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Well-meaning family members can use what you feed your child as an influence on their peers. Be confident in your choices.
If you spend time with your family on vacation, you want to be able to spend time with your loved ones. At the same time, you have the responsibility of taking care of your little one. This includes providing them with “off-menu” meals according to their age.
Although the questions and comments of your relatives may be well-intentioned, they may appear to hurt your decision about how you feed your baby.
The holidays are hard enough. You are already planning how much milk to bring and how many bottles you will need to feed your baby for the duration of the visit. Enjoy family time and share memories with your child on their first vacation.
And if there are any questions or comments about how you feed your baby, just stop, answer briefly, and continue. There is no need to explain the tears and stress you endured with pumping or expressing milk, or the first few days you missed because of post-surgery medications that could pass through your milk to your baby. Answers should be short and sweet unless you want to share your story with someone who is willing to listen.
Here are some common questions or phrases you may hear.
“Breastfeeding at its Best”
There is no doubt about it. Breastfeeding is the best food for your baby, which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it for the first six months of your baby’s life. However, sometimes women have to choose. Maybe she breastfed for the first month. Maybe it was just the early days.
Despite their best intentions, mothers choose to formula feed for the benefit of their baby. This does not mean that the mother has failed, and bullying a mother for not breastfeeding her baby is a form of anger when the effort did not help to feed her child.
Instead of taking any bait, take the words for what they are: literal words.
Short answers:
- “Absolutely!” or “I agree.”
- “Yes, and this little one got a lot of goodies before we bottled it.”
“Bottle-fed Babies Don’t Get Along”
The fact that bottle-fed babies are not compatible with breastfeeding is just speculation. Although there is a difference between skin-to-skin contact, there is a bond between child and parent.
You feed your child and you spend time with them. You focus on their well-being as you watch their feedings to make sure they are getting something out of the breast or that it is not coming out too fast. This is the time when you can talk to your child so that they can get used to your words and the language they are learning.
The main difference regarding the relationship between breastfeeding and bottle feeding is that your partner or childcare provider can also feed your baby, not just the mother.
Short answers:
- “This little one doesn’t complain about not being cared for, does he? (and tell your child to smile toothlessly which pleases the relative)
- In fact, it gives this little one a chance to relate to the rest of us (in terms of your partner).
“Bottle Feeding Will Make Your Baby Fat”
It is another myth that bottle feeding can cause obesity in children. Although there is research to try to prove this, it is often based on the opportunity to feed the child.
Breastfed babies eat on demand, and their demand is supported by milk. This is what makes breastfeeding so wonderful because it allows your milk to adapt to your baby’s needs over time. What most women don’t know is how much milk they can produce unless they pump regularly.
Bottle feeding can lead to weight gain because it is possible to feed them too much. Babies can tell when they are full, but they can drink a lot of milk from a bottle before the brain tells them to.
As a parent, you need to keep an eye on your child to make sure they are full. If they are pushing the bottle away or away from the tip, it can be hard to resist trying to get your child to finish the last ounce that may still be in the bottle.
Sthose parents think about the price of milk and don’t want to waste a drop. However, just by bottle feeding, your baby is not destined to gain weight.
Short answers:
- “I heard that myth. Breastfed babies may be skinny in the first few years, but the bottle won’t suffocate a baby.”
- “The pediatrician is happy with their weight, and I know he’ll be keeping an eye on their growth. Thank you for your concern.”
“Are Formulas Expensive?”
Every family has someone who wants to make money or how much money everyone is spending. Although breastfeeding costs nothing, the cost of bottle feeding ensures that your baby is getting the nutrients they need when you are unable to breastfeed.
Maybe your family member is wondering about the budget as their family grows. Maybe they are looking for the best deal. Maybe they have noses.
Short answers:
- “It costs more than breastfeeding.”
- “It does, but babies can be expensive, and this one needs to be eaten.”
“There Is No Difference Between Standardized Children’s Designs and Standardized Children’s Designs.”
You chose organic formulations for whatever reason was important to you. You wanted a product that was as close to breast milk as possible. You wanted a natural product that does not contain artificial ingredients and processed sugars that your baby does not need. Maybe there was an allergy concern.
You have educated yourself on the difference between normal formula and breast milk. Your child means a lot to you.
Short answers:
- “I have looked at the ingredients of everything, and I know that I chose the right one for my son.”
- Pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, and hormones from conventional milk that the baby does not need.
“What Are You Feeding That Child?”
Curiosity can make a family member try to learn more about your choice in organic formulations. Hipp, Holle, Lebenswert, and Loulouka brands do not come in English (except for Hipp UK). They may not have seen the product because it is not sold in stores in North America.
Now is your time to teach and share your praise for the best baby food you can find.
Best Answer:
- “This is from Europe. They have the best baby formula because of the strict guidelines for organic production by the European Union. It is 99% organic and the company is very sustainable. They are doing a lot to make the world a better place for this baby. I can order online. You can also if you want your baby.”
Short Answer:
- “The translation came with the book separately. I have it memorized.”
Sometimes family members will ask and comment on your friend’s behalf, knowing that you can listen to what they have to say. Your loved one may have already been taught about the benefits of breastfeeding and breast milk, so they may respond in kind.
Remember that family members also want the best for your child and will make up their own minds based on research, experts and what is available online. Some family members will benefit from correction and a brief education while others will not be willing to change their philosophies that they readily share with anyone who will listen.
Don’t let this be an argument; instead change the subject so that peace and goodwill can brighten your season.