No babies allowed at Camp Baby
When I got the invitation to Johnson’s Camp Baby, I hadn’t even been home from the hospital for three weeks. I was trying to get back up to speed with posting, Parent Bloggers and Cool Mom Picks, along with adjusting yet again to life with a newborn. Plus my grandmother had died the week before. Contemplating a cross-country junket would have made my head explode, so I clicked “No, I cannot attend” and didn’t give it another thought.
Until last week when I chatted with a few others who had been invited and realized that now I did feel up to going. In fact, when I re-read the original invitation, I was really excited. Maybe not so much for the makeovers and the hair-braiding, but for the opportunity to see old friends, meet new ones, and make some new PR connections. I liked Johnson’s approach - it reminded me of GM’s blogger outreach, which I’ve lauded before. And I’ve been dying to get back to the New York/New Jersey area since we moved from there nearly three years ago.
So I contacted one of the organizers, explained that I’d just had a baby, and asked if I might rescind my regrets and accept with pleasure. She agreed, and I was on my way - making travel arrangements, calling my old partners in crime in New York, and SQUEEEEEEEE!ing via IM with a few of my blogfriends.
On Friday, the Johnson’s travel agent emailed to inform me that the cost of a car service to and from the Denver airport was quite high and that she would continue looking for a lower price on Monday. I told her to cancel the reservation, that it would be easier for me to drive my own vehicle rather than installing and uninstalling the car seat, not to mention less expensive for Johnson’s.
Yesterday, I emailed the organizer who’d approved my attendance to advise her of this change to my arrangements, and she asked if I was planning to bring my infant to the conference. When I confirmed that yes, I would be bringing him along and keeping him in a sling with me, she advised me that, in short, I could not attend with my baby in tow. That Johnson’s Camp Baby had been planned - by mothers - to be a baby-free getaway.
I’m surprised and disappointed, to put it mildly. I wish I could laugh or brush it off, but I’m bothered by how this event has been handled. I’m not the only one who’s been dis-invited.
I work from home, day and night, with three children. Considering that I can concentrate while they scream like banshees in the background, I fail to see how Oliver alone would distract me from the content of Camp Baby. Frankly, attending a conference with my infant would, in fact, be a getaway for me. Perhaps the substance of the objection is that my baby would be a distraction to the other attendees. That he would literally be a party pooper.
It’s Johnson’s event, the ground rules are theirs, and I will comply with them. If I cannot bring my baby - as so many others successfully did at BlogHer - then I cannot attend.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:14 am
We’ve discussed this at length - you and I and our squeeee-buds - so you know how I feel about it. That a ‘baby camp’ would actively exclude babies - especially given that mothers of newborns just can’t do a ‘getaway’ without said babies, full-stop - is bizarre and troubling. One hopes that they just didn’t think this one through, and that they might give it another thought.
I, for one, would love to have your baby there. But you knew that. xo
Her Bad Mother’s last blog post..Got MILF?
March 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I’m sorry you got disinvited. To expect a mom to ditch her newborn for three days is crazy. Not to mention throws off the breastfeeding relationship.
An active, mobile child is one thing, but a baby who hangs out in a sling all day? How is that a problem? Sheesh, I did that at BlogHer and no one minded at all.
I’m sorry I won’t get to see you there. I would have loved to meet little Oliver in person.
Christina’s last blog post..Recycled, And Yet Brand New
March 18th, 2008 at 10:44 am
that’s unfortunate that they can’t see what a mistake they are making. i can understand not wanting mobile babies there, but a baby in a sling? why should that be a problem?
the more i read about this camp, the more fishy it all sounds.
Crunchy Domestic Goddess’s last blog post..Freezin’ our buns off
March 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
This is wrong. Just wrong.
I’ve just started an initiative to help women scientists that are also nursing mothers attend conferences in our field(among other things: http://womeninplanetaryscience.wordpress.com/2008/03/15/babies-at-conferences/) — who would have thought that we’d be ahead of Johnson’s in this area???
Sorry to hear this — this stinks!
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March 18th, 2008 at 10:50 am
One of the biggest problems I see in all of this is their lack of clarity in the very beginning. If it was to be a no-babies allowed getaway, they should have been explicit about it up front. You would have ruled it out from the get-go and not been disappointed in the end.
Now whether it really makes sense for something called Camp Baby to not allow babies…. that’s another story.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:50 am
They seem to be digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole. While I can understand the whole mom escape thing… it should be ELECTIVE, not mandatory. Sheesh.
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March 18th, 2008 at 10:57 am
[...] babies allowed? I just learned from Julie that Johnson’s, which is putting on a big party for mommybloggers in April, is specifically [...]
March 18th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I second what Susan Getgood says about the lack of clarity from the very beginning. I received an email invite, addressed to “The Pinks & Blues Girls” which are me, my mom and my sister. I emailed back saying I’d like to attend, then was sent a formal invite to register through.
It was only then that I realized that only I had been able to register, and when we called the planners to register my mom and sister, we were told that the event was already full. We assured them we would be sharing a room and transportation, but that didn’t make a difference!
So… we’re told that my mom and sister are on the top of the “waiting list.” Yet now I am reading about lots of bloggers either getting disinvited or deciding not to attend because of crazy rules (like not being able to bring your baby!). Just how long is this waiting list!?
I’m excited about meeting other bloggers and networking, but the whole process has been poorly planned so far, in my opinion.
Jane, Pinks & Blues
March 18th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Woah - I’m floored but am I surprised a corporation would do this kind of move? No - some of them really don’t understand how the blogging world works. I really wish you were going.
motherbumper’s last blog post..the eyes have it
March 18th, 2008 at 11:09 am
I wasn’t even invited. I’m not cool enough.
But to be disinvited because you wanted to bring your infant to a Baby Camp thingy…well that is just insane.
Redneck Mommy’s last blog post..My Man KNOWS How to Treat a Lady
March 18th, 2008 at 11:14 am
This is one of the very reasons that I did not click to attend..that and I wasn’t sure my husband was possibly starting a new job so I couldn’t confirm for sure last week.
My son is not a baby anymore (he’s 3) but he has a rare food allergy disorder and I just didn’t want to leave him at home since he is currently going through a lot and is on new medicine. I decided to NOT go ahead and register after I had heard in the blogosphere that this was a child/husband free event.
I would love to go if I could bring my youngest son and husband along. The hubz could take care of him during the day in the hotel while I did the J&J thing. It’s what would work best for our family right now until our son gets better.
I did ask one rep if husband’s could join just to see what kind of response I would get. She said yes but that I would have to pay for extra expenses which I TOTALLY understand but it seems like there was negativity towards the idea that I would want to bring someone along. I love the idea of getting away and having a kid/hubz free get together but sometimes that doesn’t work out.
This whole thing is definitely turning into something bigger.
IMO, families should have been allowed to come along and these issues should have been addressed during the planning stages.
I have nothing against J&J. It hink it’s great that this is being offered to us. I just things could have been handled differently and thats kids or families should be allowed to attend if necessary.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:15 am
This is so bizarre and, unfortunately, not at all surprising.
Not to get all soap-boxy or anything, but if corporate America had any respect for nursing mothers this would be a very different world. No point in elaborating as your readership are the choir to whom I need not preach.
(stepping down)
madge’s last blog post..The Madgeboatlets Go Green
March 18th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Given Johnson & Johnson’s parent company makes baby formula, somehow I’m not surprised that they don’t give a care (softer phrase than I’d usually use, BTW) about nursing relationships.
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March 18th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I was pretty upset about it as well. I was thinking that I could leave the two year old with grandma and take LittleBrother, who is exclusively breastfed, with me.
No go.
I’m sorry. But I was really, really ticked off by the whole idea. My contact asked me to forward her emails of other mothers who could go. But right now? The mothers I “hang out with virtually” all have exclusively breastfed infants. While I respond well for the pump, I didn’t receive enough warning to pump for three days worth of milk on top of the fact that I am not easily parted from my INFANT.
Ugh. Apparently I’m still really upset about it.
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March 18th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I just learned about all of the dis-invites while Twittering, today.
Perhaps they should have called it, “Mommy Camp.”
Dang, J&J’s really missing out, but I think I will miss you, even more.
Liz’s last blog post..Foodie Tuesday: Lemon Parsnipity Chicken
March 18th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Sounds like someone at J&J doesn’t understand the concept of marketing *to* the mommy-blogger audience.
I think they hear the second word - blogger - and forget that it’s the first that is our priority. We only blog part of the time. We’re moms 24×7.
I’m sorry they were so thoughtless.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am
If only they owned a formula company we could cry foul even more!
They’ve disinvited 2 people and blown of others? Just what are they trying to accomplish here?
Dawn’s last blog post..Conversation between siblings
March 18th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I had to do blogher this summer with my 7 month old AND my 7 year old when DH came down with food poisoning. And you know what happened? Same stuff that would have happened, except with them there. I was saner knowing that they were being taken care of, even if it was by me leaving them in the back of the meeitng rooms. I cannot imagine what J&J was thinking. Way to build equity with moms!
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March 18th, 2008 at 11:38 am
[...] that children were not welcome, citing something about legal issues and insurance costs. (While another mother was told that it was meant to be a child-free getaway for Moms… so, which is it?) My contact [...]
March 18th, 2008 at 11:38 am
PS - Thanks to you I got the courage to go ahead and write about my experience as well. I was given a “different” reason for my exclusively breastfed infant not being invited. I wonder what the REAL answer is.
FireMom’s last blog post..Breastfeeding? Too Bad for You! Or, Me!
March 18th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Really? Who would care that your baby was there? I mean, I would LOVE to get away & go on a retreat like this! And leave my kids home! And as long as I didn’t have to take care of other people’s kids, I wouldn’t mind their presence at all!
In fact, I love to admire & cuddle other people’s babies… my husband might not appreciate it if I get baby fever, but that’s a whole other issue.
Michelle Z’s last blog post..Ears an update
March 18th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Shocked! This is wacko. An event marketed as a “Baby Camp” to mothers and infants are excluded? WTF? I’m just speechless.
Angela’s last blog post..In which Tom learns what a prize he has in me
March 18th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I am absolutely APPALLED. Not only is this incredibly rude, but frankly? Bad business move.
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March 18th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I also am not cool enough to be invited.
I do not understand this weekend at all. If it is supposed to be targeted at mothers, they should cater to mothers. You want some of the sessions to be baby free then set up babysitting services at the conference. How do you expect to influence mothers to buy your baby products if you exclude those who are breastfeeding their babies? Sounds kind of like another Facebook fiasco to me.
Then again they probably don’t care about me because I don’t have enough traffic yet.
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March 18th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Hey, Mothergoosemouse, I’m sorry I broke your comments! Please feel free to delete the link I included ….
whymommy’s last blog post..No babies allowed?
March 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I’m with Susan G. on this one. Establish the rules and the kind of event at the beginning, & clearly communicate the what and why of it.
Interesting how a few small details change the event for so many. Maybe J&J will find some way to redeem themselves. (Hint: it should involve a sincere apology.)
Eric Eggertson’s last blog post..PR Critique: Hyperbole Undercuts your Credibility
March 18th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I’m a bit on the outside, not being a mommy but definitely being a blogger.
This seems like it’s more an issue of poor communication that it is one of outright discrimination or malice.
I can see how the inclusion of a baby or two or three would help you maintain your bond with your children. But I can also understand how the situation could distract bloggers who were there to learn.
During an interview I was conducting for a Family Circle profile, the person I was talking to commented that kids definitely change you and create blinders.
I believe this to be true. As mothers, you have an increased sensitivity to anyone who disses your kids or your right to include them in your life—whether that be a professional conference, a wedding or a day at the office.
Society has gotten a little complacent and politically correct in allowing these actions to continue unfettered. I’m not taking sides, but urging you all to look at this objectively and think about others and your little ones.
The wrong parties (yes, more than one) in this situation are J&J for not being clear up front and mothers who are offended that they don’t get special dispensation just for having a child.
A few more things and then I’ll let you rant back at me…
I liken this to smokers who righteously take eight minute smoke breaks about eight times a day at work while people who don’t have smoking habits have to work about 64 more minutes each day.
That’s not right either, but nobody says anything about it.
Or, finally, the rights a parent gets from their company versus what a single person has to endure at work.
“oh, my kid’s sick”, “oh, I have to leave early because day care closes right at 5 and I’ll have to pay more if I’m late”, “oh, I need to have vacation only this week because that’s when my kids are off from school”.
But if a single person tried to shave time from each day to leave early, or begged for a special week because it was more convenient, or just randomly stayed home because they knew someone who was sick, it wouldn’t be tolerated.
I guess those are other cans of worms that you might all want to consider. Or not.
But I urge you all to realize that it’s not a mommy-focussed world, nor should it be. We should all get equal treatment regardless of our sex, race, family situation or vices.
Jeff’s last blog post..Stephen Colbert - unappreciated genius. The Emmy Award for versatility!
March 18th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
[...] Mothergoosemouse was recently disinvited to “Camp Baby” sponsored by Johnson & Johnson because she has a nursing baby. They told her babies are not welcome at “Camp Baby”. Apparently, she’s not alone on the disinvite wagon. This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard of in a very long time and I have to admit that I am seething over it. [...]
March 18th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
i’m here via loralee.
it’s absolutely mind boggling to me that a company like J & J would even think this is acceptable. as a mother (of much older children), i spent oodles of dollars on J&J products when my children were babies. i wouldn’t spend another penny on them and i’ll encourage others to find alternate products as well. why would you buy baby products from a company who doesn’t believe that a baby should be with it’s mommy at all times?
completely ridiculous. RIDICULOUS.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Woah– I was invited to this, in a roundabout sort of way, when another blogger who had been invited asked them to invite me as well and they agreed.
I do understand them having a registration deadline and limited space. I could even SORT of understand them asking people to only attend if they could the whole conference, though I think that’s silly of them. But they should have made any such restrictions clear up-front in all communication with the people they have invited.
And I DO NOT, DO NOT understand AT ALL their unwillingness to allow nursing moms to attend with their babies. That is a ridiculous attitude. Back a couple of years ago when I was nursing my infant son, there is no way I would have been able to leave my son behind for days for something like this; I couldn’t have– he wouldn’t take bottles well at all when he was nursing.
Grr. Will blog about this myself later.
jaelithe’s last blog post..Conversations with a Three-Year-Old: Physics
March 18th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Jeff, as I said, it’s Johnson’s event, the ground rules are theirs, and I will comply with them. However, those ground rules should have been explicitly stated up front and should be applied consistently.
Also, after having attended BlogHer in the company of nursing mothers, it honestly did not occur to me that my baby would preclude me from attending a baby-focused event. That does not mean that I expect my baby to be welcome everywhere I go, particularly to places and events where the presence of an infant would be inappropriate.
In my initial email to the event organizer, I mentioned that I’d just had a baby at the end of January. That would have been the ideal time for her to clarify the terms of the invitation.
Finally, I have to wonder whether you are a parent or have any sort of responsibility for someone other than yourself.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Hi,
My name is Lori Dolginoff and I’m in charge of the Camp Baby program.
I saw your post, and I’m sorry if you had a lousy experience – I apologize for any confusion.
This is our first attempt at reaching out to mommy bloggers and I realize there are still some kinks that need to be worked out. When planning this, I tried to accommodate a wide range of requests and in the end decided to have a few basic rules to make it fair to everyone. Though opening this up to moms and their babies was considered, in the end – and after conferring with some other mommy bloggers – we decided that for this first camp, we would just keep it to moms. I know this makes it tough for some people to attend – particularly for those who are still breastfeeding – but we wanted to make it easier for people to talk. But you make some excellent points, and, if we do this again, we will definitely consider childcare and inviting children.
I know it may not be much, but I will make all of the materials we distribute during the conference available to you – and anyone who is not able to attend.
Thanks again for your input and thoughts about this – and I’d appreciate any more advice you may have for future events. My only intention is to get this right – and I’m learning all the time.
All my best,
Lori
March 18th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Lori, thank you. I respect the rules, but I would have appreciated knowing them up front. Or better yet, that the organizers would have done their homework regarding the bloggers who were invited.
March 18th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
A varying degree of responses. I do applaud Lori for responding and for saying they’ll try to work it out to have childcare in the future, although that doesn’t help you out now with your disappointment.
I wonder what it was the ‘other mommy bloggers’ said that persuaded them that nursing moms and babies weren’t a good idea, or wouldn’t be welcomed?.. at least, that’s how I read that.
rachel’s last blog post..Baby, She’s Jamming Now! Review and a Giveaway
March 18th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Well, being that it is a BABY company, I would expect that babies would be welcome.
Not that I was invited or anything, and I haven’t had this last baby yet, but to be told I couldn’t come to a baby conference because I’d need to bring my baby is ridiculous to me.
Jeff, you missed the point. This is not the same as smokers or people ducking out of work early.
Heather’s last blog post..The Third One Gets the Shaft
March 18th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
“…but we wanted to make it easier for people to talk.” Because we ALL know that women can’t use their brains and their boobs at the same time.
Shame on you, J&J. The event details should have been clearer from the start. Not being allowed to bring a baby to a baby conference is the very definition of irony.
MollyDoll’s last blog post..I change my blog layout like I change my underwear
March 18th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I don’t know if I’m more floored by J&J uninviting you because of a newborn (they’re so disruptive, aren’t they? ) or that I was going to be able to see you again and now I’m not.
Damn.
I’m going, now with trepidation. I wonder if they’ll uninvite me when they find out I’m pregnant. My belly will be about as disruptive as your newborn, after all.
Chicky Chicky Baby’s last blog post..Because on a day like today everything eventually ends up in the toilet
March 18th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
[...] when they find out she plans to bring her breastfeeding infant. If you want to be pissed off, too, check out her story. Oh, and a rep from J&J leaves a totally nonsensical comment on the post. Shame on you, [...]
March 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I’m not sure I missed the point or if some of you were so intent on the J&J issue that you misread my comment.
I said that I agreed that J&J dropped the ball by not making it clear up front what the ‘rules’ were.
I also implied that SOMETIMES parents can be oblivious that the whole world does not dance to their drum. This is where the smoking and ducking out of work analogies come in.
If you’re going to ask for special dispensation for having a child, then you’re in the wrong. My final line said that we should all be treated the same.
So if I wanted to attend the conference on behalf of my wife who would be home nursing, I shouldn’t have to have my conference experience ruined by screaming children.
I can certainly attest that if I were to attend this conference as a member of the media, and it were full of breast-feeding moms, the focus of my story would be on that fact and not on the new-media aspect of the event.
I would probably even search out moms who didn’t bring kids to see how the place being overrun by moms affected their experience.
And there’s no need to wonder if I’m any more responsible as an adult as anyone who has conceived a child. I think that’s outside of the discussion.
Jeff’s last blog post..Stephen Colbert - unappreciated genius. The Emmy Award for versatility!
March 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
***That last comment should have said “overrun by kids” NOT “overrun by moms”.
J
Jeff’s last blog post..Stephen Colbert - unappreciated genius. The Emmy Award for versatility!
March 18th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Is it really called Camp Baby? And they aren’t allowing moms with babies to attend? I can understand wanting to provide a retreat, spa atmosphere for moms, but really, when you have little ones, that’s just not realistic! And I for one am able to tune out anyone else’s child except mine, so I’m not sure what the problem was. Poor communication it sounds like. Along with poor design to begin with.
Ally’s last blog post..Birthday Haiku: To Grandpa with Love
March 18th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Julie:
I hate to hear that you (and your baby boy) won’t be there!
Honestly I’ll admit I now live in that “my kids are not nursing and and are now potty trained” thank God bubble so it never occurred to me that infants would not be allowed to this event. You made it clear, obviously, that you had just had a baby so that shouldn’t have been a surprise to the conference organizers.
I have never been to BlogHer and airfare costs for Nashville to San Fran are just not in our budget. I was, however, thrilled to be offered an all-expense paid trip sponsored by a well-known company. And I’m looking forward to meeting bloggers I’ve been reading for two plus years. I’m not going to braid anyone’s hair, though. I can’t even braid my own girls’.
It’s a shame that they mishandled the communication at the forefront. It sounds like they are at least attempting to make amends and learn from their initial screw ups. I’ve worked in corporate PR, albeit for a life insurance company, and as you know…there are always screw ups. It’s just scary when they happen before the event even takes place.
March 18th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
OK now I’m paranoid. I just e-mailed the travel rep to confirm my flights!
So let’s just say at this time I “think” I’m going.
Jamie’s last blog post..A Trifecta of Jamming
March 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
… “still” breastfeeding? At 8 weeks! The horrors!
whymommy’s last blog post..D.C. love
March 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Hey there - the same thing happened to me. They invited me, and then un-invited me when I asked about bringing my nursing baby, saying this was a “mothers’ only” event and the only way I would be allowed to attend was if I left my baby at home.
I haven’t blogged about it yet, but I really must…. ridiculous.
sweetsalty kate’s last blog post..Fishcakes and bonfires and B.Y.O.M.
March 18th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hey there - the same thing happened to me. They invited me, and then un-invited me when I asked about bringing my nursing baby, saying this was a “mothers’ only” event and the only way I would be allowed to attend was if I left my baby at home.
I haven’t blogged about it yet, but I really must…. ridiculous. The idea that the conference would be “overrun” by screaming babies? Bullshit. Just plain bullshit.
sweetsalty kate’s last blog post..Fishcakes and bonfires and B.Y.O.M.
March 18th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
[...] mothergoosemouse » No babies allowed at Camp Baby Yesterday, I emailed the organizer who’d approved my attendance to advise her of this change to my arrangements, and she asked if I was planning to bring my infant to the conference. When I confirmed that yes, I would be bringing him along and keeping h (tags: J&J johnson&johnson campbaby marketing mommybloggers) [...]
March 18th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Jeff, you said: “I can certainly attest that if I were to attend this conference as a member of the media, and it were full of breast-feeding moms, the focus of my story would be on that fact and not on the new-media aspect of the event.”
Why would breastfeeding supersede the content of the conference?
March 18th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Jeff - it’s an event FOR MOMS OF BABIES. It’s called CAMP BABY. What part of that implies the exclusion of babies? We’re all going to be there in our capacity as moms - so we rightly expect our ‘momness’ to be respected and - unless exceptions are made clear in advance - accomodated.
BlogHer, the largest conference for women bloggers, accommodates children readily. To my knowledge, no-one has ever complained of disruption or distraction. And it’s standard practice for any major academic conference to provide daycare and make every effort to accommodate nursing moms. So why on earth would we expect an event FOR MOMS to not do so?
Her Bad Mother’s last blog post..Got MILF?
March 18th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Can I go in your place? I’m in desperate need of a makeover.
But all joking aside, something called Camp Baby should definitely allow babies. That’s the problem with all these PR firms: they send emails and act like they know you when in fact they’re just getting your email address from some list or just doing a drive-by of your site and emailing you. If they had taken the time and done just a bit of homework (hell, they would’ve just had to scan your front page), they would’ve known you had a newborn.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Well, it’s pretty clear that as a corporation, they are completely out out touch with mothers.
How ironic and downright idiotic!
GHD’s last blog post..The Thrill of the Hunt
March 18th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Um, is it okay if I skip over all the J&J-related content and do a big WTF @ Jeff?
Jeff, it seems to me your — what is it? anger? frustration? — over MGM’s post is so totally off-point.
A big company decides to have a big event called Camp Fuzzy Shoes. So they go out and invite all the Fuzzy Shoe bloggers they can find. And then they later dis-invite bloggers who were actually planning to bring their Fuzzy Shoes, because you know. Fuzzy Shoe bloggers will be distracted by all those Fuzzy Shoes.
PLUS, there are those people outside the Fuzzy Shoe blogosphere who neither have Fuzzy Shoes nor blog about them, and who would therefore feel left out if other attendees brought them. Even though the event is named after them and, theoretically, entirely about them.
Maybe I did a bad job of making my point. But seriously.
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March 18th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I am disappointed I won’t see you.
I hadn’t read any of the controversy until today. I am eager to attend, but that enthusiasm has been dampened by what I’ve read ’round the blogosphere today.
Still, I hope it will be a good event and that with respectful discussion, J&J might consider a similar event in the future where childcare is provided and/or nursing mothers are welcome, as Lori suggested.
You’ll be missed.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Your post is so thoughtful Julie. Fair and thoughtful.
Now you Jeff, who I take it is not a parent and has little experience with babies, you are ridiculous. And ignorant. And you should be embarrassed to read what you wrote when you sober up.
You are equating mothers feeding sleeping babies (most of whom do not cry all day and night, contrary to what you might have learned from the cartoon network) with people taking smoke breaks. You are drawing an analogy between worker productivity of smokers and the ability of a bunch of online friends - because you do realize that we all know each other - to hang out together and learn proper hair braiding techniques in the presence of babies who occasionally need to eat.
Dumfounded.
Mom101’s last blog post..From the Mouths of Babes. Who Will Get Extra-Special Treats Tomorrow.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
[...] mothergoosemouse » No babies allowed at Camp Baby No babies allowed at Johnson and Johnson’s Camp Baby??? (tags: baby camp blog) [...]
March 18th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I’m pretty certain that the reason you were dis-invited is that they know that Baby Oliver would be the star of the show, what with all the cuteness and such.
I’m very disappointed not to get to meet him. I hope they reconsider, otherwise, I might have to.
Glennia’s last blog post..Fun with Personal Security!
March 18th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
@ Jeff
If your focus of a this conference as a media person would be the women feeding their babies you would be a very poor media person.
Loralee’s last blog post..Sideblog: Johnson’s & Johnson does not welcome babies at ?Camp Baby?
March 19th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Thanks for all the support and unadulterated judgment of my:
1-misunderstanding of the issue here (that J&J was oblivious when it named and organized this event and that they should have paid a little more attention to their core audience)
2-lack of empathy for parents (I understand that the job of parenting is one of the most difficult tasks ever and that’s why some people choose not to enroll in that league)
3-my non-existent drinking problem (self-explanatory)
4-my skill as a journalist (if an event has an odd or extraordinary hook, that’s what you go with. If an event called Camp Baby were disrupted by babies, oh my god it’s a perfectly ironic scenario for a column in a major magazine or newspaper. Tell me that USA Today wouldn’t snatch up a story titled “Camp Baby babies soil blogging event”)
5-my anger or agenda in commenting here (I just wandered over here because a friend on Twitter brought the situation to my attention. I am still firmly against J & J’s actions and am fully in like with the open and enthusiastic discussion here at MGM.com)
6-my list-making habit. Oh, that’s just the voices in my head feeding me stuff to write.
If you’ve got more for me to chew on, just leave the comment here or dash over to my site and comment there. Maybe you can see by now that I’m not a ‘hater’.
Jeff
Jeff’s last blog post..Phew, we’ve hit three
March 19th, 2008 at 7:25 am
What utter BS! I wonder if Johnson and Johnson is aware of how babies are fed. And even though my kids are grown, will be crossing Johnson and Johnson of my shopping list.
deb’s last blog post..All The Same
March 19th, 2008 at 8:42 am
I wasn’t cool enough to be invited. Or even told about the event. I’ll just join the cacophony of voices saying “um, hey, J&J, how’s about calling it ‘Camp Mom’ or ‘Camp Getaway’ or ‘Camp we-all-need-a-day-away’ instead of ‘Camp Baby?’”
Because that’s just silly.
If I had been invited, and was breastfeeding at the time, it honestly wouldn’t have occurred to me to ask if baby was welcome or not. Because where goes the boob, there goes the baby.
Hannah’s last blog post..how Leonard Cohen is trying to spoil my fun
March 19th, 2008 at 8:48 am
I just posted about this on my own blog, as I received an email from Johnson & Johnson (and I hope all of you other Mommy Bloggers who were invited to Camp Baby also got one) explaining why they had to “uninvite” some Moms, and why kids aren’t accommodated at the Camp.
I actually was surprised at the controversy, as I felt the invitation made it clear that the camp was a “Mom Getaway” kind of event. Still, I do know that at BlogHer, Moms and children were both welcome and accommodated (thanks, BlogHer!), so I give them major points for making it easy on Mommy bloggers to attend their event. Incidentally, if you did attend BlogHer, you could see just how influential the “Mommy” camp has become within the blogosphere. I don’t know if you attended, Jeff, but I think if you had it would have opened your eyes to how women are able to juggle children and still take part in interesting, informed discussion of the blogging industry.
March 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Wow, I don’t know how but I apparently missed this whole thing yesterday. In any case, as many have already said, rules and expectations should have been clearly stated from the beginning. And not being able to bring a nursing baby? By the makers of a jillion baby products? That’s not good. I did see on CityMama that an apology was given. I suppose that’s a step in the right direction. In any case, I’m bummed that I won’t get to see you and meet Oliver, who would no doubt be resting or nursing quietly in his sling for 99% of the event. It’s a shame this had to play out this way.
Izzy’s last blog post..Truthiness in Blogginess
March 19th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I’m here thanks to Lynette’s Twitter…
Not having the plumbing to be a mother, I have to be content at commenting as a dad. I think J&J made a mistake dubbing the event “Camp Baby” to start with. I think k’s comment about “Camp Fuzzy Shoes” best sums up the answer there. This being said, I think that J&J would have still have made a gaff if this were a “Camp Mommy” and yet specifically dis-invited nursing mothers. My wife is a La Leche League leader, and I’ve drunk the kool-aid, thanks for asking, so I think that the bond between a mother and a nursing kid is not to be messed with. The society desire to have kids as nice, neat, little trophies makes me shiver in angry, angry ways. What makes me angrier is the reinforcement of that attitude by corporate events like this, or by people who buy into the old “kids should not be heard” model.
Maybe my angst comes from my being labeled as an overprotective, liberal, fanatic. I like to think that I’m a caring, concerned parent who’s there to help out my wife as I can. That’s my job as a dad…
I’m struggling to come up with an appropriate name for this camp, but none of them are coming out in any form that I’d be comfortable saying in public.
Thanks for sharing.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Mostly to my fellow commentators:
This is a big issue for those of us breastfeeding moms, I can give you that. But, J&J are trying to handle it with tact… Let’s try not to be too hard on them, but look forward to future events that may be better planned!
That said, I am excited about attending this time and will miss you, Mother Goose Mouse!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I really think this is horrible. I can understand that someone who can not attend the entire conference may be dis-invited but a nursing mom! Shame on J&J for not supporting nursing moms.
March 19th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
[...] Mommy blogger were disinvited after-the-fact because they were told they weren’t allowed to bring slung babies, breast feeding babies or simply because they would be unable make it to the entire camp due to [...]
March 19th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
And here I was sad that I wasn’t considered, but honestly, that just isn’t right.
I bunked with Jessica (kerflop) her first year at Blogher and we had baby Katie - we both had a good time.
It seems it should be YOUR decision.
Maybe they suffer from momma guilt - and seeing you with yours would make them miss theirs or feel bad for not bringing them?
OMSH’s last blog post..Victoria’s Secret decides to tone it down?
March 19th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I just sk*rted this one … definitely worth some more exposure.
OMSH’s last blog post..Victoria’s Secret decides to tone it down?
March 19th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
[...] mothergoosemouse was uninvited to Johnson’s Baby Camp. Why? OH! Well, she wanted to bring her baby; imagine that. [...]
March 19th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I came via OMSH’s blog. For the record, since it seems like a comment might not be valid unless one is a parent: I’m the mom to a 3 1/2 y/o girl, I breastfed for 2 years, I belong to a large local playgroup and I stayed at home with my daughter for 2 years but now work. I even wore my daughter in a sling and she was generally attached to my hip for 2 years. I think I’ve covered all of my bases so no one can accuse me of being a hater who can’t understand the issue because I’ve never been there, like they have Jeff. I’ve been there. I’ve not been able to attend things because of *my* choice to breastfeed and not leave my daughter.
I agree with him, to a point. In my local playgroup, we have a monthly mom’s night out. Even if it’s at someone’s house, no children are allowed, whether it’s a breastfeeding baby or otherwise. It is not our intention to exclude anyone, but rather to provide a break from ALL children to ALL moms. There are no exceptions made because once you make one exception, one of the 50+ women in the playgroup will expect that their circumstances are also exceptional.
Should J&J made have their position clearer? I don’t know, I didn’t see the invitation, nor the materials they sent out. But I’m guessing they’ve learned their lesson and in the future will put that in bold. First line of the invite, probably.
The fact is, no matter what the name, if it was touted as a mom’s getaway, it makes sense not to have babies. I love kids, love my own kid, but when I’m away for time to myself, I don’t want to deal with mine or anyone else’s. Sure, I don’t have to care for them, but sorry, a baby in the room will still cry, fuss, have to be accommodated and can provide a distraction. Hate me for saying it, but it’s true, especially if there are multiple babies. So I don’t think it was with the intent to exclude that J&J made the decision, just as my playgroup does it, but with the intent to provide a retreat, a getaway. Nothing wrong with that. It’s not about individual, it’s about the whole.
Like I said in my opening, I’ve been there, not able to attend conferences (yes, conferences) because of my choice to breastfeed, to not leave my daughter. I’m sorry you felt blindsided by this, sorry you’ve chosen not to attend. But I don’t think the level of outrage and “oh my gosh, how DARE they” is warranted.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
We RSVP’d no because my business partner is due at the end of March and I’m due in August and want to spend time with my toddler. It made sense to me no running, impatient, but awfully cute toddlers were invited…but no babies in slings? And most of the “classes” seem to be for new moms. So that is odd to me. My baby went everywhere with me when she was a newborn until she started becoming more aware of her surroundings.
Mama Luxe’s last blog post..Attachment Parenting: Preparation for Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting
March 19th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
dang, man. siiiigh. i do wish they’d been more up-front with the details about 1) bringing children, 2) that there was a deadline/limit on the # of attendees, 3) that it was an all-or-nothing deal, and that you couldn’t just come for *part* of the time, yanno?
this whole thing is unfortunate. will miss seeing you there, for sure.
sweetney’s last blog post..When Truthiness becomes TMI
March 20th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I totally agree that I just wish they were more upfront about the “rules”. I hope they, and other companies learn about these mistakes - when I received Lori’s email I was actually expecting to read at the end that the event was canceled, so I’m glad they are trying to work it all out.
Jeff - what century are you from? Dude, as a multi-tasking mommy my right arm is more productive than some single people who work past the 5pm daycare pickup time. Employers who are more concerned with what time people leave than the actual output of those employees are going to miss out on a very productive employee base.
Jodi’s last blog post..MyUbby for your Bubby!
March 20th, 2008 at 6:43 am
@Christine
I disagree with your assessment that J&J is handling this with tact. Did you not see where Lori casually mentioned women who were “still breastfeeding”? Still? As in, Julie should have her 8 week old on formula by now? Preferably the one made by J&J? I just don’t see any tact.
Now. You may all throw stones at me for being so downright judgmental, but here goes.
I cannot believe so many moms are still planning on attending. I for one would have told them to kiss my ass the moment they dis-invited my breastfeeding friend. I don’t care how free or cool the trip was supposed to be.
Of course, I wouldn’t have ever said yes in the first place considering all the crap J&J uses in their baby products.
This whole thing just reeks.
Sorry they did this to you and to breastfeeding moms, Julie.
canape’s last blog post..Thinking twice about Johnson & Johnson
March 20th, 2008 at 7:46 am
[...] serious buzz surrounding these events. Devra recaps it all here… Oy Vey is right, D. Sorry, Julie and Stefania. I know lots of folks within the J&J organization and I’m going to alert [...]
March 20th, 2008 at 11:09 am
luckily, i don’t get invited to anything, so i don’t have to decline. i bring my daughter everywhere.
mod*mom’s last blog post..easter eggs : : selecting healthy eggs + making natural egg dyes
March 20th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
This is bad on several levels, but it was just really poorly executed. I’m a mom, a blogger, a marketer, an agency employee, and a J&J user - and it’s just a bad, mishandled thing. Stop on by to see an agency perspective of the whole debacle.
chicmama’s last blog post..About the whole J&J thing…agency perspective
March 20th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
[...] assume by now you’ve seen the bruhahaha? Yes? [...]
March 21st, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I look forward to gazing upon Oliver in July (I hope). He and my little Frankie can make noises at each other.
March 23rd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I think there’s a BIG diference between a overactive toddler (aka “screaming children”) and a breastfeeding infant worn in a sling. I can understand a no toddler policy, but for a mom with an exclusivly breastfed baby - where is she to go if she can’t even go to “Camp Baby” with her infant??
J&J should be ashamed of themselves!
Jenn of The Roof’s last blog post..Easter in Photos
March 24th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Oh. My. God.
It doesn’t matter what the hell they called this camp. If you invite new mothers to a junket for BABY products, you’d better plan to have children there.
This is not like a mom’s night out where you can run home and feed the baby after a few hours outing with your friends. This is an overnight trip.
Did I travel out of town while breastfeeding? Yes, I did. For work. Because I HAD to, not because I wanted to. If I’m doing a company a favor and not getting paid, then they sure as hell better jump through hoops to make me, and my baby, happy.
If they really wanted baby free activities, etc… for moms, here are some ideas:
1. Stick to 1 city & invite local moms for a day trip. That’s not quite as bad if there’s a “no baby” rule in place. But also provide pumping facilities.
Or…
2. Provide some f’ing daycare.
Lawyer Mama’s last blog post..For Jenny, The Bloggess
March 25th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I would LOVE to get invited and leave my kids for a few days (in theory anyway, I might change my mind if I really had the opportunity to) BUT not if one of them were an infant and breastfeeding! That stinks.
March 25th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
As a mom who blogs and is currently exclusively breastfeeding her 6 month old, I find all of this pretty poor planning and J&J’s side of things. What would they have done if the whole carseat discussion had never happened, and you would have shown up with your baby?? Would they have turned you away at the door?
Kristie McNealy’s last blog post..Tea for Women’s Heart Health
March 26th, 2008 at 12:35 am
[...] brouhaha of this past week regarding a blogger junket planned by Johnson & Johnson got me thinking about where it’s [...]
March 26th, 2008 at 12:57 am
[...] effect, the event was for "mommy bloggers"* and two attendees, Julie Marsh and Stefania Pomponi Butler, had their invitations revoked for pretty spurious reasons - one [...]
March 27th, 2008 at 8:46 am
[...] happy with the shot. And then I’m going to Johnson & Johnson’s Camp Baby in NYC (which has blown up into some nastiness, btw) and I have no idea what the atmosphere there is going to be. Business casual, I’d imagine. [...]
March 28th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Julie, grrrrr.
I guess I’m not the only one to be outraged on your behalf. I was considering joining the fun because I was so excited about a paid trip anywhere, but because of the ridiculous pain and expense to my family to leave them (and work) on a weekday, I couldn’t seriously consider it.
But now I’m really steamed!
If I ever throw a camp baby or a camp mommy, babies will certainly be allowed. I guess we’ll just have to meet up at BlogHer instead.
RookieMom Heather’s last blog post..Make baby shoes (and a last-minute gift).
March 31st, 2008 at 5:21 am
[...] their kids and/or jobs for 3 weekdays. And due to some misunderstandings they dis-invited a few bloggers. But a very nice thought on their part…perhaps next time they will ask some mommy bloggers [...]
April 4th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I know I’m belated on this discussion, but I feel the need to comment on a few points:
1) I think the term “dis-invite” is inaccurate for what happened. Rules were clarified and MGM decided this wasn’t a possibility for her. I don’t know for sure if J&J said, “Oh, you’re breastfeeding? No WAY do we want you there,” but I think it was most likely more “I’m sorry, but we ask that you not bring your child,” and the decision was made that she wouldn’t be able to attend. Of course, in the circumstances, she COULDN’t leave the baby at home, but it’s not as though J&J didn’t want her there. They were just unwilling to accomodate.
2) I think it’s a little naive to think that just because YOUR infant is a nice quiet baby, that everyone who was invited has a colic-free baby that would quietly sleep and nurse through the events. Although everyone who has commented sounds like a really good mother, not all mothers are.
3) They only had space for 50 bloggers. And a wait-list. No wonder they insisted that if someone attends, they attend the whole event. Why would they waste their money flying someone out (or spending the resources on a local blogger) who would only be there for a day, when so many others wanted to attend the whole event?
4) I think it’s a little bit self-involved to think that J&J’s statement about mothers who are “still breastfeeding” is taken as an insult or a suggestion that one shouldn’t be breastfeeding at a certain point. The fact is, there are women who attended the event with children as old as 9 years. Not everyone has an infant. In general, most people expect a mother to stop breastfeeding before their child hits a double-digit age, and therefore some mothers are “still breastfeeding.” There are plenty of things to get angry about. But getting indignant over that? Sounds like a troll baiting a fight.
5) The anger towards Jeff in these comments is just horrifying. He made totally rational statements. In my experience, there is a large community of mothers on the internet who don’t tend to be the most welcoming to non-mothers, or mothers (like myself) who may have different views of parenthood. They tend to suggest that the person with the “offending” viewpoint is an alcoholic or “obviously has never been responsible for someone else” or the like. Parenthood is hard enough, for all of us. Why can’t we support each other instead of discounting someone for the slightest variation in beliefs?
All that being said, I think J&J will learn from all this and their next event will feature better planning, child care, and a generally more welcoming attitude towards nursing mothers, which of course makes sense.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
[...] as we know, this is still something that companies find tough to do — and some of the missteps hat preceded this event provide a good example of how we still have more to [...]
April 7th, 2008 at 8:07 am
[...] won’t rehash all the details (you can read all about it here, and here) - so let’s jump to a few of the lessons learned, straight from one of the blogging mommies [...]
April 8th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
[...] isn’t like that time when I got all jealous because all the cool bloggers got invited to shampoo camp and The Today Show and so I started that rumor that I was the original voice of the Fraggle [...]
April 10th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
[...] since my arrangements went very smoothly, but head over to CityMama, Queen of Spain and Mothergoosemouse for those [...]
April 27th, 2008 at 6:43 am
[...] immediately thought of MotherGooseMouse and J&J’s Camp Baby. Sure, it was designed to be a child-free weekend. But newborns and nursing moms are exceptional. [...]
July 15th, 2008 at 11:54 am
[...] All great ideas - let’s hope they learnt some lessons from their BabyCamp [...]
August 8th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I can see why you are annoyed by this! Sorry you are so let down. They should have said this ahead of time. To get you excited and then let you down like that is terrible!
August 15th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Well, It’s obvious that this crisis of delayed information has caused many parents quite a bit of annoyance. All I have to say is that J&J should consider the feelings of the parents and their reactions to being given such news before deciding to not inform them of such news untill later.