Breastfeeding a baby is a job in itself. Babies don’t like to wait to be fed, when they’re hungry, they’re hungry, and everyone knows a hungry baby is no walk in the park. Breastfeeding parents have to meet the needs of their babies with their own bodies and if those babies are exclusively breastfed, meaning no bottles, where mom goes, so goes the baby. Two breastfeeding volleyball coaches were recently forced to choose between feeding their children and coaching their teams because of a short-sighted COVID rule that would not allow children into the facility.
Dixie Loveless travelled from Utah to Colorado to coach her U-14 volleyball team in a tournament. She brought her 4-month-old baby along with her because she’s a breastfeeding mom, and where mom goes, baby goes. When she arrived at registration, she was unceremoniously refused entry, even though she was the team’s coach.
Dixie Loveless said organizers told her because of COVID-19 the tournament was not allowing any spectators under 16 years old inside, even her nursing baby.
Breastfeeding moms barred from coaching volleyball tournament because of their babies TODAY 1 hr ago Alyssa Newcomb
Dixie Loveless made the eight hour road trip from Utah to Colorado to coach her U-14 volleyball team in a tournament, only to be turned away at the door with her 4-month-old baby, whom she breastfeeds.
When Loveless tried to check in at the Colorado Convention Center for the Crossroads Tournament on Saturday, she was reportedly told she couldn t bring her daughter McKinley inside the venue. They said I was not allowed in and I couldn’t pass that point with my baby and said if I tried to they would call the police to come and escort me out, Loveless told NBC News Denver affiliate 9News.