Security told me to leave

[jazzpurr88]

Last night we had to go to the mall to get DH new shoes for work. DS (21 months) was getting cranky and kept asking to nurse so I took him over to the food court and bought us some cookies and sat at a somewhat secluded booth and let him nurse a little to settle him down. DH was in the shoe store trying on shoes. Anyway, a security guy comes up to me and says, "there is a nursing room in the bathroom at Macys, other patrons are trying to eat and have complained about the breasfeeding" "I say well my child is trying to eat the the people who are complaining can go to the Macy's bathroom and eat if they are offended." He just huffed and walked away. OMG it was so liberating to tell the guy off. I packed our stuff up shortly after the confrontation and went to find DH and tell him what happened and I saw the same guy confronting (what looked like a teen girl with a newborn) who was nursing at another table. So I find DH and we are walking around the mall and I went into the Motherhood store to look at nursing bras and there is a lady at the check stand complainig that a security guy told her she couldn't nurse her baby at the food court and she could go to the Macy's bathroom. I chimed in that I was told the same thing and the IDIOT clerk at Motherhood just said well people are eating and that we should find more private palces to nurse our babies and that we could use the dressing room if nobody was trying anything on. OMG!!!! I have a call into the Motherhood store manager to see what Motherhood's position is on NIP. I've also called the mall security department to inform them of the security gurd's comments and gave them a piece of mind about NIP.

[BumbleBena]

Good for you for giving the guy what-for! You rock!

I would definitely call Motherhood and the mall, NOBODY should have to deal with that kind of prejudice and ignorance from someone who is there to help and protect people. I wonder if people were really complaining, or if he just had a wild hair or something? :

Do you know if the young mom he was confronting left, or if she stood her ground? I would hate to see a mama with a newborn becoming discouraged about breastfeeding, especially since her baby is brand-new.

[~member~]

Is this at the MOA?
If you give me the phone number I will also call and complain. That is just wrong! Like what mom is going to walk her screaming hungry baby all the way to one of the dirty nursing stations!!!
I have always just sat down wherever and nursed my baby. I have been stared at by a group of young men. They were trying to get a peek at my boobies : I was on a bench outside of Nordstrom's.

Maybe we should plan a bf sit-in there or something?

[quelindo]

well my child is trying to eat the the people who are complaining can go to the Macy's bathroom and eat if they are offended

I LOVE this response.

[gentlebirthmothr]

Jodie,

WOW and I'm glad you stood up to him and making the apporiate calls to see whats their stand and etc. Can't wait for more of this. Thank you.

[William's Mom]

Great job, Mama, for standing up for all nursing moms and babes!!!!

[Moon Faerie]

As a former assistant manager for Motherhood, that most certainly is NOT their policy on bf! Def. call the manager. If she's not helpful, then call the district manager, then the regional manager, then corporate. I could probably find out the contact info for you.

[PortraitPixie]

Thank you for standing up for yourself--and all of us, essentially!

Some people are sooooo clueless. Annoying and clueless.

[eckmannl]

I can never come up with anything good to say back until I'm out of the situation.

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by jazzpurr88

"I say well my child is trying to eat the the people who are complaining can go to the Macy's bathroom and eat if they are offended." He just huffed and walked away. OMG it was so liberating to tell the guy off.

[Faith]

Wow! I would definitely follow up on this. I have heard that if you just call, it can be swept under the rug, but if you put it in writting they are required to follow up on a complaint.

I would write a letter to the mall. I would direct it to different people in charge, so everyone will be aware. I would tell them the date and time you were there, so they know who the guy was. If your state has friendly BF laws, definitely include them! I would follow up with more phone calls as well.

I would do the same to Motherhood, all the way up the chain to headquarters. So sad that a MOTHER's store isn't BF friendly!

And "people are trying to eat"?! What is that even susposed to mean?


Ugh. I am just in a fighting mood lately about stuff like this. I am sick of all of it- our insurance company is giving free bike helmets to ONLY fully vaxed kids, our zoo giving discounts to all students- unless thay are homeschooled...
Yes, I am writting letters. :

[chersolly]

What state did this happen in? Is there BF legislation?

[annettemarie]

If you tell us where this is, we'll all write. There have been similar instances where malls have harassed nursing mamas, and we have all teamed together to kick their butts.

[MamaTT]

Good gawd does it never end? Good for you for standing up to the dude, and definitely send them a letter with a piece of your mind! :

[wendy1221]

I saw someone ask if it was the MOA, so I assume the OP is in MN?? If so, here's a link: http://www.lalecheleague.org/Law/Bills23.html

[dziejen]

First of all I think it was wonderful that there were so many nursing moms at the mall!! I have been sad lately because all I see around me are babies being bottlefed so that would've made me feel very encouraged. And second of all great job standing up to that guard -- I never find the right comeback until it's too late Definitely follow up with the store and the mall -- that is just wrong and if it is just the guard's personal problem maybe he shouldn't be working at that mall.

[DreamsInDigital]

NIP has gotten such a bad rap lately. I can't wait to have another nursling to go advocate with.

[~Megan~]

Sounds like he was on a rampage. I would have gone over to the young mother and told her to keep on doing what is right for her child.

[jazzpurr88]

I've talked to the mall and the mall security and the guy has been written up twice for telling women they can't BF in the food court. They assured me he will no longer be working there and that they have had many complaints about him and it is not the mall position at all.

The motherhood store manager called me back and appologized and told me that the girl was new and she would talk to her and discuss NIP and ways to handel inviting BFing moms to nurse in the store without being rude by saying you can use the dressing room IF nobody is using it. The Motherhood store is very small and all the chairs are in the dressing rooms, if a mom needs to nurse they can either go in the dressing room and sit or they can move a chair out into the store and sit. I guess the other mom that was inthere called also. The Motherhood manager is also following up on the security guy and making sure he is no longer working there. She has had many complaints about him as well as the other stores about people BFing, changing dipapers, kids not being in strollers, telling parents to hold their childs hand or carry them. I guess the guy is a real wacko. I feel better about the whole situation and am confident that the mall is BFing friendly place.

[momo7]

I bet those people are sorry they got tangeled up with the lactivists from MDC!!! I love love love that there is a sounding board and support system for those of us who refuse to buckle under the strain of what others think we should be doing with our nurslings. You guys are the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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