Got Milk? Target Nurse-In Demonstrations Spread Across the Country

First thing is first, I’m a mom but only to a cute little dog named Gabby.

So, when I see a mom openly breastfeeding in public, I do cringe a little truly. While I understand it is part of the job that goes with motherhood, I ask, does it have to be done so openly?

I guess being modest goes out the window. Personally, I’d have a hard time providing the little one with nourishment smack dab in open public. I would undoubtedly head to a private area if I had to make an open offering. Pardon the language.

Apparently, many moms across the country say they don’t feel the way I do. It's more of a, “heck yeah, let me breastfeed in open public and in a store if I so choose,” attitude.

Making news this week are the thousands of women across the US who have been responding to an incident that happened in Texas where Target employees advised a customer to move to the changing rooms to breastfeed her child. As a result, mothers nationwide have organized "nurse-ins" at local Target stores where they gather to openly breastfeed their babies.

The original mom from Texas is Michelle Hickman of Houston, who was instructed to move to the changing rooms when she tried to breastfeed her 5-month-old son Noah at her local Target store, reported sister Patch site,

The next day Hickman called Target's corporate headquarters and was told by guest relations, “just because it’s a woman’s legal right to nurse a baby in public doesn’t mean she should walk around the store flaunting it,” according to a story on Time.com, reported Wheaton-Md.Patch.com.

This sparked a response on Facebook that spread quickly, and soon nurse-in groups popped up across the country.

In California, the CA Civil Code 43.3 states: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, except the private home or residence of another, where the mother and the child are otherwise authorized to be present."

To date there has not been an apology issued on Target's corporate website.

The Wheaton-Md Patch added that, "The Huffington Post.com reports that Target has been accused of threatening breastfeeding moms in the past—once in Minneapolis in 2006 and once in Michigan in 2009."

Following the 2006 incident, Target released this statement:

Target has a long-standing practice that supports breastfeeding in our stores. We apologize for any inconvenience the guest experienced and will take this opportunity to reaffirm this commitment with our team members. For guests in our stores, we support the use of fitting rooms for women who wish to breastfeed their babies, even if others are waiting to use the fitting rooms. In addition, guests who choose to breastfeed discreetly in more public areas of the store are welcome to do so without being made to feel uncomfortable.

In Laguna Niguel, we don’t have a Target; the nearest location is in Aliso Viejo. I’m curious if residents are for or against these nurse-in demonstrations?

Vote in our poll.

P.S.: It's a lot less complicated feeding a dog, I put a bowl of water down and I'm done.