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jury duty + bf'ing a toddler + childcare

3litttlebirds3litttlebirds member
in Breastfeeding
I got a jury duty summons. I have a 20 month old that is still bf'ing 3-4x per day. Sure, he doesn't have to at this point...but I'm wondering if one can be exempt from jury duty if they are breastfeeding. 

On a side but related note, I'm also worried about the childcare situation. If I did end up getting called for jury duty, it's hard to find an all day sitter because I don't have anyone regularly do that as I stay at home with my son. He's only had a sitter (my mom) for 4-5 hours at most. The court provides a daycare, but I am not taking my son to daycare at the court when he is not used to something like that and just leaving him for the whole day. Ugh....stressful...I hope I don't get called.
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Re: jury duty + bf'ing a toddler + childcare

  • GuennieGuennie member
    I would call and ask but unfortunately I don't know if the odds are in your favor. I know someone who's wife was waiting to go into labor and they wouldn't excuse him. I couldn't believe it.

    Are you able to pump for a day's supply or do you have a stash you can use, and would your mom be willing to babysit since your son is already familiar with her? That's the option I'd shoot for if it were me. I'm a SAHM also and I wouldn't want to leave my baby with strangers.

    Good luck, I hope you can get out of it or they don't call your number!
    Me:41, DH:41 Positive for MTHFR mutations- one copy C677T, one copy A1298C. One daughter born on Thanksgiving in 2013. Six losses.
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  • LBStewartLBStewart member
    I got called to jury duty last year when DD1 was 8 months old.  They asked if anyone had something that would interfere with them participating.  A lot of people had excuses.  I told them I was a breastfeeding mama and they excused me almost immediately without asking any questions.
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  • ValancyyValancyy member

    A little late...but I was called for jury duty (SAHM) when I had JUST weaned my 17 month old.  My husband ended up having to take time off work to watch the boys (I ended up getting picked...uh).  I explained that my H would have to take vacation days, no other childcare, etc...but still got picked.

    I was bummed that I wasn't still breastfeeding (but we were TTC at the time, which is why I weaned), since I assumed they would have exempted me.  You can explain that you're still breastfeeding and that you will need time to pump.  Which is true, it doesn't matter that your LO is over a year old, you will get engorged and uncomfortable if you don't express milk.  I'm assuming they will just let you go in this circumstance.

    Some state do an automatic exemption if you're a SAHP, but not all.  I'm in NY, and we have NO exemptions for anything.  At least I got it over with and I won't be called for a minimum of 10 years.  It would have been much easier for me if I had still been working, since my old company paid you full salary during jury duty, and I had daycare anyway. 

    Let us know what happens!  I'm curious. 

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  • sishamariesishamarie member
    I was excused just because i was pregnant..i would think breastfeeding would be another valid excuse.

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  • 3litttlebirds3litttlebirds member
    Well, I filled out the paperwork to be excused, saying I was a primary caregiver and breastfeeding. It was denied.  The return letter said I could explain my situation to the judge that first day and would maybe still be exempt.... 

    Thanks for the responses, ladies.
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  • sschwegesschwege member
    I would check the rules of your state.  I was called, but in IL if you are the primary caretaker for a child under 10 you will be excused.  I just wrote them a letter and it was fine.  As a back-up I got a note from DS's pedi asking that I be excused as a BFing mother, but I didn't need it.
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  • karenhorningkarenhorning member
    edited June 2014
    It will vary state to state, what State are you in?

    Here is FL one of the exemptions is:
    "Any expectant mother and any parent who is not employed full time and who has custody of a child under 6 years of age, upon request, shall be excused from jury service".

    Edit:  Just noticed your reply...sorry to hear that you weren't exempted, hope it works out.
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  • 3litttlebirds3litttlebirds member
    I am in NC. I will check the laws again about being a primary caretaker / breastfeeding.
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