harassed by staff at National Art Gallery for babywearing - Page 3

[savithny]

Originally Posted by imagine21

I had a similar experience but going through airport security.
Security guard: "You can't wear that backpack though security."
Me: "It's not a backpack, it's a baby."
Security guard: "it's a backpack."
Me: "It's not a backpack, it's a baby."
Security guard: "It's a backpack."
Me: (By myself with a stroller, a briefcase (including laptop computer) a diaper bag and baby and I sans shoes) "I am NOT removing this baby from the carrier." My voice slightly raised, gaining the attention of the 15 or so people around me.
Elderly couple behind me in the security line: "It's not a back pack, it's a baby."
Security supervisor: "It's a baby, let her through."
Good thing it didn't go any further.

Travelling internationally with a 2.5 yo in 2002, we had to take the Kelty off and have DS wanded separately (but still in the backpack). Nice guard in Dublin helped us put it back on.

Only problem we had there was that we gate-checked the backpack like a stroller -- and it got put into the deeper cargo area like luggage, so we couldn't have it between flights when we had to go through customs in Newark. Fortunately I had the sling as well.

[Autumn Breeze]

Unbelievable, and now there is a policy against back baby wearing. Ridiculous.

I can still wear my (almost) 3 yr old on my back in the mei tie, if I put her on my front my back is killing me in 20 minutes. It takes longer than that to get through the museum.

I am so very angry for you. That isn't right at all. As a pp said "It's not a babypack, it's a baby"

[slsurface]

OMG!!! I had the same thing happen to me at a recent visit to the Indianapolis Art Museum!

Here is an excerpt from my blog on what happened:

"Over lunch we decided to go to the Indianapolis Art Museum next. DS snoozed in the car while went there. He was still sleeping when we arrived, so I carefully strapped him in the Ergo on my back and we headed in the museum. It was actually perfect timing for his nap, because I don't think he would have been very interested in the artwork and we were able to enjoy it in peace. That is until the museum guards started pestering me to take him off my back. : Apparently, they have a policy that babies cannot be worn on the back. But no one said anything to me when I checked in at the front desk and got a map. The first guard I spoke to was nice enough and told me that I could keep DS on my back as long as he was asleep. Ok...that's fair enough. But then every guard we encountered along the way had to comment about it. Finally, as I was just entering the room of pre-Columbian art (the stuff I really wanted to see), a guard told me I had to move DS even though he was asleep. That was the last straw for me. I told him that I was not disturbing my child from his sleep and that I was going to leave. The whole thing was pretty upsetting."

So crazy! I couldn't believe how they treated me, especially since DS was asleep. The guard claimed that no backpacks were allowed and that I would run into the artwork or DS would grab at it. WTF?!? Like I'm always running into the wall just because I have a child strapped to my back. Plus HE.WAS.ASLEEP! So he wasn't going to grab at anything.

[phathui5]

Both of the art museums in our area don't allow backpacks, with or without babies in them. They don't have any problems with babies worn in the front.

[PhotoJournMama]

Hi,

I just wanted to say that I was at the National Art Gallery in Ottawa (which the OP was talking about) and I did see signs that you couldn't wear a baby on your back. They are right near the entrance. I guess I just assumed that it was because the baby could reach out for some of the art - it is harder to see that kind of thing when they are on your back. It actually made sense to me... I wore my DS facing forward and had no problems.

[PiePie]

several museums in nyc have this policy -- the museum of modern art and the american museum of natural history come to mind. there was a big $ lawsuit agains the american museum of natural history when a kid fell from parent's shoulders into an exhibit. i think that situation is distinguishable, but whatever...

[Viola]

Originally Posted by durafemina

Finally, my friend put her ds in the stroller and the security guard said "that's much better, I like him in there" and left us alone.

It clearly sounds like a sling or backpack carrier was beyond his comfort level, and he was using that as a safety concern. I would write a letter talking about the benefits of babywearing, and telling them their policy should be more clear if the issue is related to a backpack or backcarry position.

[thisiswhatwedo]

I had this happen with my oldest in a backpack years ago. I was really mad that they were trying to dictate how I carry my child but they where kind and patient (honestly I can be a battle axe and I remember them being very cool but insistent) in explaining that if I turn around and clobber a million dollar vase with my kid in the backpack and it breaks they can't really expect that I can pay for it and a piece of public art is lost.
Look I get the dictating how you parent part but see the other part of it, you can't always know what your baby is grabbing at and you are more likely to bump some expensive piece of art when they are on your back compared to in a yukky ( I never use them) stroller.
I really don't think the policy is based on not being pro babywearing, at the gallery I was at they had no problem with front wearing babies, they just don't want broken, irreplaceable works of art.

[lula]

I have no problem with a ban on backpacks or babywearing on one's BACK in a museum that seems logical and honestly I would enforce that policy. I think how you were treated was very strangely, it would seem simpler to say "hey lady you can't have a baby on your back, you can move him to the front or a stroller." Big deal. Personally having tons of strollers in museums bothers me also but I deal. (unless of course there is a medical or accessibility reason)

Oh, and yes I do take my children to art museums in cities all over the world so it's not like I am anti-children in museums etc.

[N8'sMom]

Originally Posted by DklovesMkandJK

I can appreciate the staff wanting to protect the art, but at that rate will they ban children and fat people too? what about people in wheelchairs? They could just roll into something important.
If the liability is that big of a deal they should not invite the public.

When you go into a museum you are reponsible for respecting and not touching the art and displays. The way you carry your baby has no bearing on that responsibilty. I would be really PO'ed if any staff tried to tell me how I may or may not carry my baby. (who has no intrest in the art anyway )

laughup

[ACsMom]

The thing that irks me about these kinds of situations is the UNCLEAR communication. Like others have said, if the guard would have politely explained the rule, you probably would not have felt harassed. I've flown with my daughter (now 2.5 y/o) about five times since she was born, and nearly always have carried her in a sling through the airports, through security, even on the plane when I needed to nurse her or just to keep her close. Each time , I was told something different about the sling. In one airport, I can wear her through security. In the next airport, or even the same airport at a different time, they want me to take her out. On some planes I was forbidden to have her in the sling during take-off and landing, and on other planes nobody cared. I would say that I was treated politely about half the time; I certainly have dealt with my share of rude airline employees who act like my sole reason for putting my baby in the sling is to defy the rules. Rules which, by the way, I am supposed to be aware of, even though I am told something different each time I fly. It's never been bad enough that I've thought about writing a letter, but it really does sour the experience!

So, OP, did you end up writing a letter? What happened in the end? I know this has been several months ago now.....

[durafemina]

OP here -
I never did anything bc this incident coincided with an overseas move and writing a complaint letter wasn't a priority.

I'm interested in the poster who mentioned there is a sign at the gallery forbidding wearing babies on backs. . . I've been to that gallery several times and don't recall seeing it. Is it new?

And yes, I agree if the security guard had politely and clearly explained that babies could be worn on the front or in a stroller it would have been much more acceptable to us. Their manner was just bizarre - but I am not surprised as I was also at that gallery 8 months pregnant and the security guard repeatedly came up to me and tried to get me to use a wheelchair! (and no, I had NO mobility problems aside from a late preg waddle!).