I saw a billboard the other day that read: Babies are made to be breastfed. My first response was "Babies are made to poop and pee everywhere too!" and the second thought was "What a stupid billboard."
How is a giant visual guilt trip next to an interstate going to change things for the women with a low milk supply? Show the overly self-conscious mother the error of her formula feeding ways? Is bullying women by telling them how selfish they are for not spending their lunch hours in the supply closet with their breast pump really the best way to inspire woman to nurse their babies?
Formula isn't evil. Women who opt not to breastfeed aren't bad parents. Educating people on the benefits of breastfeeding is one thing, but this approach is a huge turn-off, at least to me, and I breastfed all four of my babies.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
ame s 4-28-2008 @ 1:29PM
I haven't seen that sign yet, but on my last trip to Memphis I did see signs without graphics that simply read "Babies were born to breastfeed" on serveral bus stop shelters.
I don't find public nursing to be offensive. I'm offended by exposed butt crack and the like.
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Mitch 4-28-2008 @ 1:32PM
Breast Fed for 4 YEARS!?!?!?!?!
If a child can ask for the breast he is TOO old!!!
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Nicola 4-28-2008 @ 1:49PM
And your informed opinion is based upon what medical, biological, or human development expertise? It is in fact quite normal, natural, and healthy for children to nurse well beyond infancy. Would it help to remember that dear old Jesus was probably nursed until he was 5 or 6 years old? That would have been normal for the time and place...
Tash 4-28-2008 @ 4:02PM
The minimum predicted age for a natural age of weaning in humans is 2.5 years, with a maximum of 7.0 years from http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html. I encourage you to read her article.
Julie Coleman 4-28-2008 @ 10:24PM
Ahh, gotta love the old "If they're old enough to ask for it, they're too old" theory. FYI Mitch, newborns, infants, toddlers all "ask" to be nursed. From the moment a baby is born, she/he is aware that they must "ask" for their food be it through crying, signing or with words. I truly loathe this lame excuse from those freaked out by extended breastfeeding. Get over yourselves already.
Kim Leslie 4-28-2008 @ 1:56PM
I have to say the, one thing no one has mentioned is that formula companies always state the breast feeding is best in their advertising.
I fed my daughter for five months exclusively pumping because she couldn't take it straight. I got just as many glares and stares for that as I did when I was feeding her from the breast. No one ever bothered to ask what was in the bottle.
For my son, we are formula feeding because my milk never came in...even with Mother's Milk tea. Do I feel guilty? Yeah. But it doesn't take a bill board to do that to me. Just my own knowledge.
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Sarah 4-28-2008 @ 2:01PM
Ummm, I have to say that while I have seen formula ads in magazines or newspapers, I have never seen a billboard that says "Babies are made to drink Formula" I don't think it's aimed towards men or inlaws, I think it's aimed towards mothers who choose not to breast feed or choose to supplement with formula. And while I think the only person who can make you feel guilty about something is yourself, I do think that breast feeding zealots are trying very hard to make mothers feel guilty about not breastfeeding their children. You would think that not breastfeeding is akin to child abuse. Why can't we just let moms make the decision for themselves and stop judging. Come on people, formula doesn't kill babies.
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noreen 4-28-2008 @ 2:54PM
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned of the risk from Enterobacter sakazakii infections in hospitalised newborn infants fed powdered infant formulas.
--http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=35139-infant-formula-linked
Non-breastfed infants had a higher risk of dying when compared with those who had been predominantly breastfed.
--http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15976892?dopt=Abstract
Yes, actually, formula does kill babies. At least according to the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization.
Sarah 4-28-2008 @ 5:08PM
Noreen,
did you even read the links that you emailed? I don't think I have to respond to such a knee jerk reaction. Typical of a breastfeeding zealot. You should go back and review your links sweetie.
Heather 4-28-2008 @ 2:04PM
You are offended by advertising promoting breastfeeding really? Are you offended by advertisements for sunscreen too? How about organic food, exercise, carseats?
Funny how I flip through my parenting magazine and find images featuring pretty babies, perfect moms and immaculate homes while advertising infant formula.
Why can't something like breastfeeding that is clearly better for babies-(this is fact) be promoted. Why would I be concerned about how someone who chooses to formula feed feels-it their choice, they should deal with it, just as I dealt with the rude stares and hiding under a blanket while breastfeeding. Breastfeeding needs to be promoted, accepted and seen as the norm. Perhaps then, would more women try because it is fact- "babies are born to breastfeed" . In the meantime I will think of a slogan promoting infant formula -hows does "good enough" or "it the only way fathers can bond" or "its so easy" sound? Oh and I also find it interesting to declare at the end of your post that you breastfed all of your babies. Clearly you felt the need to clarify this. Why- self conscious?
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blackbird 4-28-2008 @ 5:36PM
Ack.
I would be put off by that billboard too.
I breastfed my boys and it was not fun OR easy - and I have scores of friends who had a great deal of difficulty breastfeeding.
Who would put up a billboard like that? I already feel like I had "breast is best" drilled into me...and it was LONG TIME AGO.
Don't even get me started on circumcision. Personal choices.
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CLM 4-28-2008 @ 8:09PM
I think the irksome thing about the billboard is not the message that breastfeeding is a good thing, but the implication that it is EASY.
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Kristen 4-28-2008 @ 9:42PM
CLM, that's an interesting point. I notice that some of the most militant nursing advocates also admit that nursing came natural to them. My first tore a hole in my nipple and I bled every time I nursed him for 8 weeks. Feel free to NOT give me a speech about proper latches, thank you very much. I ended up nursing him to 14 months. The second? A natural nurser. Until he bit a hole in me at 6 months and didn't stop biting until 9 months.
You can get icked out all you want, Angie. I get that your perception of the sign was one of judgment--not yours. I get what the other people are saying too. But we are so quick to go 10 rounds. Or maybe you can just go to therapy for your neurosis?
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Ashley 4-28-2008 @ 10:24PM
Breastfeeding IS best for babies. If someone feels guilty because they aren't giving the best to their babies, then that is on them.
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Cassandra 4-28-2008 @ 10:30PM
I could never understand why women care so much about what other women do with their breasts! Good grief!
I didn't last more than a few months with nursing for a number of reasons, but I'm happy, my kid is healthy and happy, and I don't feel guilty at all. I think CLM did make a good point, though. I think some women are told so much how lovely and easy breastfeeding is that the reality can be a rude awakening and/or they feel guilty and inadequate for having trouble.
Listen, we're not all going to agree on how to parent. Do what works for you and cancel out all the crazy-making noise!
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MsC 4-28-2008 @ 10:46PM
As someone whose milk never came in no matter what I did, I do find the constant 'you are a terrible person' vibe extremely disappointing, but I've learned to just let it go. At least that billboard's message is keeping with the 'breast is best' argument as opposed to the 'by the way, if you don't breasfeed, your kid is doomed to be diseased and dumb' line.
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ame s 4-28-2008 @ 5:57PM
I was lucky. My milk came in right away, both of my daughters were "naturals" at the latch on.
A sweet friend of mine had the same problem you did. She drank plenty of fluids and ate a proper diet but could not produce. For two days her lil guy would nurse for a couple of minutes then arch his back and howl as if he'd been scalded. The little guy was starving! She called me crying the first time she gave him a bottle of formula. The baby wasnt't crying, he was full and happy.
Getting babies the nurishment they need is what is important, whether it comes from the breast or the bottle.
Julia 4-29-2008 @ 12:28AM
I LOVE the billboard, finally something besides the usual mainstream B.S. that is shoved down our throat. If your offended then that is your issue! I don't judge women who use formula because that is their choice but I also don't like this type of reaction to a billboard! Maybe women who breastfeed should be offended by seeing formula ads everywhere!
The reason formula ads state that breast milk is best is because the HAVE too because of the WHO.
I breastfed my daughter until six weeks ago when she was 42 months, but Mitch, she is developmentally delayed, and non verbal, so I guess that is o.k. by you since she couldn't "ask for it". What a idiotic statement to make!
Maybe next time I see an ad. for formula I will think "what a stupid ad." instead of seeing the beautiful baby and Mom being together, because isn't that what is more important?!
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Jenn 4-29-2008 @ 12:38AM
That billboard is not a 'guilt trip' for formula feeding moms, its simply trying to promote public awareness and help educate people that breasts are much more then a sexually exploited man toy. Women are still made to feel like breastfeeding is wrong, dirty, shamefull and something that needs to be hidden. I doubt the designers of that billboard thought 'hey lets shame moms who formula feed'
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Shawna 4-29-2008 @ 11:54AM
I once had several female roommates (not ones I chose) that were completely disgusted by breastfeeding and told me "people don't take a dump in public, men don't mastubate in public, women shouldn't breastfeed in public". I was horrified that they equated breastfeeding with these sorts of activities, but my words fell on deaf ears. As long as there are people who think like this, I think having these sorts of public awareness campaigns is a good thing.
Yes, if you've been in the trenches and found you couldn't breastfeed, and feel bad about that, you might think these billboards are aimed at you. But I don't think they actually are, I really think they do more good than harm.
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