Woman says Pueblo YMCA told her to stop breastfeeding son

A Pueblo woman says she was told to stop breastfeeding her nine-month-old son at a local YMCA.

Saturday, J. Smith and her children were in a shallow children’s pool when she decided to breastfeed her youngest. It’s something she’s done dozens of times before in public and at the Y.

“One of the female lifeguards didn’t think I should be their nursing,” said Smith.

The mother of three was told she needed to exit the pool and breastfeed in the changing room. Smith says she’s been bringing her kids to the YMCA for three years and have never been told to stop breastfeeding.

“The manager came and told me the same thing and told me I needed to go to the changing room,” said Smith. “I told him the same thing, Colorado state law says I don’t have to move and I wasn’t going to.”

In the state of Colorado, a woman has a right to breastfeed her child anywhere in public.

KRDO spoke to Janelle Anderson, CEO of the Pueblo YMCA. She says they aim to adhere to all Colorado breastfeeding laws and will re-educate staff. It is unclear if the lifeguard or manager have been reprimanded.

Smith hopes all mothers can learn from this.

“I can’t believe this happened,” said Smith. “This law is over 15-years old and really there is never a point you should tell a woman to stop feeding her baby. No matter where you are or what year it is.”

The Pueblo Y has reached out to Smith and apologized for the incident. Smith says she accepted the apology and plans to continue bringing her children to the YMCA’s library, playground, and pool.

Smith is confident what happened this past weekend is a one-time thing.