"I think someone is ready for a bottle"- Offhand comment in Target today...

[Amila]

So I am walking with DD in the babyhawk (not even nursing lol) and she was getting chatty- not crying at all, but sometimes she just jabbers loudly. A woman walking by with her 7-year-oldish DC mumbled "I think someone is ready for a bottle" It wasn't said in a mean way, but I wish I would have turned around and politely told her that no, my DD did not in fact need a bottle, and never will. Why do people just assume all babies need bottles?!?!?!??

[muppet729]

I know what you mean- people get used to the way that things are in their houses/ lives/ whatever and just assume. I'm sure it was all innocent. There have been times when I've seen a baby upset and thought, "Give that baby a breast!" Honestly, after nursing for 3 years, I'm at a loss sometimes when I"m holding a baby who is getting cranky because with my dd, I always just let her nurse...

[msumomma]

I've said that about my bottle fed twin nieces, that they need a boob.

[mamaofthree]

I think it was a bit rude as she wanted you to shut up a happy baby, by sticking a bottle in it's mouth.

H

[jeanine123]

Wonder what she would have said if she heard my 7mo chattering away....his nickname is Baby Godzilla since that's exactly what he sounds like when he starts screeching his happy screech.

[muppet729]

I've also wondered about when people stick a pacifier in a baby's mouth when the baby seems to be just fine. I'll try to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they saw some behavior/ indication that their baby was getting a sucking craving like I have noticed with my dd

[ledzepplon]

We had a similar comment the last time we flew. It was right after the "no liquids" rule went into effect, and this lady kept asking me what about my baby's bottle. I told her, "I don't know how they handle that, he doesn't use a bottle. He's nursing." She asked me like 4 or 5 times!

[elanorh]

Ina always comments that "That baby needs to nurse!" when she hears a baby fussing. (Probably because I've suggested to her that the baby might need that).

I figure, if a bf mom hears that, she's reinforced. And a ff mom who hears it, may for once have a different perspective on feeding choices.

It's unfortunate that particular mom interpreted happy chatter as a "need for food" moment. We have already noted that our 2 month old does lots of "happy yells" and "happy shrieks." If you don't see her face when she does it, you'd swear she's upset. But she's smiling when she does it!

[cathynmatt]

I've had that same comment ~ I know it's not meant badly but it still stings.

As does the comment I heard from a relative one day, "We could take him home as long as we have the same type of formula". At first I was confused and then I didn't know what to say!

[BelgianSheepDog]

I've gotten this one. And the variation "sounds like someone needs her pacifier!" And I always think: No, extremely silly person*, someone is just exercising her vocal abilities and trying to communicate with the world around her. If you need a paci, though, I am sure we'd all be happier. :

*substitute here one of many things a person cannot say on MDC.

[ckhagen]

I've heard that one too

Funny alternative though...
Of course I like to over-educate my single, childless friends about breastfeeding and they know how I am about it. So, one evening I was on my cell phone in my driveway and my 4 mo old started screaming in his carseat. I was on the phone with one friend, but he was so loud my other friend who was with her could hear him and screamed into the phone "give that baby a boob already!!!!"

[Flor]

I used to just smile sweetly and say, "He's never had a bottle" and let them think about that for a while.

[Meiri]

As does the comment I heard from a relative one day, "We could take him home as long as we have the same type of formula". At first I was confused and then I didn't know what to say!

Ask them who is lactating. Let them be confused.

[mama24-7]

I had a similar experience twice in a very short amount of time.

I had to take dd to the dentist when ds was about 2 months old. My dad had him outside, crying the whole time. Dd was very nervous about the dentist & I needed to give her my complete attention or it wouldn't have gone well. ANyway, while my dad was walking ds around, some lady commented, "that baby needs a bottle." I think my dad's response was, "No, he needs his mother," or somehting like that. GO dad!

When dd was 3, she stuffed an acorn in her nose while we were outside w/ FIL & GFIL. FIL stayed here w/ ds, who was almost 3 months at the time. DD & I went to the ER. WHen FIL talked to my dh on the phone while I was gone, he asked where the bottles were. DH said, there are no bottles. I think FIL was confused.

I didn't get the opportunity for a comeback in either situation - darn!

Sus

[Jillie]

We were at the library when Zane was about 9 mo old, and visiting with someone who had just given her 12 mo old a bottle. Zane was interested in it and she commented that "he wants his too". I said that he didn't know what it was as he had never had one. She seemed a little stunned and said something about seeing the milk then and wanting it. Ummm, yah he never sees the milk either. She changed the subject quickly.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Originally Posted by Amila

Why do people just assume all babies need bottles?!?!?!??

I've no idea about this one i remember with my lo's haveing people comeing saying cute they were and then asking how many bottles they have day? or if they cried saying i think he/she is ready for a bottle : with the first i would just he/she has no bottles he/she is breastfed and with the 2nd i would say no he/she doesn't like bottles

[LittlePeanut]

Some people just say things as it's familliar to them, kwim? I hate how people just assume that all babies need soothers and bottles. I have hated soothers for years and I refused to give one to DS (even if that made ME his soother ). An older child with a soother in his/her mouth makes me feel ill. I also detest the way some parents will shove a soother in the mouth of a content baby just because "it fell out" :Puke

I had a complete stranger tell me that my 2 w/o needed a soother because he was sucking his thumb. I told her he didn't have soothers. She kept insisting that he really need one and then she said he was probably hungry and asked if I had a bottle to feed him. I just told her that he didn't have any bottles either. She looked so shocked and asked how/what my baby was going to eat. I just said (while pointing at my breasts) that he drinks straight from the source, he's a boob man. I don't think she could reply she was in so much shock!

I've also had people offer to feed DS and I just said "Yeah sure, I didn't know you were lactating" Gets them every time!

LP

[Mama Poot]

Henri hates bottles and pacifiers. I've gotten a lot of : looks from people. They must wonder how I comfort him, yet they always comment on how content and quiet he is I think I've become somewhat of a local legend at our nearby Wal Mart. I sit on the same bench in the same spot to nurse Henri, once a week, usually Sunday, when we do our grocery shopping. One cashier in particular is very curious and every time she's working there she watches me feed Henri. Creepy, annoying kinda- but I think she honestly might not have figured out that I'm actually FEEDING a baby Other workers smile at me, especially the door greeters who see me carrying Henri in his sling. Last week another worker passed me on the bench and said "Have a good day, Ma'am!" Weird..! I'm actually still waiting on someone to make a nasty comment. It's never happened to me and I'm all full of these comebacks I can't use yet!

[Amila]

Actually, I just remembered that the other day someone standing behind me in line at the video store was smiling and making faces at DD who was sucking her fist (she has always done this) and stated, "You gotta get that baby a pacifier!" He was being really nice so I just gave him a tight smile and said, "well she really just prefers her hands."

[TigerTail]

I just look really confused & say, puzzled, "He's never had a bottle" & leave them to figure it out (admittedly I haven't heard that one, but to people asking if they are still taking a bottle or whatever). Doctors even say it (but at least they have the grace to look abashed- happily so- once it clicks. Ask for bfing advice for their wives, too ).