Input needed- pumping in public...

ichamommy

So I'm out and about for the day, I brought my pump with me just in case I don't get back home in a reasonable time period. I don't have a car adapter (yet) and I just asked a sales clerk at the Crayola store if I could pump in their dressing room (1 of 2, currently both unoccupied). She told me no, they would rather me use the family room (bathroom) downstairs. I said there's no chair in there. She looked confused and directed me to a different bathroom further away, again stating that she rather I not use the dressing room.

Thoughts?

I'm not the type to raise a stink but I definitely feel like what I just encounter was illegal.

Soon2BMrsN

I'm not sure if the rules about nursing in public apply to pumping, but I definitely wouldn't pump in a restroom - yuck. I would have probably used the dressing room without asking but that's just me. I've nursed in many a dressing room when shopping.

ghostof5letters

I've pumped in many a bathroom. The car adaptor and battery pack will make life way easier.

I don't believe the breastfeeding laws apply.

Maybe try to find a family restroom that has a sitting area?

livkight

no advice here or anything to add-- just wanted to say I feel for you. sounds like kind of an awkward situation and I'm sure it was no fun trying to negotiate that.  

hgtvmom

I can't imagine that it would be illegal for a store to not allow pumping in their dressing room. You are potentially impacting their business.

Even if they are empty at that moment, there's no way to know that the business will not need that space in the 30 minutes you are using it. If they had 10 dressing rooms, I might feel differently.

I am contemplating getting a manual pump for these types of situations - pump quickly and enough to not leak or take the edge off.

Fletch82

Not sure if there are rules but I would probably look for a restroom with seating area or pump in dressing room without asking.

With only two dressing stalls maybe just do a quick pump to relieve pressure.

jnnfrrose6

I agree that there probably isn't anything you can do about her not allowing you to use the changing room, but wouldn't want to use a bathroom either.  I'd look for a larger store with more changing rooms and not ask there, a babies r us type of store (they have rooms for moms to nurse in and I don't see why you couldn't pump in there), or a nice department store (Von Maur, Nordstrom, etc, usually has a nice lounge area as part of their restrooms but you wouldn't actually be in the bathroom).

SaranJonathan

I wouldn't have even asked. Invest in the car adapter totally worth it

darkangel42

I've got a manual pump for out and about and just sit on a bench somewhere or in the car with the nursing cover on since the breastfeeding rules don't normally apply to pumping. There's no way I'd pump in a bathroom unless it was like a pp said with the lounge area separately.

Maybe just use the dressing room next time without asking but be prepared to move if it gets really busy?