I have to write about this and would welcome anyones comments. This afternoon we went to the mall to pick up some photos and to get some walking in. Anyhow, it came time to feed my baby. So we went to the end of the mall where there is the family restrooms and nursing station (all of which are three separate rooms/doors). Anyhow, I get there and all three were occupied. So I sat down in the chair that was in the corner and proceeded to feed my two month old. Now I am always careful to do these things descreetly.....carefully got him attached all while covered with a blanket....and I had the stroller parked sideways directly in front of me to give that extra coverage. When we are out to eat and my son needs to be fed I always go out to our car to feed and change his diaper. Anyhow, there was a father with his two young toddlers...boy and a girl that obviously was waiting to get into the family restroom. He stood just outside the family restrooms as he had a double stroller, waiting for a restroom to open up. A security officer comes around the corner....and mind you to get to the restrooms you go down a long hallway...the regular restrooms you turn to the left and to get to the family restrooms you turn to the right and it is in the corner. Back to the security officer...he approaches me and asks me to go into the nursing station. I told him it was occupied and left it at that. Inside I was getting quite upset that he would ask me to move. Well the girl comes out of there with her baby and he proceeds to show me that it was open and asks me to get up and go in there. I couldn't believe it!! For some reason this really got under my skin. He stood there as if I was going to take my baby off of me and get up and move to the nursing station. He then goes back towards the main hallway and stands there with his back turned to me. I sit there for a little bit as my son is just about done at this point. He turns back to see if I am moving yet so I move the stroller and then he goes more into the main hallway so I finally get up and go into the nursing station....mind you steaming inside about the situation. I finish up, change his diaper, etc. etc. I come out of the room and find a lady sitting where I was nursing and she has her daughter with her. I ask her if she has ever been asked to not nurse there and she says yes and points to the nursing station but as I talk to her more I realize she doesn't seem to be understanding me and speaks Spanish so I say good bye and move on.
Am I so wrong in being upset about something like this? Or maybe just sensitive because I nurse my baby (I nursed my oldest son too for a year). I have nursed at this same mall in a corner chair and have never had anyone (security) approach me. I could understand if I was all sprawled out and not trying to be discreet about it, as a mother myself, I get a little turned off if another mother tries not to cover herself. But I was in the family restroom area, around a corner in a chair, covered with a blanket and a stroller parked in front of me and yet I was still asked to go behind a closed door. I am really tempted to contact that mall office.
Am I overreacting? How would you feel?
I would be very upset, too! As someone already posted, breastfeeding in public is protected by NC law! If you want to have a little nurse-in, count me in!!
I would contact the mall office and complain. That is unacceptable for him to treat you like that, and you have a right to nurse there. You were not at fault in any way!
OMG!!! I would definitely say something to the mall office.
I would be very upset and would have definitely shared that feeling with the security guard. NC is a protected state. I used to carry a copy of the legal statute stating that breastfeeding women had the right to nurse anywhere they were allowed to be regardless of how much skin is exposed or whatever. I was asked to go to a restroom at WalMart by one of their workers and I shoved my little piece of paper in HER face. I really think you should bring this up to the people in charge of the mall. Who knows, maybe they'll add another nursing station?
I have never had a problem nursing at that mall! How horrible. I would complain to the mgt, for sure. The nursing station should be considered an OPTION for those who are uncomfortable with NIP. It is NOT a requirement. And I would have told the security guard to get mgt then and there. Trust me, they would have HATED the publicity I would have caused over that. I am member of a local mom organization with over 1000 members, and I am the breastfeeding moderator, and they would have been VERY sorry. Sounds like we should schedule a NURSE IN at that mall.
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I can only assume that you are talking about Hanes Mall since you live in Winston-Salem. The security officers there are absolutely ridiculous. You are absolutely right to be mad. Socirty has always made mothers feel like breast feeding is the best thing for your baby BUT only in the privacy of your own home!! I would write a letter to the Mall office and send a copy of it to the Winston-Salem Journal. I was once asked to take off a headband cuz it looked like a bandana and could be gang colors!! WHAT!! Here I am my son and I looking like we just stepped off the display at Old Navy and obviously VERY PREPPY and not gang members! I laughed at the security guard and said "Are you kidding me?? 13 year olds can walk through th mall looking like hookers but I have to remove my headband! This place is a joke!"
Be strong. I ave seen women nursing right next to that play area. If your baby need to be fed, feed him. If they do the same thing then tell them to call the cops. You want to file a complaint of harrassment and discrimination!!!!
Wow, I would be furious and like someone else said I would have thrown a huge stink over being asked to move. I have nursed at Hane's Mall many times and have never had anything said to me and I certainly have never been as discreet as you obviously were. You have the right to nurse your baby wherever you want in that mall and I would definitely bring it up with mall management.
