How do you respond to this kind of comment?

[Mama Poot]

I've heard others talk about people who think breastfeeding is "gross", however I'd never met such a person in real life until today. It came about as I was in the checkout line at the grocery store. A woman was purchasing WIC items and apologized for how long it was taking. I was getting my own WIC stuff and told her it was no problem. She was buying the stuff for her daughter who had just had a baby. She then said something about how expensive the formula costs, etc etc..And I asked why her daughter wasn't nursing and if she needed any help. The woman said "Ew nursing is gross, I'm glad my daughter isn't doing it." I lied and told her that I'd never heard anyone say that before and that was an "interesting" way of thinking about something I always considered to be normal. The look of disgust on my face said enough, the woman didn't say anything more and eventually left. I wasn't rude to her, yet I feel I had a chance to say something more productive. At the same time, I wondered if it was even worth it to try to educate someone that blatantly ignorant. So help me out, veteran lactivists, so I'm better prepared the next time this happens.

[Meredith&Alexander]

I think your reply was ideal. Brief, non-judgemental, and gave her something to think about.

Sometimes all you can do is plant a seed. You did a good job at that.

[Da WIC Lady]

I would've said, "Why do you think that's gross?" Looking really confused, "That's what God put them there for, to feed babies as He intended. It's a shame that women are made to feel shameful for doing what's best for our children when all too often we're made to feel guilty for not doing enough." And kinda shake my head and sigh with a what is the world coming to look. It's hard to argue with that and it gives a place to start a conversation about how hard it is to be a good mother when it seems the world is against you. Then it's easy to bring it back around to breastfeeding (can do both, is cheaper, is so healthy/natural/etc). I do this with a lot of the grandmas that come in with their daughters.

[Meiri]

I think once the woman opened the conversation with a complaint about how expensive formula is, that Mama Poot's question was quite reasonable. I would not be expecting, as much, for someone who only even intended to formula feed to be griping about something they had CHOSEN to do all along. The cost goes with the territory YK?

OTOH, someone who was being taken by surprise by the cost would, IMO, be more likely to be someone who had not planned on it, and thus might be in need of some good breastfeeding advice.

I think your response was excellent, low key, and just right. Breastfeeding IS normal.

[sapphire_chan]

I think your reply was perfect. It's exactly the reply I would have wished I said after I just kind of sputtered at the woman.

[kittywitty]

Your answer was fine. After my in-laws' gross comments, I am no longer so nice.

[MilkTrance]

Originally Posted by Meiri

I think once the woman opened the conversation with a complaint about how expensive formula is, that Mama Poot's question was quite reasonable. I would not be expecting, as much, for someone who only even intended to formula feed to be griping about something they had CHOSEN to do all along. The cost goes with the territory YK?

OTOH, someone who was being taken by surprise by the cost would, IMO, be more likely to be someone who had not planned on it, and thus might be in need of some good breastfeeding advice.

I think your response was excellent, low key, and just right. Breastfeeding IS normal.

I totally agree with this post.

If I were complaining about the taste of factory eggs to someone, and this someone said to me, "have you tried organic? there are some inexpensive ones at Ralph's Grocery", it would be unfair for me to say "ewww, farm fresh eggs are gross!" don't you think?

[mommyddeville]

I think your reply was ideal. It said exactly what you think, without being mean. And you might have made her think.

[merry-mary]

I agree - I think your response was fine. My personal style is to ask a question like a PP suggested, "Oh, why do you think it's gross?".

I don't think you were out of line at all. You were chatting, she opened up the topic, you weren't critical of her choice to formula feed.

[didkisa]

Good reply!

[RachelGS]

Sounds like you handled it perfectly.

[annettemarie]

FYI: I moved a couple of posts that violated the UA and Lactivism forum guidelines and the replies.

[rmzbm]

You did fine. I think all I could have mustered was an "I'm sorry." No wonder she isn't nursing though, her mother being likely a big influence & all...