Mom Left Waterpark ‘Crying’ After Staff Prohibited Her From Breastfeeding In The Pool

Jul 26, 2023

During the early stages of a baby's life, most mothers don’t use formula as they have breast milk to provide for their children. It has been proven by experts that the milk produced by moms is the healthiest option for a child.

There has been a debate over breastfeeding in public as some mothers prefer to do it, especially when it’s time for their babies to eat, but some people disagree as they believe that it’s an activity that shouldn’t be done in front of other people.

Regardless of what the mother’s decision would be, there are several groups who support women breastfeeding in public, and they encourage them to not be ashamed as it is a natural thing that humans do.

Unfortunately, a woman named Tiffany Francis was upset after a waterpark employee told her to stop feeding her baby while they were having a fun time in the lazy river.

The mom took to her Facebook profile in July 2023 to share her shocking experience. She began the post by stating that she and her family, which included her 11-month-old son at the time, went to Rigby’s Water World located in Warner Robins, Georgia.

Since her son liked motion to sleep, she decided to nurse him in the lazy river. However, a lifeguard approached her and told her that she couldn’t breastfeed in the pool.

Initially, she thought the person was only kidding, but she realized that the situation was more serious than she thought when he radioed another employee to warn her.

Francis then spoke to the female employee to ask her if there was a specific rule posted within the water park which stated that it was not allowed for mothers to breastfeed their children. 

The staff then directed her to the rules posted, but she found out there wasn’t a rule.

“there was nothing stating anything about children, except for babies needed to wear swim diapers (which he was),” she noted.

The mom later spoke with a manager who told her that one of the rules was “no food or drinks in the water.” 

Francis asked the staff if she could refund her season pass because she can’t go to the water park anymore if her son couldn’t nap, but they refused to give her money back.

“I left crying, because I was told I couldn’t feed my child which by the way it is against the law to tell a mother they can’t breastfeed their child. But sure let’s worry about offending people by feeding a child,” she wrote.

She also revealed that there were other moms who had their kids asleep in their laps and chests while being in the pool, and she believed that her “situation looked just like theirs.”

“I’m just so upset and appalled and wanted to give a heads up to all the other moms out there that this is how breastfeeding moms are treated at Rigby's Water World,” she added.

After she shared the post online, other people came to her support as they also couldn’t believe that the incident happened to her.

“I’ve read the story. I support you 100%,” one wrote.

Despite the positive comments she received, there were also those who shared a completely different take on the situation, as a user commented: "(The lifeguard) is obviously doing what he is told and trained to do. I breastfed both of my children but would have NEVER done so at a recreational park… Come on lady, surely you are better than this!!"

What do you think of the woman’s experience at a waterpark with her baby? Do you think it was okay for the lifeguard to tell her not to breastfeed her child in the lazy river? Let us know your thoughts, and make sure to pass this on to your friends and family.