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Strollerderby
IKEA Boots Breastfeeder to the Bathrooms
Hey, that’s not very Swedish of you, Brooklyn IKEA!
Security guards and an employee told a nursing mom she had to do”that” in the bathroom and sent her packing — but not before checking her receipts. Here’s what the un-named mom wrote in a Yahoo! forum:
On Wednesday I was in Ikea Redhook in the middle of breastfeeding, fully covered, when I was told I had to stop doing “that” and go to the nearby family bathroom. The Ikea employee and security guards were extremely rude to us. I was hustled off to the bathroom and then had to wait because someone else was using it. I was humiliated, my daughter was upset from being interrupted in the middle of her feed. When eventually I gave up and headed for the car to finish feeding, the security guards who had seen the entire event insisted on checking my receipts. I’m putting together a formal complaint to IKEA. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else?
Of course, we all agree that the IKEA family bathrooms are even nicer than what we have in our own homes. But that’s not the point. The point is: Sweden. What’s the one thing Americans know about Sweden besides IKEA? Only that it’s — the role-model country for all things fabulous and lactating about parenting.
So until Sweden shortens its maternity leaves and encourages moms to not breastfeed — and once the country stops exporting all models of the Baby Bjorn — only then can IKEA employees act like ignorant asses.
For now, the workers in Redhook are going to have to tolerate women nursing wherever they want in the store, including my personal favorite nursing spot, the floor model of this chair (it rocks AND swivels).
[via Consumerist]
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18 Comments
[...] IKEA Boots Breastfeeder to the Bathrooms [...]
2 Dozen Women Gather to Nurse Another Mom's Baby | Strollerderby commented on Jul 27 09 at 2:40 pm[...] is how these tips would also be useful for a nursing mom in, say, Oklahoma or Wisconsin or, heck, Redhook. Actually, Katsman’s attitude would be grounds for a reprimand in some of those places. I [...]
How to Breastfeed Publicly in the Middle East (or Midwest) | Strollerderby commented on Jul 26 10 at 6:27 pmDad commented on Jul 26 09 at 9:35 amwow. I guess I only know one thing about Sweden, then….
zaksmom commented on Jul 26 09 at 12:25 pmI doubt that the IKEA employees know jack about Sweden’s nursing-friendly policies. What they ought to be aware of is the laws in many states protecting the right of a woman to nurse wherever she and her child are legally permitted to be.
DCMama commented on Jul 26 09 at 1:35 pmI breastfeed in our Ikea all the time. In the floor model chairs, in the cafeteria, etc. No one has ever said anything, I think this is employees acting contrary to store policy — probably at the request of some prudish busybody who complained.
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Jul 26 09 at 7:47 pmI hope there’s a nurse-in. I need another bag of 100 tealights for 5 bucks.
eo commented on Jul 27 09 at 10:06 amComments
I have breast feed at this IKEA and had no problems. I am glad it did not happen to me because I probably would have made a big stink . I do hope there is a nurse-in. I lived in Germany last year and now that I am back in the States I am so amazed by how breast feeding still makes people uneasy. Get over it people, there are some many more important things to get your panties in a bunch over.
ChrissyDS commented on Jul 27 09 at 12:24 pmWow… that really surprises me given that I’ve seen people breastfeeding all over Ikea ~ including laying down on the model beds!
Laure68 commented on Jul 27 09 at 1:19 pmThis has much less to do with Ikea being from Sweden and more about the fact that, in New York, women have the right to breastfeed in public, by law. The employee obviously had no idea of what he is talking about. I too have nursed in Ikea (in California) and have never had a problem.
She should complain to management, and make sure their employees know the law. For goodness sake, Ikea is such a child-friendly place, it is shocking that the employee didn’t know this law.
Navah commented on Jul 27 09 at 1:55 pmAt Ikea last week I breastfed my toddler while she stood on a box of bookcases in the warehouse. I was happy to be left alone. An afternoon at Ikea (or wherever) can be so hard on a kid and she was tired and hungry. So rather than having a screaming kid in the checkout, she nursed (for not even five minutes) and was happy. I am thankful that Ikea has a place designated for nursing, and when she was an infant I would have taken full advantage of it, but I shouldn’t feel that I have to use it. We are all allowed to nurse wherever we want! Hooray for that.
PlumbLucky commented on Jul 30 09 at 10:39 amGoodness, certainly seems like the employees were out of line. I sincerely hope Ikea addresses it – because I’ve found Ikea to be one of the most “family friendly” stores I have EVER been in.
HWright commented on Aug 04 09 at 1:35 pmSorry but I am really sick of this b-feeding crap. Just because it is “natural” does not mean we need to do this in public. Farting is natural…so i should do it wherever i feel i want to?? Nah…you mothers tell your kids to stop picking their boogers in public and please please please dont eat it…but that is a pretty normal occurance. Feed your kids at home or prepare a bottle. The kid wont die. My kid did not die and i never made others feel off put or been asked to cover em up. Always keep in mind that this “beauty of motherhood” garbage is not limited to humans. Dogs have babies too…its nothing special!
DashW commented on Aug 04 09 at 3:10 pmHWright “dogs have babies too…” yep you’re right and they can breastfeed them wherever and whenever they to. We should at least be as priviledged as dogs. What’s so “off putting” about a woman feeding their baby ? It’s okay to show a woman standing in her bra in a dept star or practically naked on a bill board but covered appropriately and feeding a human being is “off putting ” ? Then again, the tone of your post is just so nurturing and maternal… your kids are really lucky…
Wusie commented on Aug 20 09 at 2:36 pmHWright, thanks for comparing breastfeeding to farting and eating boogers… if you happen to have another kid (poor little one) please consult a lactation specialist so she can explain to you how we, humans, feed our children, and what orifices the milk comes out of (you’ll be amazed but it is neither your butt NOR your nose)
Allison commented on Jan 12 10 at 8:34 pmI breastfed at the New Haven Ikea this summer and had no problems. And I was sitting in the middle of aisle – not so ideal. Seems like an isolated incident of stupidity.
mystic_eye commented on Feb 10 10 at 9:48 pmThe security guard broke the law -period. Never mind store policy. Never mind anyone’s personal views. Its the law -if you don’t like it then move or try to have it changed.
I also believe that NY one of the only (or possibly the only) state that affords women and men the same rights to be topless under the law. Though of course that doesn’t pertain to stores where everyone male or female is required to wear shirts and shoes.
NY CLS Civ R § 79-e (Article 7 Miscellaneous Provisions).
1994 N.Y. ALS 98; 1994 N.Y. LAWS 98; 1994 N.Y. S.N. 3999§ 79-E. Right To Breast Feed.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breast feed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother’s breast is covered during or incidental to the breast feeding.
jessica commented on Jun 25 11 at 5:25 pmIll be delivering my second child next week and I will be breastfeeding but I will not be whipping myself out in public! Why the heck do you THINK they have family bathrooms? There is no need to expose yourself to everyone around you. Kids CAN learn “no” or better put in this situation, they CAN learn to WAIT a minute. Try it, instead of bringing them up to be spoiled on demand little brats. Too many parents allow the child to BE the parent, its sickening. I see nothing wrong with what the employee and security guard did and I don’t care what the “law” says, have some damn morals! And if your kid is old enough to stand cases of bookshelves then they are TOO OLD to be breastfeeding, damn! Once they move onto regular foods and wouldn’t even need formula anymore, they DONT need breast milk. Formula and breast milk exist because babies can not process, chew, receive etc.. the nutrition they need to survive! Not because theyre mommy needs their breasts sucked on or because their kid has a sickening attachment addiction the parent cant step up and say no to! Seriously! Disgust me!
Taz commented on Jul 14 11 at 10:49 pmEW if I ever saw someone lounging on an IKEA futon floor model breast feeding I would seriously complain. I am all about discrete breast feeding in public even though it’s something I would never do. Here’s why it might make someone uncomfortable- it involves your bodily fluids. I don’t do anything that involves my bodily fluids on porous surfaces in public places! To me breastfeeding is something that happens only in the first weeks of infancy and it’s an intimate time, not for the aisles of mega stores! Anyway this woman had the option of both a restroom and her car!
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