A mother’s experience with breastfeeding in public has sparked another discussion about the rights of nursing moms. Unfortunately, stories of mothers being shamed for feeding their babies in public are far too common. In a recent incident, a mother was asked to leave the bathroom at Nordstrom simply for breastfeeding her child in that space.
Consider the Absurdity
In Utah, a mother named Lily Thompson was shopping at Nordstrom with her baby daughter, Ella. When Ella became hungry, Lily chose to feed her in the bathroom, where she believed she would have some privacy. To clarify, she had every right to nurse Ella anywhere in the store, even without a cover, but opted for the restroom for her comfort. “Ella was crying, so I went to the restroom and found an empty chair,” Lily shared with a local news outlet.
Usually, stories about mothers being asked to move to a restroom involve them being told to go there in the first place, so one would think Lily would be fine. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Just a few minutes into feeding, a Nordstrom employee approached Lily to inform her that a complaint had been made. “We were told by a Nordstrom employee that someone had complained about feeling uncomfortable while there was a nursing mother in the restroom,” she recounted.
The Employee’s Suggestion
The employee’s suggestion? Lily was asked to move to a changing room to nurse instead.
Let’s pause to reflect on this ridiculousness. Here you have a hungry infant, a mother with her breast exposed, and likely a diaper bag in tow, not to mention a stroller. And based on one complaint from an overly sensitive customer, you want her to stop feeding, gather her belongings, and relocate to a changing room? That’s not only unreasonable; it’s downright foolish.
“It was a bit embarrassing initially,” Lily admitted. “I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong by nursing.” Her husband, Tom Thompson, was equally baffled. “Why would it make sense to ask a nursing mother to leave the privacy of a bathroom?” he questioned. Disturbed by the incident, the couple decided to contact the store manager. The manager apologized and assured them that Nordstrom staff would be educated about public breastfeeding laws.
Raising Awareness
While Lily and Tom appreciated the commitment to better inform employees, they also wanted to raise awareness about breastfeeding laws, especially to the customer who lodged the complaint. “We as a society are okay with low-cut shirts and advertising for underwear models. But a nursing mother seems to offend many,” Lily remarked.
Nordstrom, your customer service is top-notch when it comes to returns. Let’s ensure your employee training is just as exceptional, shall we?
Additional Resources
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Conclusion
In summary, the incident involving Lily Thompson serves as a reminder that societal attitudes toward breastfeeding in public can be unjust. It highlights the need for better education and awareness regarding breastfeeding rights.