Children at Work?

LauraT25

Ok, I know we just had a post about kids at showers, but what about kids at work?  A girl who works two floors below me has hired a girl to bring her baby into work, so that she can breastfeed throughout the day.  I'm going to hold my opinions on this, except to say that I feel bad for the babysitter, who just sits in an empty conference room all day, except at lunch, when people come in and most likely make her feel really awkward.  This didn't bother me personally, and she asked the people on her floor if it was ok.  Fine.  But lately, the babysitter has been bringing the baby up to OUR floor when she (the baby) is crying, so she doesn't disturb the mom's coworkers I guess.  This really annoys me because if anyone should be inconvenienced, it should be the mom and the people who agreed to having the baby there.  Also, their conference room is a separate room with a door, but on our floor we have a dining area that is an open space, and we keep our lab door open because it locks automatically behind us - so we can hear the wailing baby loud and clear.I understand that babies cry, but it's really disruptive, and I'm annoyed that we were never asked about this.  Also, I'm not entirely sure that the mom even knows that the babysitter is brining her up here.  Would it be wrong of me to say something to the mother?  I don't know what I would say, exactly, and I don't know her all that well, but it's driving me and my co-workers insane!Also, I may be posting and running, work is kinda crazy, but I promise to check back!

danieliza1127

Yeah I would definitely be complaining about that one.  Like you said, the babysitter shouldn't be disturbing you guys in order to avoid disturbing the mom.  I would maybe ask your supervisor to ask the babysitter to stop coming up to your floor, or something along those lines.

Beadlz

If she's still breast feeding then why doesn't she just pump and freeze the breast milk?  That seems like a simpler idea, and then the infant can be at home in a comfortable place practicing things like tummy time and such.

georgia_bride09

I would bring this whole situation up with your boss and let them handle it. The babysitter should never have brought the baby to work for breastfeeding in the first place, let alone carting her up to your floor. Has this mother never heard of a breast pump? I think the whole situation is extremely inappropriate and management should put a stop to it ASAP.

ffmaid

I would say something to HR not her directly  

Golfer'sLady

I agree that I would gather a group of coworkers who will speak up with you and set a private meeting the the appropriate supervisor. So, so inappropriate!

adgenya

I think that her bringing the baby to your floor is definitely inappropriate and unfair. I'd let your supervisor know about the inconvenience and have management handle the rest.

Mrs.B6302007

Aren't there regulations against that due to insurance?

lpstl

That whole situation is a little ridiculous. I'd talk to HR or my manager about the disruptions.

zippityb

I don't know if I'd want my baby in an office all the time. That is one germy place.

LauraT25

I totally agree about the breast pump.  I think it would be better for the baby, and the babysitter, not to sit in a conference room all day.  The mom says that she wants to be able to spend time with her throughout the day, but coworkers on that floor tell me she literally just breastfeeds and runs.And I'm sure there's some sort of liability issue about having a baby here.  I'll see if I can rally my co-workers into politely bringing up the issue with someone higher up in the department.  We could go to HR, but I'm sure that would create a lot of bad blood since HR definitely doesn't know about this, and doesn't have much to do with the labs on a regular basis.But yeah...it's just odd.  Everyone told me she did the same thing when she had her first baby two years ago, and everyone hated it but no one complained.

Lacynak

I am a mother and have had to take my baby to work and the very reasons I have left are because the baby was disrupting and our office is tiny. I would mention to the Mom that the sitter is bringing the baby up when the baby is upset and it is disturbing your work. If you feel its necessary to go through a supervisor or HR then go right ahead but I think if you are nice about it, it won't be a big deal. Not everyone can just pump and freeze. I couldn't pump, it was really lame!

torontobride17

Totally agree with Dani. Your supervisor should handle it. Or are you the supervisor? Then I guess it's on you to talk to her.It's definitely inappropriate. Especially that you're being disturbed so the mother isn't!

tlv204

I"m surprised the company even allows the baby there in the first place. Very inappropriate, IMO, but I guess it depends on the place. I would definitely say something to a supervisor or HR.

tlv204

Wait it's a LAB? what kind of lab? I don't care if it's bad blood, she's done this twice and no one has said anything? 

LauraT25

Lacy - it shows how little I know about babies that I didn't know everyone could pump!  That does make the situation tougher for the mom, but I just don't see how she can think that having the baby in a conference room every day for several months is a good solution.  It sucks that she couldn't get more than 6 weeks off for maternity leave, but it's becoming everyone's problem!And I am flattered that someone thought I might be a supervisor...LMAO.  I'm a first year grad student, I'm lowest on the totem pole

LauraT25

tlv - She doesn't bring her baby into the lab, but yes there are some nasty things in our labs and I'm sure we bring them into the conference rooms on our clothes, shoes, and bags.  They're research labs, there's all kinds of stuff - drugs, human and animal samples, dangerous chemicals....

ffmaid

In a bio lab. No way Talk to your PInd then the head of the department. The lab saftey officer shoudl be agaist this.

nfguthrie

Like Mrs. B said I am SURE there are huge insurance issues, esp. if you work in a lab.  If I were the HR person, I would be going beserk.  Anonymous notes are a little cheesy, but if you're low on the totem pole, this might be a situation to drop a little tip to HR.

ffmaid

Also if any labs on your floor follow cGLP I think that this might be agaist the cGLP standards.

sarabellam

This is absolutely inappropriate! You should mention something to her or to HR. If it causes bad blood, so sorry for her, but this is a bad parenting decision (IMO) to bring her baby into the workplace. As a mother, I know firsthand that pumping and freezing won't work in every situation. My older daughter refused to drink breastmilk that had been frozen. We got through it, though it made for some difficult schedules. That is part of parenthood.

amalama

I have heard of companies that are trying to be more family friendly letting women have their sitters stop by on their breaks to breastfeed. Or companies that have in house daycare where mom's can go over and nurse on the breaks. I am very supportive of that idea, but the baby staying there all day seems downright ridiculous. For the mom and the baby.Personally, I think that she might overreact if you say anything to her. Maybe mention the baby coming to your floor, but if you want it to stop in general I would go through HR or your supervisor.

LauraT25

I have to say, I'm glad you guys think this is inappropriate too.  I was feeling kinda b!tchy for complaining about a crying baby - I swear, I like babies, and when I'm near one crying I usually just feel bad for the parents and try to be understanding about it.  The mom is really nice, I would hat for people to think I'm a grouchy troll who hates babies.  And initially I tried to leave my opinion of whether the baby should be here AT ALL out of it, since a lot of my co-workers seem to think it's just fine, but when the babysitter started bringing a crying baby to my floor on a regular basis I had to say something.  I think I will bring it up in private with the coordinator of my program.

kat112

I thought you meant the sitter was bringer her by at lunch time or for breaks when I first read your post. Then I realized it's all day.A baby spending the entire day in the workplace is completely rediculous, I don't care if the mother can't pump.  GL with this. Hope your meeting with your boss goes well. But definitely don't feel bad about bringing it up!

[Deleted User]

The mom says that she wants to be able to spend time with her throughout the daygood freakin lord.  what a lofty sense of entitlement so many parents have nowadays.bringing the baby is not appropriate.  business offices are no place for children.  i agree with those who said your boss or hr should be responsible for nipping this in the bud.

LauraT25

good freakin lord. what a lofty sense of entitlement so many parents have nowadays.Seriously, I laughed out loud when I read this.  The guy at the next desk gave me a funny look.I am definitely talking to someone about this tomorrow...hopefully it goes well.  Obviously I will tell you guys all about it if the sh!t hits the fan though...

[Deleted User]

can't wait!