Dear Rebecca,
     Babies R Us, originally Baby Superstore, was founded here in
Simpsonville, a suburb of Greenville, SC.  Since taking over, it has become a
*mega* store, run by the main office in NJ.  Personally, our LLL group has a
very good rapport with our local store in that they pay the printing of our
brochures.  When we tried to get help on the corporate level, we got nowhere.
 We've noticed a big change since Toys R Us took over.  Just last month,
while doing a Baby Fair at our local store, I noticed that the breastfeeding
room has been remodeled.  It now has a sofa, soft lights, and entertainment
center with a RV.  However, there are signs all over the store (made in NJ)
showing a mother bottlefeeding a baby and directing mothers to the *feeding*
room.  Apparently, they don't want to offend the bottlefeeding mothers!
     The New Mother Registry also contains a great big column with a large
bottle on it, the first thing you see when walking in the door.  Apparently,
the entire layout of the store is dictated by the corporate office.  Upon
registering, every mother is given a cosmetic bag which contains a coupon for
the larger bag and she is to give this to the nurse in the hospital to get
the larger bag.  It is a shame that nurses are paid by the hour to hand out
rabbit bags with samples of ABM in them.
     I have often wondered if the ABM company is paying for the distribution
of the bags and coupons.  If so, I wonder if it would be fruitless to write
to them with complaints.  Would not a more positive campaign suggesting ways
that they can improve breastfeeding promotion/sales and perhaps their image
be more productive?

     Alice Ernest IBCLC
     Simpsonville, SC
     A beautiful sunny day today.

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