Stupid Things People Say About Breastfeeding

The Stupidest Things
People Have Said To Me
About Breastfeeding

I’m not sure if it’s because I breastfed my kids for an exceptionally long time (Nearly 8 years in total!!!) so people had plenty of time to comment on it. Or if it’s because I have “Hey, please tell me how to parent” stamped on my forehead. But I’ve received a LOT of criticism and commentary on my decision to breastfeed. Most especially my decision to breastfeed beyond babyhood.

10 Of The Stupidest Things People Said To Me About Breastfeedi…

What is the most ridiculous breastfeeding advice you've ever received?(This video was inspired by The Milk Meg asking the same question this morning!)

Posted by Parenting Central on Thursday, 16 February 2017

Funny In Retrospect – Hurtful At The Time.

It’s one of those things that gets funnier as time goes by. I can joke about them now. In fact I think joking and laughing at these things takes their power away. I’ve always found humor to be incredibly healing. But at the time these were said to me a lot of them took massive chunks out of my confidence.

Especially as the majority were said to me either by close friends, family, or health professionals. It hit hardest when it was with my first baby – mostly because I hadn’t surrounded myself by people who actually supported breastfeeding. I assumed I had support, but what I had were people undermining me and telling me I was doing my child a disservice by breastfeeding them. Which is utterly absurd! And I’m grateful to all the people who reassured me that I was doing the right thing. That I was actually allowed to keep breastfeeding and not only was it “okay”; it was great! 

There’s Been Some Positives

I will say though, as a small silver lining, this has made me incredibly passionate about promoting, supporting, and defending breastfeeding. I can’t quite get my head around why anyone would criticise a mother for feeding her baby (or toddler, or older). Feeding your kid is a good thing. Whether it’s breast milk or formula. In public or at home. If you breastfeed for two days or two years. You’re doing good! Baby is fed? You are doing good.

So I hope you enjoy my video of the stupidest things people have ever said to me about breastfeeding. Feel free to add your own stories! 

 

Rachel Stewart

Rachel is the founder of Parenting Central. She is raising two children, boy and girl, with her partner. Rachel is obsessed prams, car seats, carriers and all things baby. She has worked in the baby industry for several years, for both suppliers and also in a retail setting and has developed a passion for connecting parents with the right products to make their lives easier. When Rachel isn't playing with prams she's enjoys crocheting, drinking coffee (sometimes wine) and spending a little too much time on Facebook.

13 Comments

  1. LOL someone who won’t be named told me that eating Tim Tams while breastfeeding was bad for my baby. Pfft. Nonsense. Those Tim Tams are the only reason we are both stil here today.

    1. ? There was a while when I was breastfeeding that I was eating a packet of lollies every day. I’m not saying it was a great thing for me health-wise, but it was fine for my baby. ?

  2. Funny enough, BFIng three (on my third currently 6m in) I haven’t gotten too much critisicm about it. It could be because I’m oblivious to nearly everything, though ?
    And I thought babies weaned around 6 months (before I had kids) ?

  3. I’ve been breastfeeding for 20 months now and people are asking me why I don’t wean him yet and go back to work. I’m like, none of your business. My life, my rules.

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