Last night we went to Walmart, and of course my 4 month old decided she was hungry right in the middle of the shopping trip. As it's in the 30's outside I didn't want to take her back out to the car, then come back in when we were done. I looked in the bathroom to see if there was someplace to nurse. Nope, just toilets. I asked an employee who said there was a family bathroom in the back. She said there was a chair too. I go back there and open the door. UGH!!!!!!!!! The bathroom is large and accommodating but stinks to high heaven of you know what. It looks filthy. To top it off, no chair. There is no way I'm going to sit on that toilet to nurse. Outside the restroom is a nice bench. However, it is a high traffic area and people kept walking by, especially male employees. I didn't know what to do. Finally I noticed in the baby section there were a couple of seats (like you would sit on to try on shoes). I sat there and nursed my daughter. I was covered with my nursing cover and a blanket. But lots of people still looked at me like I was naked. Then to top it all off, my husband comes over and tells me that I am sitting right underneath a video surveillance camera!!!! Why is it so hard to find a private place to nurse? When I visited Germany, there were places everywhere, and people didn't look at you like you were doing a bad thing!!!!!!!!
Newborn & Baby - 8 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Places like Babies R Us and Belks have 'nursing rooms' which are great, but if I am somewhere like Walmart that doesn't I go in the fitting rooms. You would think a company as large as Walmart could have a space designated for nursing.
2 :
It might be a better idea if you try and time your shopping trips around your daughters feeding schedule. You always have the option of feeding her before you leave and again when you get back.
3 :
Who cares? It's not a big deal nursing in public. People in America are very odd about breast feeding. Just keep a blanket or nursing cover with you and walk around like your not doing anything strange. BECAUSE YOUR NOT! :) Congrats on breast feeding. Also do NOT structure your life around feeding time... that's rediculous. Go on as life as usual when your babies hungry, he/she is hungry. Your not a prisoner b/c you've decided to breast feed. Your a wonderfull mother.
4 :
Well, I remember my mother nursing in places like walmart. She just put the changing pad on the bathroom floor and sat on it and nursed there. You need to quit being so picky. I don't know how many times I've seen mother sitting on the bathroom floor and nursing or even standing in the restroom and nursing. If you can't handle being just like every other nursing mother in the world without any special privileges or accommodations, you may need to either stay close to the house or quit nursing!
5 :
Next time if you are uncomfortable, go to the dressing room. You have the legal right to do it anywhere you choose (at least in my state). Way to go Momma for choosing the best nutrition for your little one..let them stare, it's a beautiful thing!
6 :
Walmart sucks behind for nursing friendliness. The few times I've nursed in Walmart, it was on the bench by the lay-away desk. Nobody said a thing to me, I got a few looks but I smiled back at them and they turned their head right away. North Americans are prudes and only think of breasts as sexual, unless they happen to be a nursing or formerly nursing mother.
7 :
my cousin had to do almost the same thing and one lady got mad ans yelled at her in walmart. my cousin said " everyone else eats in public, well so can my son leave me alone. its not your business." lady left her alone. i dont know why some people have an issue with it. its one of the most natural things in the world.
8 :
best thing i can tell you is bathrooms is your only option when in a resteraunt i would go the handicapped so you have more room. also in malls and shopping stores i would go to the dressing or fitting rooms its private usually doesnt smell and you have a place to sit. if your driving down the road pull to a parking lot towards the end of the isles and lots away from other cars and do it in your car you may want to have a blanket handy in case someone walks by or something.
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