My family was in Target today. I was walking past this nursery model (a crib, dresser and rocking chair set up for people to try/look at) where a mom was nursing her (completely covered by a blanket) baby. Her husband (or significant other) and toddler-aged daughter were there too.
They looked distressed as a Target employee was talking to them. As I got closer, I heard the Target employee saying, "There are other places to nurse your baby. We have a fitting room with a really nice family room there. It's a nice place to nurse your baby."
The nursing mom started to get up.
I said to the Target employee, "Excuse me. It's every mother's legal right to nurse her baby anywhere. I hope you're not suggesting to this mother that she can't nurse here."
The Target employee got all defensive, telling me that she wasn't saying the mother couldn't nurse there, just that the model wasn't set up for people to sit on or use and it could be dangerous. She also said that the toddler daughter wasn't safe playing around the crib (????), so it would be better for them all to go to the "family room."
"That's not what I heard you say," I told her. "I think I'll go talk to a manager."
So I found a manager and explained what had happened. She said she'd overheard the whole conversation and that the employee was worried about the safety of the family. I asked her if the rocking chair was there for people to try out before purchasing the product. She said yes. I asked her if the chair was safe for people to sit in. She said yes. So, I said, if it's safe enough to sit in, it's safe enough to nurse in, right? She grudgingly agreed, but also said that the employee was worried about the safety of the little girl, who was playing around the crib, which was on a somewhat raised platform.
I explaied that the focus of the employee's words was on the nursing, not on safety. So the manager said she'd talk to the employee and the couple to see if they were offended by the employee.
I left to find my dh, when the nursing mom and her husband came up to me. They thanked me profusely for defending the mom, and they said they were glad to learn the law, which they previously hadn't known.
I was so happy that I'd made a difference to this couple. And my dh was really proud of me.
They looked distressed as a Target employee was talking to them. As I got closer, I heard the Target employee saying, "There are other places to nurse your baby. We have a fitting room with a really nice family room there. It's a nice place to nurse your baby."
The nursing mom started to get up.
I said to the Target employee, "Excuse me. It's every mother's legal right to nurse her baby anywhere. I hope you're not suggesting to this mother that she can't nurse here."
The Target employee got all defensive, telling me that she wasn't saying the mother couldn't nurse there, just that the model wasn't set up for people to sit on or use and it could be dangerous. She also said that the toddler daughter wasn't safe playing around the crib (????), so it would be better for them all to go to the "family room."
"That's not what I heard you say," I told her. "I think I'll go talk to a manager."
So I found a manager and explained what had happened. She said she'd overheard the whole conversation and that the employee was worried about the safety of the family. I asked her if the rocking chair was there for people to try out before purchasing the product. She said yes. I asked her if the chair was safe for people to sit in. She said yes. So, I said, if it's safe enough to sit in, it's safe enough to nurse in, right? She grudgingly agreed, but also said that the employee was worried about the safety of the little girl, who was playing around the crib, which was on a somewhat raised platform.
I explaied that the focus of the employee's words was on the nursing, not on safety. So the manager said she'd talk to the employee and the couple to see if they were offended by the employee.
I left to find my dh, when the nursing mom and her husband came up to me. They thanked me profusely for defending the mom, and they said they were glad to learn the law, which they previously hadn't known.
I was so happy that I'd made a difference to this couple. And my dh was really proud of me.
Thanks for sharing that great story. I so so admire people like you who do those types of things in defense of others...I tend to trip over my words and get all nervous. Great job!
good job momma!!!
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