Welcome to Breastfeed Benefits
Feeding Children Article
Breastfeeding - Handling Criticism
Patty Hone
Feelings about how to parent seem to shift with every generation. A new way of parenting, sometimes called attachment parenting, has emerged and it challenges many of the rigid teachings of our mother's generation. Although breastfeeding is on the rise now, women are still dealing with the repercussions of previous generations. Not too long ago mainstream women did not breastfeed at all and the ones that did were taught to follow strict schedules. Some thought of breastfeeding as primitive. Formula was touted as being equal to or superior to breast milk. Only recently, has the fact that "breast is best" been acknowledged. Other women were in the workforce. They may have felt that breastfeeding was not an option for them. They did not have the modern breast pump available to them. The medical community may not have encouraged breastfeeding at the time. It is not hard to imagine. After all, even with all the knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding there are still many health professionals today that are uneducated and unsupportive of breastfeeding. With all the challenges in the way of breastfeeding, it is understandable why many women of yesterday did not choose to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding has come a long way but still many of the old thinking still carries on. Women are more educated on the subject; however, even with the many books and other information available, people are often most influenced by their immediate family and friends. Having the support of friends and family can boost the chances of having a successful breastfeeding experience. On the other hand, having to deal with criticism and misinformation from the people you are close to can sabotage a new mom trying to breastfeed.
There are many ways to deal with the negativity of others. One of the best things you can do is to try to understand why the person feels the way they do. Is it because they were taught differently about breastfeeding? Were they indoctrinated with the ideas that breastfeeding is primitive or inferior? Or is it that they feel breasts are a sexual object? Maybe they have never seen someone breastfeed and it makes them uncomfortable. This is the case with a lot of people. Once breastfeeding in public becomes more commonplace, perhaps, this will become less of a problem. Whatever the case, finding out the root of the person's issues with breastfeeding may help to resolve the tension.
Here are some things you can do to deal with criticism.
Be positive: It is hard for someone to argue with a happy, positive person. If you are excited and enthusiastic about breastfeeding it can be contagious
Try to educate them: Find information on the benefits of breastfeeding to mom and baby and share this with them. You don't have to "push this down their throat". Just be enthusiastic about your decision to breastfeed and share with them why you decided to.
Be sympathetic: A lot of times women are defensive because breastfeeding did not work out for them. If you sit and talk with any woman that really wanted to breastfeed, you can hear the sadness in her story. Try to be sympathetic and non-judgmental. Don't say things like "you could have or should have". Share your experience, be positive, and let them know you care.
Try not to get angry: Breastfeeding conversations can get very heated. Getting angry with someone is not likely to change her feelings. It will just make you and her upset. If you don't feel like you can talk about breastfeeding with this person change the subject or avoid talking about it.
Use your doctor as your advocate: Sometimes the best thing you can do is tell someone that this is what your doctor recommends. What you think means very little to some people but a doctor's word carries weight.
Don't be sarcastic or insulting: Belittling someone is likely to make someone defensive. It is not a good approach to winning someone over. You may turn an opportunity to educate someone into a personal attack.
Stand your ground: Do not let someone else decide how you are going to parent. If they are uncomfortable then they will have to come to terms with it. You do not have to change the way you parent to suit someone else.
If nothing is working then you may just let the person know that you do not want to discuss the issue with them any more. Hopefully, it doesn't come to this.
Patty Hone is a wife and mommy to three kids. She is also co-owner of Justmommies.com. Justmommies is a community for mommies to make friends and find support. Please visit Justmommies at http://www.justmommies.com.
Feeding Children Best products
Modern Guide to Raising ChildrensFeeding Children News
LA school where teachers 'sexually abused students and spoon fed them semen ... - Daily Mail
 Daily Mail | LA school where teachers 'sexually abused students and spoon fed them semen ... Daily Mail The ruckus comes after teacher Mark Berndt, 61, was charged with carrying out lewd acts on 23 children who were aged six to 10. He allegedly blindfolded the students in his classroom and fed them his semen with a spoon. Children were allegedly told was ... Parents at LA school keep kids home amid sex-abuse allegations Upset parents protest at LA school where 2 teachers face lewd conduct allegations |
Feeding kids during the summer - ConnectAmarillo.com powered by KVII
Feeding kids during the summer ConnectAmarillo.com powered by KVII The programs help feed a growing number of children who do not have access to nutritious meals when schools close for summer. According to Feeding America, more than 17 percent of Texas households are considered food insecure - a rate that is higher ... |
'PEOPLE' Magazine Announces 2012 Charity Initiative - MarketWatch (press release)
'PEOPLE' Magazine Announces 2012 Charity Initiative MarketWatch (press release) PEOPLE magazine announces its 2012 charity initiative, PEOPLE FIRST: Help Feed a Child, in the February 13, 2012 issue. This year, PEOPLE, the most popular weekly celebrity and entertainment magazine in the US, is partnering with the Louisville, Ky. |
California Teacher Faces Charges For Feeding Children Semen - WebProNews
 IBTimes.co.uk | California Teacher Faces Charges For Feeding Children Semen WebProNews Strange pictures of children blindfolded with bugs in their mouth's, cockroaches on their face's, and an unknown white liquid on cookies being fed to the them are what compelled the processor to report the photos to authorities. Girl was victim of both teachers charged in LA child abuse cases: report Teacher Mark Berndt 'Fed Children Semen and Cockroaches' Teacher gagged kids and fed them semen |
Feeding children around the globe - Richmond-News
Feeding children around the globe Richmond-News The Rotary Club of New Richmond, in partnership with Faith Community Church as well as other churches and businesses, is bringing the “Feed My Starving Children” organization to the community on Saturday, June 23, to package 100000 meals or more to ... |
It is not my job to feed your children - Mansfield News Journal
It is not my job to feed your children Mansfield News Journal I know there are hungry children. But you'll never get me to believe that some of these families are gaming the system. Or that some of these families, with a little bit of effort, can't afford to feed their own kids. Our government must stop enabling ... |