Jess Hardiman
A mum was left disgusted after spotting adult toys in Tesco’s baby aisle, saying she was forced to ‘shield her son’s eyes’.
Ayesha Idrees, 28, popped down to her local Tesco Extra in Oldham, Greater Manchester, to do a food shop on 20 September when she spotted shelves full of adult toys – displayed opposite the baby food and snacks.
At the time, her one-year-old son was with her in the pram, leaving her ‘uncomfortable’ as the toys were displayed at his eye level.
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While she says she spoke to the manager to request the items were moved, she found there had been no change when she returned the following week.
Full time mum Ayesha said: "I went to that aisle to get baby food. My baby was with me at the time and my eldest was still at school. He was in a pram. The baby food is always at his eye level, but so are the [adult] toys.
"It makes me feel very uncomfortable. I'm very protective of my children and I do not want them to be exposed to such things so early in life.
"Naturally, children are curious and they absorb information from their surroundings. "Placing the toys within reach of innocent eyes exposes them to sexual content and I don't want that. I don't think it's appropriate.
"The issue isn't that they are displaying [adult toys], it's the fact they're displaying them at the baby aisle where so many children will be exposed to it."
She continued: "It's a family supermarket - they should be more cautious with where they place things.
"The manager meant no offence, but he said my child won't exactly know what it is. But it's not about if the child recognises what the item is, it should not be displayed to begin with. It doesn't matter if the child understands or not.
"It made me a bit angry because an older child, who is also innocent, might understand what it is.
"When I went in today [September 29] I had to cover my son to hide what was going on just so I could grab the things I needed and quickly get out the aisle. I shouldn't have to do that."
Ayesha has since launched a petition in a bid to force the store to remove the adult toys from the baby aisle.
"If they don't resolve it I will not be returning because I do not want my child to be exposed,” she added.
"I don't want to be supporting a store that doesn't take into consideration children's wellbeing.
"I want Tesco to make a change."
Tesco declined to comment when approached by Tyla.