Boo Hoo on Target!

[essnce629]

I can't believe she was kicked out of a private dressing room! I hope they're not following in Walmart's footsteps!

http://www.foxchicago.com/_ezpost/data/42480.shtml

***Latia
Birth and Postpartum Doula

Conner 8/19/03 (homebirthed water baby)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif Self-weaned at 24 months!

[mommyoftwo]

Well, that's just rediculous. I've breastfed in a changing room many times. Of course, now I just do it in a baby carrier while I'm walking around but still. I can't believe that someone would be that clueless and insensitive.

[kcgirl]

I think that was just the action of that one employee there at that store.

I know here when I was at Target I had a Target employee let me know that I could use the fitting room if I needed to feed my baby -- and I hadn't even asked. (Although I don't know that I'd want to with cameras around!!)

[Rachels]

Um, that's illegal.

-Rachel
Mama to Abigail Rose
5/18/02
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_amethyst_36m.gif
Nursed for three years!

and Ethan James
10/19/05
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/bf.jpg


"When you know better, you do better."
Maya

[Radosti]

Well, that's skeeves me out that there are cameras in there. Ewww... But yeah, I BF in changing rooms all the time. Not at Target though since we have a BRU right across the street and I just plan to stop by BRU after Target to use their Mother's Room. I can change and feed DS in peace there.

[Momof3Labs]

this is NOT target's policy, just the action of a rude and/or poorly trained employee.

[o_mom]

I don't think this is a company-wide problem. I believe that Target policy is that nursing moms are welcome anywhere. This appears to be a single employee who is ignorant of their policy and the law. I hope that Target takes some action against this employee and does a bit of retraining, though.

[cmdunn1972]

Yeah, that one employee was out of line, and I hope the manager was made aware of the employee's actions.

The only thing I can think of is that the employee couldn't tell if the customer was breatfeeding or trying to shoplift. Either way, the employee was way out of line and should have corrected her actions once she realized her mistake!

[kristine_elen]

It sounds like this was a renegade salesperson and that Target doesn't have a policy on that. I used to bf my son at Target all the time and they were always fine with it. Usually let me have the big wheelchair-accessible fitting room, too, for stroller.

[DebbieJ]

Yes, Illinois does have a law protecting bf-ing moms and I don't know about Target's policy, but that employee was just an idiot. Many of Target's employees are teens and young adults who are most likely just clueless.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
2 year check up: 25 lbs with clothes on and 35 inches!
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[mudder17]

Actually, I think I've mostly done this at TRU, but there was one time when I was in the baby/toddler section of Target and Kaya NEEDED a feeding while DH and I were dithering about what we wanted and I just plopped down on the floor and nursed her. No one, including the employees, gave us a second look. So I think it was definitely the employee who was out of line.


Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 27 months...
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
Kaya will be a sister, ~11/14/06!

[nfowife]

I agree that it must have been a rogue employee acting on their own. I've never had a problem nursing in the Target fitting rooms. When DD was younger I would just walk over to the desk and say "I need to feed my baby, can you watch my cart?" and they were always extremely accomodating to us.

[anamika]

These kind of incidents make me appreciate all the more the people who were so kind to me when I was BFing. I remember once DD was fussing and hungry and I was hurrying to the changing rooms in Sears and the employee there held open the door and waved me in saying you can feed her here.

[bubbaray]

The same thing happened at a Sears store here when DD was about 2m old. The Sears employee demanded that the mom use the washroom to feed her baby. It really hit the fan, too, b/c there was a "nurse in" in response. I wasn't able to attend, but it was big news here. Sears stores across Canada then build special nursing rooms.

FWIW, I've nursed DD in a Target change room. Yeah, there are cameras, but there area cameras everywhere in most stores now, KWIM?



Melissa

http://b3.lilypie.com/rppJm7/.png[/img][/url]

[KBecks]

Does Wal-Mart not allow breastfeeding in fitting rooms?

I agree it sounds like an isolated thing, which was probably frustrating for the mom, and I hope she got a good apology from the store.

I breastfed DS in a GAP fitting room once... I feel a little bad because I was in the fitting room for what seemed like a LONG time. I went in to try on pants for my post-partum body, and DS seemed like he needed to eat while we were in there.

As for cameras in fitting rooms, lots and lots and lots of fitting rooms have security cameras. It doesn't bother me in the least, but I guess I've never been that modest, or felt that I would be that interesting to watch while trying on clothing.

I think the only time it would be a problem is if the fitting rooms were really, really busy...and that happens sometimes... then I could see staff asking a nursing mom to find another spot, or offering a chair in a quiet corner of the store or in a break room or something.

[maestramommy]

Oh I saw this too on TBW forum. Unbelievable. Target did quote its policy which is actually very friendly to bfing mothers. Unfortunately, not all of the employees were trained on it. I believe Illinois law, which is VERY bf friendly even gives the mother grounds to sue if she wishes. But I think the media publicity has given it enough of a black eye so hopefully training will improve.

[lisams]

Geeze, add this to their "Formula 4 Success" baby shirt they sell and you've got some angry lactivists!

I'm sure it isn't policy, but it sure is a sign that Target needs to train their staff a little better. I'm hoping they make it clear to their employees that it is fine if a mother needs privacy to nurse in the dressing rooms.

[Wife_and_mommy]

I nursed last week in the patio furn. section. It was much more comfy but I've almost always used dressing rooms esp. w/ 2 dc's. There could be some unfortunate flashing if I had to chase DD. :P I also always p/up an article of clothing to avoid any questioning. I figure it lessens the possibilty of confrontation--legal or not.




http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]