In a surprising turn of events, a mother recently faced harsh criticism after sharing an innocent photo of her toddler pretending to breastfeed a doll. Anticipating a few likes and perhaps some sweet comments, she was instead met with a shocking Facebook post from an acquaintance, claiming she deserved to be “punched in the damn face” for allowing her child to mimic breastfeeding.
The mom, who prefers to remain unnamed, shared her experience along with screenshots of her original post and the disparaging comment on the popular Facebook group, Breastfeeding Mama Talk. In her post, her two-year-old daughter, Lily, is seen sitting in a shopping cart, lifting her shirt to “feed” a doll. The caption read, “You know you’re a breastfeeding mom when you turn around in the store to see your toddler saying, ‘Baby cry, baby just wants to eat.’”
What seemed like a sweet moment to many, however, was not received well by all. The mother recounted how she woke up to a flurry of messages asking if the status was about her. Included was a screenshot of the friend’s rant, which stated, “I just saw some of the nastiest stuff of my life!! If you’re okay with your daughter lifting up her shirt and putting her baby doll’s mouth to her little ‘dots’ pretending to breastfeed, then I personally think you need punched in the damn face!!! It’s just simply not okay!!!”
This mother expressed her shock and disbelief at such a harsh reaction. “I’m still breastfeeding Lily (2) and I formula-fed my son, Jake (5). Both are wonderful options,” she explained. “I would LOVE to know how this is considered ‘the nastiest stuff’ of her life. Breastfeeding is a natural and normal act. How can I or why should I tell her that this is wrong when it’s what she knows?”
To many parents, a toddler pretending to feed a doll is utterly innocent. Yet, there are still those who can’t help but sexualize breastfeeding. Last year, a toy company launched The Breast Milk Baby, a doll designed to encourage breastfeeding, which sparked outrage from some who deemed it “borderline sexual” and inappropriate for young children. Critics went so far as to suggest that such toys promote “underage sex and pregnancy,” with one person sarcastically asking, “What’s next, will Ken come with condoms?”
Given this backdrop, it’s disheartening yet unsurprising that someone would lash out at this mom over her daughter’s innocent play. The reality is that many individuals still view breasts and breastfeeding through a sexualized lens, often shaming women for simply using their bodies for what they were designed for.
This situation underscores the pressing need to normalize breastfeeding for future generations. Feeding a baby is nothing to be ashamed of, and if someone perceives an innocent child mimicking that act as inappropriate, perhaps they are the ones who should reflect on their views.
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Summary
A mother faced backlash after posting a photo of her toddler pretending to breastfeed a doll, leading to harsh criticism from a friend. Despite the innocence of the act, some individuals still perceive breastfeeding in a sexualized manner, highlighting the importance of normalizing breastfeeding for children.
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