A mum who was asked to move to the bathroom while breastfeeding in a department store couldn’t help but notice the irony of being told she couldn’t nurse in a place where breasts are clearly on display.
“As we were leaving the store I passed by this advertisement for bras,” wrote Wittney Hale on Facebook.
“I mean seriously the lady’s face is not even in this. Why is it acceptable for a giant picture of boobs to be on the wall but I can not feed my child?”
Hale was in Dillard’s department store in Chattanooga, US, when her daughter “got really fussy”.
She found a quiet spot and asked an employee at the customer service desk if her baby could eat there.
The employee gave her a nod. However, when Hale started to breastfeed the Dillard’s staff member changed her tune.
“The same lady then told me I could not ‘do that’ here,” explained Hale.
“She told me I would need to go to the restroom. I was completely shocked as I have never had anyone comment on me breastfeeding in the whole 18 months I have been nursing.
“Yet alone, another woman, possibly a mother herself.”
As well as posting about the incident on the shop’s Facebook page, - in a post she signed: “Sincerely, Pissed off Mummy who will never be shopping at Dillard’s again” - Hale also submitted an official complaint through their website.
Dillard’s shared the following statement about the incident on their Facebook page:
“We respect the right of mothers to nurse their children wherever they feel comfortable in doing so.
“Upon becoming aware of this situation, our store manager immediately reached out to our customer and apologised.
“Our associates have been reminded of our breastfeeding policy.”