friend was in the store and we where on the phone trying to find each other. After that happened I decided to sit and give my daughter a full nursing just for the hell of it.
No one came so I ended up asking for a manager.
She was apologetic, and nervous, but I wasn't satisfied with her answer. She seemed more concerned about them getting in trouble than the actual situation. She said they try their best to avoid this but "sometimes it happens" I'm like, how can this happen at all in a kids store? It just threw me off.
The employee got sent home, from the looks of it, I couldn't find her anywhere in the store.

Anyways I am still wanting to call Corporate Toys r Us or someone high up enough I just don't know where to start.
There is only one Toys r Us on the island but I just found out they are opening a Babies r Us and I think another toys r Us. ( I could be wrong about the latter.

Please share your thoughts or suggestions, I have no idea what to take of this. I was REALLY upset, it was unexpected because I have been nursing all over the place for so long I had stopped preparing myself for some unwelcomed comment. I got used to the opposite, if anyone said anything it was positive.

[EmilyVorpe]

This doesn't have to do with the nursing issue, but Toys R Us/Babies R Us were rude to us...we called the headquarters because my son was blindsided by one of their marketing fixtures (it hit his eye...bloody...black and blue...er visit) and they told me not only was it my son's fault for walking in their toy isle, but that they wouldn't even consider moving it because of its prime location. Headquarters told us they had to make money and the location of its fixtures were "eye level on purpose" and for us to shop elsewhere if we couldn't control our child.
I haven't been back...

But, anyway....
I'd encourage you to bring it to their attention! I'd be pretty irate.

[Pod4One]

Emily - OMG! That is downright shocking!

As to the OP - yeah, call someone high up. Try the website and see if you can find a number there. Or call a news station - they'd be all over that! What about a lactivism site that sets up letters that people can sign and send there.... why in the heck can't I think of the name...

[Ruthla]

I think you handled it pretty well. The employee DID get sent home, and the manager now knows not to harrass other nursing moms. I'm not really sure there's any need to take things further.

[Sasharna]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I think you handled it pretty well. The employee DID get sent home, and the manager now knows not to harrass other nursing moms. I'm not really sure there's any need to take things further.

Great job sticking up for nursing mamas everywhere! I hope I'll respond like you did if this ever happens to me.

[Pod4One]

promom.com - that's it! they do 3 minute activist letters. Write to them about your expereince and see what they can do.

http://www.promom.org/3min/

[serenekitten]

Originally Posted by Island_Mama

..to do "that"!

Yes, I was nursing my DD in the storre when I hear behind me "ma'am, if you are going to do THAT you need to go in the bathroom"
Iswear I was like huh? So I said "excuse me" and she said it again, with a little more attitude, so I told her "No I do don't" and she said "Oh yes you do!" I told her "Oh no I don't and you are harrasing me and violating our rights and you need to go talk to your manager to straighten you out because you can get the company sued telling me that"
She storms off and calls out to me "WHATEVER" as she goes in search of the manager to I guess kick me out or something.

I'd contact someone higher up just because the employee was downright rude about it and should be disciplined. I will never understand why people think the word "Whatever!" is a convincing argument for anything, much less dealing with customers.

[Equuskia]

You could also contact:

www.firstright.org/reportdiscrimination

That employee was incredibly rude. Wow.

[Evergreen]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I think you handled it pretty well. The employee DID get sent home, and the manager now knows not to harrass other nursing moms. I'm not really sure there's any need to take things further.

Me too. If you want to write a further clarification explaining the law and stating they need to be sure to educate employees it wouldn't hurt but I think although it wasn't the world's best outcome someone was educated.

[caiesmommy]

WOW! It's toys r us, seriously..they SELL breast pumps(atleast ours does). I couldn't even imagine having someone in stores around me tell me to "Stop that". Though my dh is hoping for the day, just to see how I react...which would be to sit in the middle of the floor uncovered and nurse...maybe even stick my 2 y/old ds on there w dd. I would *REALLY* write head office. If that manager was smart she did send that employee home, wrote her up and made a note of it for future reference. I would seriously contact them soon. It's TOYS R US! They are going to get the occasional nurser

[rjruiz_415]

Originally Posted by caiesmommy

WOW! It's toys r us, seriously..they SELL breast pumps(atleast ours does). I couldn't even imagine having someone in stores around me tell me to "Stop that". Though my dh is hoping for the day, just to see how I react...which would be to sit in the middle of the floor uncovered and nurse...maybe even stick my 2 y/old ds on there w dd. I would *REALLY* write head office. If that manager was smart she did send that employee home, wrote her up and made a note of it for future reference. I would seriously contact them soon. It's TOYS R US! They are going to get the occasional nurser

mama this is me too! I am just waiting for my opportunity!

[kalisis]

There was a Nurse-In outside of Toys R U in 2006. They should have a written company policy to train employees about this specific issue, IIRC.

I would definitely put pen to paper and write a letter to corporate, just to let them know that you're not a satisfied customer and ask that they make sure they are training their employees correctly on the state laws that apply and what rights nursing mothers have.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Will wonders never cease? It is so annoying that in this day and age a woman can't feed her baby....

I've always wanted to tell someone they can go eat their lunch sitting on the can!

Maybe next time you should go to the front and announce on the loudspeaker that you'll be "breastfeeding in aisle 6" for anyone who wants to come watch!?!!?

[Island_Mama]

Thanks for the links Pod4One and Equuskia. I am going to check them out right after I post.
I understand how it may seem like all is well that ends well. If it had been an employee that AFTER being trained properly still decided on her own to be ignorant, and the store showed this to me ok.
But they have no training or sort of educational procedure for their employees. After I did the original post I googled "toys r us breastfeeding" because I thought I remembered hearing about that nurse-in at a toys r us before, but I thought I had to be wrong because if something that big had come it it before you would think they would had done something about it.
I feel it does have to be taken farther because it should not have happened at all. I mean its almost 2 weeks later and I am still feeling upset about it. Until it happens to you you can only guess what it would feel like, and I hope my DD didn't make the connection of why I felt so horrible to her nursing.
She was cranky all afternoon after that because she just felt how I felt.

After looking at a few of things that came up on the search I thought it would be a good idea to contact the local LLL and see what they say.
I hope I don't get the beush off like emily (I have the feeling they will) because it will be hard to let it go then. It's bad enough for it to happen to you and then be treated like you are the one at fault.

Thanks for the responses, if anyone has had a similar experience or anything please share!

[MaryJaneLouise]

Firstright.org is a better organization to contact than LLL.

LLL is a mother-to-mother support group and tries not to get involved in political or activst things.

[momo7]

I'm a little taken a-back that the employee was so rude when you told her you didn't need to go to the BR to nurse . "Oh yes you do!", was her reply? How freaking rude!

I am SO SO glad you stood up to her, that you didn't leave the store, that you sat right down and finished feeding your baby....even that you hung around and waited to see the manager....all of that was so gutsy of you!!! :

When my time comes I hope I have your courage and determination....thanks for giving up such a GREAT example.

[teale]

Originally Posted by MaryJaneLouise

Firstright.org is a better organization to contact than LLL.

LLL is a mother-to-mother support group and tries not to get involved in political or activst things.

Yeah, LLL will not touch this situation with a ten foot pole. They may be a good place to commiserate on negative experiences, but they won't get involved.

[craft_media_hero]

Wow, I could feel my blood pressure going through the roof as I read your post. As if little ToysRUs worker gets to decide how babies eat. I guarantee no one would tell you to go to the bathroom to feed your baby from a bottle! AAARrrrggghh! That makes me so mad. You would think that a children's store would be more open to what is good for children?

I'm so glad that you went for the full on NIP after little store snot tried to intimidate you into the restroom.

If you're still up for it, I encourage you to call the Corporate HQ or whatev. Maybe your call will make them realize they need to accomodate the people they are selling toys to.

[tallulahma]

i would contact firstright.org

really though, i would probably ask for a district managers number and contact them about the training employees are receiving and ask that they be inserviced.... and possibly ask for a written apology from the employee and/or store to ensure they are clear on it.

[craft_media_hero]

You know, it really can't hurt to call or send a letter to all of them, district managers, local, and corporate. You would really only have to leave one message or letter repeatedly.

I have actually done this before in a different self-advocating situation. The person responsible would not take action, so I called every number I had of any person related to the situation and let them know that I needed help with this. I wasn't rude or confrontational, just telling the facts.

I had calls almost immediately from several "management levels", and the individual who was directly responsible remedied the situation. I think this is a good idea because it guarantees that the wheels WILL start turning.

ToysRUs needs to get with the times and start taking some corporate responsibility! Don't the sell Boppy pillows and pumps?

Originally Posted by Island_Mama

..to do "that"!

No one came so I ended up asking for a manager.
She was apologetic, and nervous, but I wasn't satisfied with her answer. She seemed more concerned about them getting in trouble than the actual situation. She said they try their best to avoid this but "sometimes it happens" I'm like, how can this happen at all in a kids store?

To me this just shows that they have an irresponsible corporate culture that is not serving the people it's taking money from.

You really have an opportunity here for a domino effect to happen where they implement new training throughout the organization. And you know the MDC mamas will show up to another nurse-in if it needs to happen!!

BTW---you are my hero! thank you for standing up for human rights!