Every now and then something happens in our community that reminds us exactly why this work matters — and how good people respond when it does.
This week, a Durham mother sat down to feed her baby at a local ice cream shop and was asked to cover up. For a nursing parent, that moment stings. Feeding your child should never require permission, a cover, or an apology.
Word reached us quickly — and not from one person, but from many. Neighbors, parents, and advocates across Durham reached out, concerned and caring. That response is its own kind of beautiful: it means our community has decided, together, that breastfeeding is normal, and that nursing families deserve to feel welcome everywhere they go.
Here is what we believe, and what the law affirms: in North Carolina, a parent has the right to breastfeed anywhere she is otherwise allowed to be. No cover. No moving. No exceptions.
But the most important part of this story isn’t the hard moment. It’s what happened next.
The owner stepped up
The owner of Simons Says Dip This, Audrey Simons, was away when it happened. When she learned of it, she didn’t get defensive. She responded with grace:
“To all the mothers of Durham, I want to sincerely apologize for the unfortunate incident that occurred in our shop last night. I am the owner, and in my absence, our manager incorrectly asked a nursing mother to cover up. I have no issues with nursing in public, and mothers are absolutely welcome to nurse in our shop. If baby is hungry, by all means, feed the baby! I regret that this has happened, and I have taken immediate action to train employees on nursing protections. I remain committed to providing an ongoing space for families and the community. I want to engage with groups like this one so that we can support each other. Thank you, and please know that you are all welcome in our shops.”
— Audrey Simons, Owner, Simons Says Dip This
And she didn’t stop at words. The very next day, she welcomed our Breastfeed Durham team into the shop to train her staff on breastfeeding protections — and that same day, she submitted her application to become a Breastfeeding Welcome Here partner. Simons Says Dip This now proudly welcomes nursing parents, and wants every family in Durham to know it.
That is how change happens. Not through blame, but through grace, accountability, and a real desire to do right by families.
This is how a community changes
This is the heart of what we do at Breastfeed Durham. We don’t build a welcoming community by shaming the businesses that stumble — we build it by walking alongside them. One welcome at a time, one conversation at a time, one shop on the corner at a time.
It adds up to something remarkable. Durham has reduced infant mortality by 62.3% over eight years — and milestones like that don’t come from any single program. They come from a whole community deciding that breastfeeding belongs everywhere: parents, neighbors, librarians, park staff, restaurant servers, and yes, the folks scooping ice cream downtown.
To every family in Durham
You belong. You are welcome. And if you’re ever looking for places that will greet you and your baby with open arms, our directory is here for you:
Find a Breastfeeding Welcome Here business near you »
To every business owner reading this
Welcoming families is simply good hospitality — and it’s free to be recognized for it. If you’d like to join Simons Says Dip This and hundreds of other Durham businesses as a Breastfeeding Welcome Here partner, we would love to celebrate you.
Apply here (it’s free, and takes just a few minutes): tinyurl.com/DurhamBfBus
To Audrey and the whole team at Simons Says Dip This — thank you. You turned a hard moment into a warm welcome, and that’s exactly the Durham we’re proud to call home.
So if your little one gets hungry while you’re out for a scoop? By all means — feed the baby. 🍦💛