Here’s one for all you breastfeeding moms out there (and you moms who have successfully weaned your children from the breast):
Nearly a week after a Brooklyn mother alleged that she was harassed by employees at a New York City Toys R Us, when she breast fed her infant son, proponents of breast milk are planning a “nurse-in” outside the flagship Times Square store.
According to the Daily News, Chelsi Meyerson, contends she was ordered to go to the store’s basement after a female employee caught her breastfeeding her 7-month-old son during a family trip to the store last Monday.
“I was harassed, hassled and embarrassed. It was very humiliating,” Meyerson told the newspaper. “It was a big deal for me. They treated me like a criminal.”
Meyerson told news reporters that she was just about to leave the store when the incident occurred. She said her son was “getting cranky” so she sat down in an “out of the way” place and started feeding him (which, by the way, is permitted by New York state law). A few moments later Meyerson said she was approached by a female store employee who said, “You have to go down to the basement to do that.” Meyerson went on to say that when she didn’t move additional female employees appeared to tell her she had to move because there were “children around,” and then the store’s security was called in. According to the paper, the incident so enraged Meyerson that she called the New York Civil Liberties Union, which has asked the toy retailer for an apology and “appropriate compensation.”
For their part, Toys ‘R’ Us claims they “simply asked Meyerson if she would be more comfortable in a private area” (they have one specifically for breastfeeding moms). The store manager told the Daily News, “We take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to nursing moms.” The store manager went on to reiterate that Meyerson “was never asked to leave or threatened, and was allowed to continue feeding without interference.”
Now, if this incident happened to me, I would likely rant about it to friends and family members, but in Meyerson’s case, those toy store employees didn’t realize who they were messing with. Turns out that Meyerson’s mother is apparently a “high-ranking official” in La Leche League, a well-known breast-feeding support group.
As for the planned “nurse-in,” it certainly wouldn’t be the first time New York City has been the target of one. About a year ago, members of the La Leche League participated in a “nurse-in” outside ABC’s studio where “The View” airs live each weekday. That time the breast-feeding advocates were protesting a comment made by the show’s creator Barbara Walters. The legendary journalist caused outrage in the breastfeeding community when she announced that she was “very disturbed” by a mother who was breastfeeding her baby during a flight Walters happened to be on.
Personally, I was outraged by Walters’ comment. I breast fed my baby well after her first birthday and did so in public on a number of occasions. But, I was very discreet about it, as I believe most mothers are. I think it’s safe to say that no breastfeeding mother wants to draw attention to herself; she simply wants to calm her fussy baby.
If you live in New York and have time to attend the “nurse-in” please keep feel free to share your experience with all of us.
And, to learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding check out our resident “breastfeeding guru” Valorie’s blogs.