BF'ing at work (daycare) ??

[eirual]

I just started back working casually at the daycare I used to work at before I had my son. He was at their other centre while I worked and I got a call half way through the day saying he was running a fever and being clingy, so I was able to go pick him up and bring him to work with me for the rest of the day. I nursed him eventually and today my boss says we have to have a talk with me breastfeeding with the kids around with parents coming to pick them up.

....any thoughts or input?? What exactly are my rights and which law specifically states them?? DS and I likely won't be together again at work, but I'd still like to defend my rights.

[miche28]

You're entitled to breastfeed anywhere you are entitled to be and breastfeeding is grounds for accomodations under the Employment Standards Act and is basis for a human rights claim through the Human Rights Commission.

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/P...N-OTHER-3.html

That said, you are entitled to reasonable accomodation for breastfeeding, but not necessarily to have your child with you, so document, document, document!

[eclipse]

As a parent, I wouldn't be upset about breastfeeding, but I would be upset that you brought a sick child into a daycare with healthy ones.

[carla72]

I agree with Ecipse

[eirual]

I thought about that too, then I thought about how many people move freely between the two centres- there are care givers and owners that work at them both. It was DS's first week at daycare, so I was convinced he wasn't bringing in any new germs, he was just getting immune to what all the other children had already adapted to.

So, they say that a nursing mother need not be asked to be moved or to be more discreet. At the same time they say that

At work, your employer should provide you with enough time to breastfeed or express milk for your child.

so, does her offering to come in and cover me so I can go somewhere more discreet cut it?? ....it's not easy to get covered, especially if there are no extra staff around. And I'm not sure I'm convinced I should have to anyways. I'm wondering who had the beef with it that actually passed on the info, since my boss wasn't around at the time.

[spedteacher30]

personally (and I am nursing my 21 month old and working full time) i would be frustrated that my DCP was nursing her own child while being paid to watch mine. I would much prefer that the director come and relieve you so you can attend to your child's needs with 100% of your attention, rather than give my child compromised care. Your child is not normally there, and therefore, staff-child ratios were not what they normally would be...

and, yeah, i would be upset to know that a sick child was being integrated into an otherwise healthy room of kids.

[eirual]

Okay, so let's pretend DS wasn't feverish (maybe that was a bad call on my part?). There are other ladies there who care for their own child, we were under ratio which is why him coming over was even an option. Would it be different if one of those moms needed to bottle feed their child?

Maybe a comprimise would be having someone come to cover my duties (at the time we were all sitting at the table eating) but not necessarily me going to the office (as was suggested), just taking a break to nurse while someone else handled the little stuff, or moving to the front foyer or something (the only other open space that isn't a 'classroom' or bathroom.

...it's not like I wasn't doing my job- had anyone needed anything I would have taken a break to attend to their needs too- would it have been any different had I just been sitting keeping an eye on everything? no one would have called me on that- it's the breastfeeding that's making someone uncomfortable.

[eirual]

5. BREASTFEEDING AND DISCRIMINATION
As noted above, pregnancy includes the post-natal period, which includes breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is a natural part of child-rearing, and so is integrally related to the ground of sex,
as well as to family status. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of breastfeeding
for mothers, children, and their communities, in terms of physical and emotional health and
development. Women should not be disadvantaged in services, accommodation or employment
because they have chosen to breastfeed their children.
Breastfeeding includes pumping or expressing milk, as well as nursing directly from the breast.
Sometimes women are discouraged by others from breastfeeding in public places because of
concerns that it is indecent. Breastfeeding is really a health issue, and not one of public decency.
Women should have the choice to feed their baby in the way that they feel is most dignified,
comfortable, and healthy.

from http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/P...eastfeedEN/pdf

[Beckamomof4]

Hmmm I have yet to work in a day care center that discouraged bfing!:

[waylonsmama]

I work at a montessori preschool as the toddler teacher. DS is in my class. It is great. I don't get to nurse him on demand...as we do at home...but I do get to nurse him down at nap time. I have another teacher in the room with me...and I make sure that she is okay before I nurse ds.

[LittlePeanut]

Tough call. I would say that from a teaching POV that someone should be there to relieve you BUT you should NOT have to leave should you choose not to. Staying or leaving is your perogative. So the children AND their parent(s) would still "see" you BF but the care of their child would not be comprimised or even be an issue IMO.

LP

[paquerette]

Originally Posted by spedteacher30

personally (and I am nursing my 21 month old and working full time) i would be frustrated that my DCP was nursing her own child while being paid to watch mine.

What if it did not put her over her appropriate ratio of children to attend to? Would it have been an issue if she had been assigned someone else's child to bottlefeed while caring for her usual charges?

[LittlePeanut]

Originally Posted by paquerette

What if it did not put her over her appropriate ratio of children to attend to? Would it have been an issue if she had been assigned someone else's child to bottlefeed while caring for her usual charges?

You know, that's a great point! What if her child was actually part of that classroom? Does she help feed the other children (whether by bottle, spoon or fingers) while tending to and watching the others? Is their care comprimised then? If it's not an issue in these situations then it shouldn't be in the BF situation either.

Besides, Ontario is one of the few provinces that actually has BF specifically mentioned in the HRC.

LP