Swedish furniture giant IKEA is making peace with a South Florida mother who claims she was shamed for breastfeeding her 5-month-old daughter inside the store in Sunrise.
IKEA offered free breakfast to nursing moms at the store Thursday morning, after Amanda McLaughlin said she was with her daughter in the store earlier this week when an announcement was made about breastfeeding.
McLaughlin said the message stunned her and she felt she was being singled out for breastfeeding in public.
"I was confused, I had never heard a message like that anywhere ever," McLaughlin said.
But IKEA says it was all a misunderstanding and that the message is a pre-recorded general message that's regularly played to make customers aware of our baby changing areas. The company said women are welcome to breastfeed anywhere in their stores.
"At IKEA, we support breastfeeding moms in all store locations, with private areas to nurse their babies, if that is what they prefer," the company said in a statement. "Note that IKEA supports mothers’ rights to breastfeed openly. We are a family friendly company who strives to provide a comfortable environment for all of our customers."
Florida law allows mothers to breastfeed their babies in public and private places, covered or uncovered.
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McLaughlin said she was pleased that company officials took time to meet with her.
"They're open to hearing our suggestions this morning and we're hopeful that we're able to give some and that they would listen and actually maybe put some signs up in the store," McLaughlin said.
