When one mother, named Lisa, shared a sweet snapshot of her young daughter, Mia, pretending to breastfeed a doll, she anticipated a wave of likes and some heartwarming comments. Instead, she was taken aback by a harsh remark from a “friend” who suggested she deserved to be “punched in the face” for allowing her child to imitate breastfeeding.
Lisa, who prefers to stay anonymous, took her experience to the popular Facebook group Breastfeeding Mama Talk, sharing the screenshot of the hurtful comment alongside her original post. In the photo, her two-year-old daughter is sitting in a shopping cart, lifting her shirt to feed her doll, while she captioned it, “You know you’re a breastfeeding mom when you look over in the middle of the store to your toddler saying, ‘Baby cry, baby just wants to eat.’”
What seemed like a harmless moment quickly turned into something more controversial. In her post, Lisa revealed how she woke up to messages questioning if the comment was aimed at her. The screenshot of the harsh comment read, “I just saw some of the nastiest stuff of my life!! If you’re okay with your daughter lifting up her shirt and pretending to breastfeed, then I personally think you need punched in the damn face!!! It’s simply not okay!!!”
Lisa expressed her shock and frustration over the negative response. “I’m still breastfeeding Mia (2) while I formula fed my son, Jake (5). I believe both methods are equally valuable,” she stated. “I can’t understand how this is seen as ‘the nastiest thing.’ Breastfeeding is natural and should be normalized. How can I tell her that this is wrong when it’s part of her understanding?”
To many parents, a toddler pretending to feed a doll is innocent, yet some individuals continue to view breastfeeding through a sexualized lens. Last year, a toy company released a doll called The Breast Milk Baby, designed to normalize breastfeeding, which sparked outrage among some who deemed it “borderline sexual.” Comments on the First To Know Facebook page included claims that the doll encouraged “underage sex and pregnancy,” showing a troubling trend of misunderstanding.
This mother’s experience underscores the necessity for children to grow up seeing breastfeeding as a normal part of life. There is nothing inappropriate about a child mimicking a nurturing act. It’s the adults who perceive something objectionable who should reconsider their views.
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In summary, Lisa’s experience highlights how societal views on breastfeeding can often lead to unwarranted criticism. It’s crucial for children to see breastfeeding as a natural practice, free from negativity or shame.