A mum has slammed IKEA after she was asked to stop breastfeeding because another costumer had complained.
Katy Scrigna was feeding her seven-week-old daughter when a security guard asked her to move to the “designated breastfeeding area”.
She said the security guard at the Ashton store had pulled a face at her and referred to her as “you people”.
Katy said it was “an inhumane, rude, shameful, and derogatory way to refer to a breastfeeding mother.”
Furious, she took to Facebook to attack the store, which she says has broken the law by asking her to stop feeding her child.
She wrote: “Sadly, my view of IKEA has been tarnished. While walking, I was feeding my daughter as I do often.
“I was then approached by a security guard and told it was Ikea’s policy to not have any breastfeeding throughout the shop as you have a dedicated area for this.
“Now although I don’t believe that is truly your policy, as I don’t think it could be anybody’s policy, I am disgusted and saddened that you have employed such people.”
Well said!
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She added: “I was still currently feeding my seven-week-old daughter as she was still hungry, nothing else for me to do! I held my hand out to introduce myself.
“Dale [security guard] paused, made a disgusted face and thought about how to proceed.
“He eventually took my hand. I introduced myself as Katy. I then informed him that requesting I breastfeed elsewhere was against the law.
“He informed me Ikea has a designated breastfeeding area.
“I then informed him it was my choice not to use that, and once again he was breaking the law, I wasn’t sure if he was hard of hearing.
“Dale then informed me a costumer had complained. I once again said he was breaking the law and should I phone the police?
“It was obvious Dale isn’t hard of hearing and was just choosing to ignore myself, the law and common human rights.
“He then chose again to try get me to breastfeed in the Ikea’s designated area as he liked to call it.”
He added Ikea caters for “you people”.
Katy continued: “Exact quote. Dale said ‘You people’ to me three times. What a disgusting, inhumane, rude, shameful and derogatory way to refer to a breastfeeding mother.”
The mum-of-two, who lives in Ashton Under-Lyne, said: “As many, many women do, I had a rough start with feeding my first baby. It was tough.
“Feeding while out did not come easy. The first place I ever fed in public was on the couch, next to my husband, in the Ikea Ashton cafe.
“I felt safe there. The last 20 months of my life breasfeeding at Ikea I have had nothing but smiles from employees.
“Sadly today, your very own health and safety manager Dale ruined that. He took that away from all breastfeeding mums.”
Katy finished with: “My family will not be returning, nor purchasing any Ikea products in the near future until the matter at hand has been rectified.
“I look forward to a prompt and satisfying response.”
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IKEA have admitted that it was an error by their staff and insisted mothers are free to breastfeed anywhere in their stores.
A spokesperson for the store said: “Unfortunately, a member of staff gave the wrong information and the manager has now reiterated IKEA’s open breastfeeding policy to all members of staff.
“We have an open approach to breastfeeding in all of our stores, with nursing facilities located in the restaurants and baby care areas.
“In addition to this, mothers are welcome to breastfeed anywhere else in the store that they feel comfortable.”
We are glad that’s all cleared up!