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Denny's Sends Breastfeeding Mom to Bathroom: What Do You Think?
February 12, 2009 at 7:27 AM by Cafe Suzanne - Comments (142)
Should babies have to eat in the bathroom?
A breastfeeding battle is being waged in Asheville, North Carolina, where Crystal Everitt was breastfeeding in a Denny's restaurant. The manager asked Everitt to cover herself or go to a private place to breastfeed her son.
Everitt was seated while she was breastfeeding, and some patrons sitting near her quickly left the restaurant. One woman who was there for brunch with her husband and son explained, "She was so exposed, my husband and son and I had to turn away. And then we left. On the way out I turned and said to the lady, 'They do have restrooms," and she said to me, 'Yes, you do your business in restrooms.' The woman told reporters she had nothing against breastfeeding, "I think God gave a woman her body to do that, but you should be discreet about it."
Denny's wanted to serve the woman, but also wanted to serve the other patrons. After Everitt refused to cover up or go to the bathroom, the manager called the Asheville Police to see what the law was. The police said that indecency laws did not apply to breastfeeding, but they could charge the woman with trespassing. Denny's declined to do so.
Forty states have laws specifically allowing women to breastfeed in public. In North Carolina, the law says, "A woman may breastfeed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding."
Everitt says her legal rights were violated and she is planning a demonstration against Denny's. She believes society should not sexualize breasts especially when they are used for the practical purpose of caring for the young. "It's incidents like these that keep women from breastfeeding for longer than a couple months because of the peer pressure to stay home," says Everitt.
What do you think about this incident? Do you agree with the mom that she should be able to breastfeed anywhere? Or with the Denny's customer that says breastfeeding women should go to the bathroom?
Total Votes: 390Poll
Question: Should a mother be permitted to breastfeed in a public restaurant?
FILED UNDER: breastfeeding
Comments:
My daughter hated to be covered up while nursing. She would not nurse, she would get sweaty and end up screaming. However, I never had the nerve to breasfeed in public so I would pump before leaving if I knew she would need to eat and take a bottle with me. I think people make a bigger deal out of nursing Mom's than they need to.
I have always went to a restroom to feed my babies & yes we had to sit on the floor or toilet :( I do not choose to BF in public.... but any women who chooses to should not have to hide or coverup. I would like to see the other patrons eating there meal on the toilet :(
I would have made a scene, which would have likely made my dh pissed at me for weeks!! But in New York State breastfeeding moms are protected by law. Breastfeeding was specifically excluded from indecent exposure laws in NYS.
YAY NEW YORK!!!
I would have been the mom telling them to call the police so they can explain the law. LOL
Denny's bathrooms are nasty anyway!!
99% of the humans who have ever lived on earth were breastfed. It amazes me that people canh't stand to see it. And actually, we are the most advanced of the mammals, and our inclusion in this class is mostly based on the fact we have mammary glands with which we feed our young. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammal
It's not hard to be discreet. I think she owed that to the customers and staff. If they were actually saying she was exposed enough that they were really uncomfortable, she should have gone somewhere where she'd have more privacy. I am all for BFing, but it can be done without being flashy.
I don't get the title. It was a CUSTOMER, not Denny's itself. The manager found out the law and refused to press trespassing charges (as assinine as THAT would have been). It sounds like the restaurant, even if they didn't LIKE the law, was willing to abide by it. Why is this woman staging a demonstration against the restaurant? Stupid.
I went to the park yesterday with my daughter, and met up with a few other moms (including ones I had never met before). One of them whipped out her breast and started to feed her son. Right in the middle of the park. This is nothing to be humiliated about, she has every right to feed her son, no matter where they happen to be. Denny's should be ashamed.
And the police offered trespassing? What the hell would she be trespassing on? Ugh, morons.
I might add that BECAUSE of this incident, more people in the area are now aware of this law, and that's a positive thing. An opinion expressed by a fellow citizen does nothing to impede on her rights--and if the restaurant didn't kick her out or force her to go to the bathroom (even if it had been requested), her rights weren't violated. I'm sick of the victim mentality in America.
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I hate it when people say to use the restrooms. What are you supposed to do sit on a toilet set? It's not like they have chairs or anything nice/helpfull in there.
On a side note, I want to send the mom a hooter hider. It would make things a lot easier. lol
mssemmy Feb. 12, 2009 at 7:51 AM