What is UP with people who don’t even KNOW me??

[mayamama]

So I was in Target yesterday (what’s up with Target lately???) in the little eating area, you know at the front of the store, feeding my 5mo dd. She’s super tall for her age (like her mama!) so people think she’s older, but not THAT much. She’s still so obviously a baby! So there I am, being more discreet than usual I might add, and a perfect stranger walks up and says, “Aw, they’re so sweet at that age. Not long til you have to start using a bottle!” I was like-WHAT? So I said, “Well, no I’m planning on breastfeeding her as long as she wants.” And she said, “Well, I tried with mine, but they just wanted a bottle after about 6 months.” WANTED a bottle?? Well, anyway, I didn’t think of anything else to say until she walked away, so I shouted “We don’t even HAVE bottles!!” which was dumb and not even true because I’m a WOHM, but I wanted to say SOMETHING to rebuke her comment!!! Then I spent the rest of the night wondering why complete strangers feel the need to make comments about MY breastfeeding relationship with MY daughter. I mean, I see fat people eating donuts and crap like that all the time, and I see people feeding their kids formula, but I don’t feel the need to go up and tell them what I think, even though they’re HARMING their kids!!! Anyway, I heard somewhere that when you’re pregnant, everyone you meet thinks they’re an OB. That sure was true. Well, all of a sudden everyone I meet is a pediatrician!! Thanks for letting me vent. :

[hubris]

Originally Posted by mayamama

“Well, I tried with mine, but they just wanted a bottle after about 6 months.” WANTED a bottle??

Yeah, didn't you know, it's the bottle milestone. All children have an innate desire to be fed from a plastic container fitted with a silicone nipple, it's just instinct! If your child hasn't suddenly started demanding to be artificially fed by 6 months you really should see your pediatrician and get referred for OT or they won't learn to talk or walk and they'll wet the bed until they're 16, and never make friends. :

[damselfly41]

I know what you mean. I never had the guts to say much to people like that! Once, I went to get a scrip filled that the Dr said was safe while bf'ing. Well, I lived in a VERY small town at the time, and I totally didn't trust this Dr. So, I asked the pharmacist about it. He said "how old is the baby?" I said 14 months, and he said, "so, pretty much weaned, then?" I said, "well, no." And he made a comment about how some different cultures nurse their babies until kindergarten. I politley told him, "Well, I certainly will nurse my dd until she wants to quit on her own, thank you!" But that was the only time I ever said anything to anyone.

Sorry you had a bad day. I am so happy everytime I see a mom NIP, which unfortunately is not often enough.

[TinkerBelle]

Do you think maybe she was trying to be nice and is misinformed? I do agree that it is annoying.

I would have been absolutely livid if someone had come up to me FF my last child and told me I was harming him. (medical issue~I BF his older brothers) I probably would have told them to "UA Violation" off.

[nonconformnmom]

mayamama wrote: “Aw, they’re so sweet at that age. Not long til you have to start using a bottle!” I was like-WHAT? So I said, “Well, no I’m planning on breastfeeding her as long as she wants.” And she said, “Well, I tried with mine, but they just wanted a bottle after about 6 months.”

Honestly, to me, it sounds like the woman was trying to be friendly and is somewhat regretful that she didn't (in her mind, 'wasn't able to') breastfeed hers for longer. She was probably looking for validation, hoping you would say something like, "Yeah, I can't wait to start her on a bottle," or something like that. Not knowing your passion for breastfeeding, she can't be blamed for looking for someone of like mind to reassure her that she did okay. I don't think she intended any slight to you or your baby by it.

I love that you said, "We don't even have any bottles!"

[TigerTail]

Originally Posted by funshine

Yeah, didn't you know, it's the bottle milestone. All children have an innate desire to be fed from a plastic container fitted with a silicone nipple, it's just instinct! If your child hasn't suddenly started demanding to be artificially fed by 6 months you really should see your pediatrician and get referred for OT or they won't learn to talk or walk and they'll wet the bed until they're 16, and never make friends. :