Photo by MickeyZ
As you may know, actress Jennifer Garner, wife of Ben Affleck and mom to Violet 4, and Seraphina, 1, is a huge breastfeeding advocate. She also makes her own baby food. Then again, she probably has the time and/or the flexibility to go the homemade route. I loved the idea of pureeing my own carrots and chicken; I just could never get my act together enough to do it. A lot of moms are in this boat.
The thing I like about Jennifer is she wouldn't have criticized me for it.
“It just makes me crazy, whether it’s between staying at home, going to work, how long you breastfeed, if you use formula … I feel like we should just assume everyone is doing the best they can. Women should take care of each other, not tear each other down," Garner told Parade via Celebrity Babies.
Few topics pit moms against each other more than breastfeeding versus formula, all you have to do is take a peek around CafeMom to discover that. And oftentimes the debate goes off in weird directions, like the CafeMom Newcomer's Club discussion from over the weekend: Is Formula Feeding Creepy?
Creepy. That was a new one on me.
"Yes, it is creepy as hell," one mom commented. "A plastic fake nipple, poor babies. It is like adding salt to a cut, first you give them crap in a can, now you put it in a plastic cold bottle."
Harsh. Jennifer would not approve of this.
If you take part in this debate, do you think you are supporting or alienating other moms who are trying to care for their children? Or do you assume, as my new best friend Jennifer says, that "we're all doing the best we can"?
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Comments 25
I would LOVE to assume that every mother is just trying to do the best she can, I really would. And I know that for the majority a lot of mothers, really ARE. Unfortunatly having taken part in the debate on here I can say that, sadly- a lot of mothers AREN'T trying to do 'the best they can'. And, to me....whethere you FF or BF that has to be one of the most unfortunate things ever.
I also think that this debate on HERE has gotten to a point where you are unable to critisize the quality of the product (not the mothers who use it) with out getting out of control responses, and I think some BF advocates push a lot of hate instead of support.
I try my best to offer support, but in some instances things need to come out and be said, period. I do love Jennifer Garner though...she seems like such a sweet woman!
So what? Tons of women say all the time that they think breastfeeding, something completely natural that EVERY mammal does - is gross.
I do think that a huge wad of chemicals with dangerous risks being toted as normal IS creepy - actually bordering on scary. Women need to have a safe alternative to breastfeeding, and currently, formula is a lot more touch-and-go in safety and health than people realize.
I am glad she said it. Breastmilk is best, no doubt. Not everyone can breastfeed and not everyone wants to. I think it is wrong to criticize someone for the decisions they make regarding their child. I make no apologies about the fact I ff. All three of my girls have been formula fed and are very healthy and intelligent.
There was a post before the formula is creepy post saying that breastfeeding is creepy and that is where that probably stemmed from. Breastfeeding is completely natural, we are mammals and thats how we feed our young. Why else do breasts produce milk? Either way, as long as you are feeding your child, nothing else needs to be said. It honestly offended me however for someone to actually think that the way I fed my child was creepy.
Breastfeeding...formula feeding...does it really matter as long as the child is getting fed and is a healthy and happy little person?
Both of my kids got about 4wks worth of pumped milk supplimented with formula (latching issues with my daughter because she was smaller, and because of improper latch with my son making my nipples almost fall off; the pain too much for me to take) and my kids are fine! My daughter's advanced for her age and everyone thinks she's a year older than she really is. My son's a little Buddha for his age (16lbs at 3mo) and both kids are healthy and happy.
The world won't end because a mother's formula-feeding rather than breastfeeding. At least you KNOW she's feeding her child, right?
I am not a mother yet, my husband and I have been trying for over a year with no luck so far. So I do not want to offend anyone but simply share my views. I nanny and have been around plenty of babies! Also, most of my friends have kids! I have already discussed my breastfeeding options and etc bc I know sumday I will also be a mother. I think everyone should give breastfeeding a chance bc it is a lot better for ur baby and for bonding. I also know that some women are just too busy, uncomfortable, and stressed to do it and there is nothing wrong with that. The 5 month I watch is breastfed but his mother works so he has gotten use to breast milk out of a bottle when I am here, and nursing when she is with him! He does great with both! So for anyone to say sumthing like fake nipple, get over it! People have to do what they can to support their family so if that means giving them formula or w/e else, it doesn't matter as long as they are healthy and meeting the childs needs! This could go onto a another debate like the stay at home mom vs working mother. I feel that everyone has different views and needs and if that is your child, u have the right to do as u please as long as it is not harmful to ur child! U r also allowed opions which plenty people here share, but what Garner said is exactly right. As women we need to come together and support eachother. We are not always right! So bottle or boob, stand behind eachother and realize everyone does what is right to them! : )