Charlotte Church Loves Being a Homemaker

BARM/FAME

To hear Charlotte Church tell it, life is pretty idyllic at the moment. Mom to 11-month-old Ruby Megan and expecting another baby this winter with partner Gavin Henson, the 22-year-old songstress and television presenter spends her time doting on the people she loves at her seaside home in Cardiff, Wales. "I like to be able to cook for [Gavin], and have a nice, clean house when he comes home, and clean clothes," Charlotte says, "I’m not lazy when it comes to the baby and my house. I’m quite obsessive-compulsive about cleaning." Charlotte feels just as strongly about the prying eyes of the paparazzi, who might want to duck if they see her out and about with her brand new air gun.

If I’m out in the garden with Ruby, it really pisses me off. I hate thinking they can print photos of her. She has a right to anonymity. I don’t want those f—ers getting money from her. So I might start picking them off. Only joking, I promise, Mr. Policeman. It wasn’t me.

The couple are on equal footing when it comes to caring for their daughter. "I change the nappies and feed her," Charlotte says, "[Gavin] plays with her all the time." Charlotte’s decision to stop breastfeeding when Ruby was six months old is something she says she does not regret. "That is the national guidelines and that’s what I felt comfortable with, to be honest," she reveals, "It was nice to get my body back and to stop leaking, which was a little bit odd, really." For now, Charlotte says her future is bright and full of possibilities.

I’ve got an album to do, an opera to perform in, a novel to write, a degree to get — I love psychology, anthropology, ancient civilizations. I’ve got more babies to have, more animals to look after…Or maybe I should just be a stay-at-home mum. I don’t know which path to go down. Or whether not to go down a path at all. 

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Comments

Sorry, Charlotte, but you chose to give up Ruby’s rights to anonymity by selling photos of her to OK! last year. The media now know what she looks like and no doubt you will be selling further pictures of your second child to OK! Magazine.

- SJ on August 27th, 2008

Re: “That is the national guidelines and that’s what I felt comfortable with, to be honest”

I suppose Wales is a bit behind – all major health organizations now recommend exclusively breastfeeding up to 6 months (no additional foods or juices) – and then continuing up until at least their second birthday.

Still, 6 months is better than nothing – but I would expect more from someone who from the beginning was an outspoken breastfeeder, and was trying to spread the word to her young fans.

- N.S on August 27th, 2008

I have no doubt she is a loving mother who adores her daughter and baby on the way, but her age really shows in this interview. She sounds very flighty, like she has so many opportunities open to her and can’t decide which ones to take. That is completely normal for a person her age-which is why having children at such a young age can really hinder a parent’s choices for themselves. Just my opinion.

- Lauren on August 27th, 2008

Wow, she’s all over the place! Makes my head spin.

- Kristin on August 27th, 2008

Even though I’m not exactly her biggest fan, I think it’s good she hasn’t made up her mind about her future. It’s not like she has any financial problems, so her baby will always been financially taken care of, so it’s best she focus on her kids right not and if in the future she wants to venture down one of those paths so be it.
Besides, she’s 22 – it’s not really that young.

- ava on August 27th, 2008

It is a really difficult thing to be both pregnant and nursing at the same time. The make-up of the milk changes so the baby might not be quite as interested, and for some women, there milk starts to dry up a bit. And then the exhaustion on top of that. I was 19, and my daughter was 6 months old when I got pregnant with my second baby, she nursed for about 6 weeks after I got pregnant and then quit. I also worked a lot during this time, so that probably didn’t help either. With my second though, I was able to nurse for 2 years 8 months!!

And Lauren, I believe being able to involve your children (or the idea of them at least) in your life decisions is a GOOD thing, not a bad one. I think there are many young moms who are experts at what they do because they had the opportunity to choose what their life would be with their children in mind.

- mom2foxkids on August 27th, 2008

I actually think it’s great, not “flighty”, that she has so many options open to her and is so excited about her future. It seems incredibly important to me, both for your own sake and the sake of your children, that you maintain your individuality and your own life. She’s obviously fully embracing motherhood and loving her daughter, yet is still excited about what lies ahead for her personally. Seems healthy (and rather enviable! to me!

- Laura on August 27th, 2008

Ava, I respectfully disagree with you. 22 *is* young, especially considering that Charlotte will be a mom of 2 later on this year. I’ve no doubt she is a great mom but she is still only a few years out of her teens after all. I can certainly understand her feeling of having her entire life still ahead of her–even though she has been a singer for most of her life I think it is rare to find someone her age or younger who is 100% sure of what path to take in life. To be quite frank her comments make her seem as if she really doesn’t know what she wants at this point.

On the subject of her child’s privacy, I have to admit I have less sympathy for her or really any other celebrity who chooses to open up their life and parenthood to magazines, which is what she has done in the recent past. I think of another high-profile celebrity like Jordan, who also does a lot of public interviews and magazine spreads, and have a lot of respect for the fact that she never complains about media intrusion. When you invite that into your life you have little ground to stand on with regards to this.

- Erica on August 27th, 2008

i think it’s one thing to be photographed in public – or to sell the first photos of your child (if you’re a celeb – so the paps will leave you alone), and a completely different thing to be in your own yard with paps hiding in the trees to take pics of you. even if you’re a celebrity you should be able to be in your garden with your child and expect some privacy.

i don’t think she’s flighty at all. just sounds like a young woman who hasn’t been beaten down or jaded yet. i remember feeling that way a million years ago

as for 22 being “so young” to be a mother of two… my mother had 3 kids under the age of 5 by the time she was 26 (the first one at 21, the second at 23, the third at 26), and she was a well educated (degree in chemistry), responsible, interesting woman/mother. only one generation ago 22 was completely normal for having a family. don’t be so judgmental.

- amandamay on August 27th, 2008

I don’t know. I’m kind of torn on the privacy issue. It’s one thing to do a magazine interview and release pictures to the media outlets on your own terms and it’s another to have them peeking in on you in your backyard. I’m not totally sure if that’s what Charlotte meant by the garden, but that’s what it sounded like to me. I think that maybe she used the wrong terminology and that no, her daughter doesn’t have a right to her anonymity now that they’ve released pictures of her from inside their home, but they also should have the right to be able to be in their yard or around their home and not have cameras pointed at them.

So while I agree that you open yourself to media attention when you do interviews and release pictures to people, I still don’t think it’s right that the paps invade people’s homes and their private space like that. It’s one thing to invite someone in or to be photographed on the street while out doing errands or while you’re in public, but I think it’s sad that some famous people can’t even have privacy in their backyard without the paps trying to get pictures.

- Cait on August 27th, 2008

I was a mother of 2 by 23 and a mother of 3 by 26. Just because a mom is young doesn’t mean she can’t be a good mother.
About the breastfeeding – the AAP recommend breastfeeding for a minimum of 1 year, the WHO says a minimum of 2 years. I wasn’t able to breastfeed my first but I breastfed my other two for years.

- Shawna on August 27th, 2008

She sounds optimistic and is keeping her options open. Good for her. She seems pretty happy to me.

- chris on August 27th, 2008

I think she is refreshingly candid and honest about being a full time mom with an open future.
Given that she became pregnant while her daughter was still an infant, I’d imagine it wouldn’t be easy for everyone to continue breastfeeding in her situation. I feel noone should be judged for how long they do it, as any time you can handle is wonderful for your child.
I hope we will see more articles about her here in the future!

- Julie on August 27th, 2008

I think in some ways what makes Charlotte seem younger is her ability to jump from talking about her kids and her man Gavin, to talking about her inability to decide what to limit her major to in college/university with the fact that she’s still in the “traditional university student” age range.

It’s good for Charlotte that she can actually afford to be a mother and a college student simultaneously without breaking her bank. (Unlike my sister’s friend who’s a 21 yr old mother of a 1 yr old who’d love to attend college/university, but can’t because of the cost & the fact her young husband is still a university student.)

Charlotte trying to be a good mother and I do think its cool that she wants an education after being a child protegy in music. Somehow I doubt (or hope) Charlotte doesn’t push Ruby into being a professional opera singer before she’s a teen, even if she inherits her mother’s voice.

- Autumn on August 27th, 2008

Amandamay and Cait- ITA! Yes, obviously if sell pictures of your kids to magazines, you can’t expect the paps to leave you alone (and BTW, I don’t think that’s what celebs like the Jolie-Pitts, who sell their kids’ first pics to magazines, expect to happen. Rather, doing a magazine photoshoot helps to at least temporarily LESSEN the demand for pap photos of the new baby, and thus keep the paps at bay at least temporarily, not stop it altogether or keep the paps at bay permenantly).

However, magazine photoshoots and pap pictures in public places are one thing. Pap pictures in a celeb’s private house/yard are quite another. For example, a week or so before PEOPLE released Knox and Viv’s first photos, a few paps actually trespssed onto the J-Ps property and took photos of the entire family (minus Knox and Viv, who were probably asleep) while they (the J-Ps, that is, not the paps) while they were trying to enjoy themselves in the privacy of their own home and yard. One pap went so far as to snap a pic of Pax swimming….While completely naked!

The story about the paps being so incredibly intrusive even made PEOPLE Magazine’s website! Anyway, pictures like that definently cross the line, IMO. No matter how often a celeb sells photos of their kids’ to magazines, the paps do not have the right to invade their privacy (and, you have to admit, taking photos of someone in their private yard, without their permission, is DEFINETLY invading their privacy!)!

In that regard, Charlotte has every right to want Ruby and her new baby to be left alone!

- CelebBabyLover on August 27th, 2008

CelebBabyLover – i’m not sure i understand why you addressed me. i also said i think charlotte and her baby DO have a right to privacy in their own yard, even if she released photos of ruby to the magazines.

- amandamay on August 28th, 2008

amandamay, ITA means “i totally agree” .
BTW, i second your comment, too.

- lilith on August 28th, 2008

i like charlotte, and think her attitude is refreshing. i know many young mums who feel they have reached the peak of their lives after having children and have no desire to do anything else-the fact she wants to go on and do other things too shows a great deal of maturity.
Her comment re:the pap intrusion is completely understandable – while some celebs DO flaunt their children (Katie price i mean you), i think charlotte had only done two shoots with Ruby; after her birth,and at her christening. both of which she would have been hounded by the paps until they got their pic, which would have ruined a family day in the case of the christening.
she doesnt take her to celeby places,Ruby mainly stays in wales,where C will take a walk around her local village/property with her child,yet still gets papped a lot.

i say fair play to her, and have a lot of respect for somebody who knows what they want out of life while still young enough to get out there and do it. Team Charlotte lol.

- Louise on August 28th, 2008

Amandamay, I’m fairly certain that CelebBabyLover was agreeing with you.

I think it’s great that Charlotte isn’t 100% certain what path she wants to take because, like mom2foxkids said, she now has the opportunity to choose what her life will be like with her daughter in mind. A lot of older mothers struggle with maintaining their well established careers while trying to bring a baby into the mix, and they sometimes find it hard to adjust too. I think that’s one of the benefits of being a younger mom– your child and your job never have to compete with one another. And besides, she has the luxury of indecisiveness because she is more than capable of providing for her child.

And as a side note, I’ve also wanted to have children very close in age. My sister and I are 23 months apart and we’ve always had a great relationship, so I think it would be nice to do that for my own kids as well. Anyhoo…..

God bless,
Min

- Mindy on August 28th, 2008

The thing that confuses me about Charlotte is that not a few months ago she was on here with her pregnancy announcement and stating something along the lines that she wanted 6 kids, and she wanted to be done having them by the time she was 30. Soooo….she’s gonna have 4 more kids in the next 7 years AND do all this other stuff while she’s raising 6 kids under 10 years old?? Better hire some nannies! This is where her age shows IMO.

- SH on August 28th, 2008

I think it’s fabulous that she’s so excited about her life and isn’t groaning about how “tied down” she feels by her child(ren). I think it’s very important for a child to be part of a mother’s life and not the whole of it. SO many times older moms have put off having children until they’ve done everything else they wanted and then having a baby becomes this obsession – not good for a child.
It sounds like this young woman has an excellent start – she’s obviously having a great time being a mom and a homemaker.

- Shannon M on August 28th, 2008

“all major health organizations now recommend exclusively breastfeeding up to 6 months (no additional foods or juices) – and then continuing up until at least their second birthday.”

This statement is incorrect. If you read the policy report themselves, they clearly do not state that mother are mandated to breast-feed for TWO years.

I have never heard of an organization recommending breast until 2. WHO’s website states: “Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age.” I recommends that toddlers eat 3-4 meals of solid food a day. No where does the WHO policy report state that mother shoudl breast-feed for two years. Frankly, toddlers asking for the breast is a little creepy for some mothers.

AAP policy report on breast-feedings states: ” Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.”

Neither of these recommendations suggest that mother should breastfeed for two years. Quite frankly, breast-feeding toddlers perplexes me.

- Annie on August 28th, 2008

Shannon M, I’m probably what you consider to be an “older” mom. I didn’t have my first child until I was 31, but the truth is having a child does “tie you down”. While it’s great to have dreams, unfortunately for many mothers they don’t come true unless they’ve already accomplished them before they started having children or if they are young mother, after the child is older. Charlotte Church is lucky because she has the financial means to actually do the things she would like, but for the average 22 yr old mother, most of those goals would have to wait.

- Dannie on August 28th, 2008

Annie -

“Frankly, toddlers asking for the breast is a little creepy… frankly, breast-feeding toddlers perplexes me.”

Which shows you are uneducated about breastfeeding as Charlotte is.
I’m sorry that you have a contorted view of breastfeeding, and about the fact that breastfeeding a toddler is normal – it’s very sad that a lot of mothers do not know that is is very important for babies to breastfeed until they self wean – which is usually mid-toddlerhood.
You could do with educating yourself on the subject.

Of interest -

“UNICEF has long encouraged breastfeeding for two years and longer, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is now on record as encouraging mothers to nurse at least one year and as long after as both mother and baby desire.”
http://www.lactivist.com/jacknew/jnbfatoddler.htm

“The World Health Organization recommends that children be breastfed for up to two years and beyond, as do UNICEF and the Canadian Paediatric Society.”
http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/breastfeeding/extended-breastfeeding.html

- N.S on August 28th, 2008

I think we have to keep in mind that Charlotte is not the average young mother. She has the financial means to pursue any dream she wants, and I don’t think she sounds “flighty” at all. She just sounds happy and excited about where she is in her life right now. What’s wrong with that? I personally know people who had kids and then went back to school to earn degrees, etc. so it’s not like it’s that unusual.

Also, I think it’s admirable that she managed to continue breastfeeding for six months. That’s more than enough in my humble opinion!!! Especially now that she’s pregnant again. I probably won’t be able to manage more than a few weeks of breastfeeding (same thing happened to my mother both times). To each their own.

- Ash on August 28th, 2008

I’m a firm believer in not judging others unless we have walked in their shoes – be it breastfeeding or cloth diapers or homeschooling or whatever the issue is. Each person should make their own decision without feeling like someone else is going to criticize them. Breastfeeding isn’t always the right decision for every mom, and that is between the woman, her partner, and her doctor, and not for anyone else to judge.

I’m coming down from my pulpit now (smile).
Amy

- Amy on August 28th, 2008

it is no one’s business how long anyone chooses to breastfeed for, or even if they choose to do it at all.

it is, however, sad that so many people take it upon themselves to criticize someone else’s personal decision involving their own body and their own child.

it is no one’s place to pass judgement, and it is no one’s business.

- ada on August 28th, 2008

I got the feeling Charlotte meant she stopped breastfeeding soon after she got pregnant. My understanding is that recommendations are for you to do that. Not that it was Ruby’s age, but the fact that Charlotte was pregnant again… (Although I could be misreading this!)

- mmh on August 28th, 2008

What I find more disturbing is that in all of her interivews she is always talking about how much she does for Gavin. She sounds like a 50′s era housewife. …are on equal footing when it comes to caring for their daughter. “I change the nappies and feed her,” Charlotte says, “[Gavin] plays with her all the time.” ….now how is that equal footing? Shouldn’t he be changing diapers too? She also says she does the cooking, cleaning and laundry…Quite the life he has. I am currently pregnant with my 3rd child and in no way would my husband expect me to be the little housewife, barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. If you want to see equal footing, come visit my house!

- Willow on August 28th, 2008

Dannie…
I am so DISCOURAGED by your statement that young mothers don’t typically achieve their dreams.
First, it seems as though Charlottes dream is to be a mother to a lot of children and a great wife, with the others as sort of supplimental type dreams.
Second. I am a very young, single mother of two children. I was 18 when I got pregnant the first time, and 19 the second time. I am now 23 years old and only 8 months from my Bachelors degree. I plan to teach middle school and am currently an educational assistant at my local middle school. I was able to take the summer off, through dilligance and wonderful saving techniques When I am finished with my bachelors program I plan to jump back in for my masters. All of this was done with my kids, I had only finished one year of school before they were born. I was also working a dead end job BEFORE they were born.

Young moms CAN and DO achieve their dreams, esspecially with great support systems. I think if you can believe it, and see the positive in every curve ball thrown your way, you WILL achieve all that you work for. I think more people believeing how you do Dannie, is the only thing “tying us down” not the children.

- mom2foxkids on August 28th, 2008

Lactivist.com and Mothering.com are not the WHO and AAP. If you read the policy reports yourself, they do not state that mothers should breastfeed for two years. My quotes are from the actual reports, not third party organization that promote extended breast feeding.

- Annie on August 28th, 2008

Im waiting for the day when i come into the comments section and dont see people criticizing someone elses parenting. The world would be a very strange place if we all parented in the same way and maybe people should just get on with their own parenting choices instead of berating another persons.

I really dont understand why some people think that because it is not the way they would do something then it is wrong, just leave her be!

I often wonder if us CBB readers lives and parenting were watched through the lens of a camera and posted on here what peoples comments would be on how we choose to raise our children and god forbid we should make a mistake, because lets not forget we all do make mistakes.

Btw i am also a young mother, i had my daughter when i was 21 years old. I finished my degree, ive set up my own business and my daughter certainly doesnt “tie me down”, quite the opposite in fact.

- Amy on August 28th, 2008

Annie, good point. Parenting websites aren’t the official authority. And N.S., you come off pretty condencending when you talk about how Annie should obviously educate herself…especially since those websites aren’t medical or health organizations. It’s like directing someone to wikipedia…

The policy is to continue breastfeeding past the recommended state, as long as it’s comfortable/desirable for both the child and the mother. And if someone’s uncomfortable with a 2 year old breastfeeding, that’s perfectly fine. I’m not comfortable with it, either. It’s not in my plans for that stage of development.

- Kerri on August 28th, 2008

I personally get annoyed with everyone getting so up in arms about breastfeeding. I personally was not breastfed, and I can guarantee that I’m healthier than the majority of people on this site and their children. Now, before you jump down my throat, I know it’s better for the baby, but it is the woman’s choice for herself and for her baby. Everyone should just be less judgemental. You aren’t their Dr’s and they aren’t your babies, so just chill.

Also, I don’t believe she’s flighty. I believe she’s like most ppl, especially most young 22 year olds, that dream, have various goals, and like to keep her options open. Luckily for her, she’s got the money to do it and pursue her hopes and dreams more than others.

- Taylor on August 28th, 2008

longer breastfeeding doesn’t = better mother. stop acting like it does.

i get really really tired of people espousing “open-mindedness” and “tolerance” and then in the same turn act like people who do things differently than they do are “bad”…. it’s like “i’m open-minded and believe in equality and free speech and everyone’s differences are beautiful, we are one world etc….as long as you agree with me.”

- amandamay on August 28th, 2008

amandamay – no, but longer breastfeeding does equal less breast cancer risk for the mother and more health benefits for the child. The health benefits of breast milk don’t disappear after 6 months.

- Shawna on August 28th, 2008

Re: equal footing, isn’t playing with their baby just as important as taking out the trash and changing diapers? Maybe seeing her child’s father bonding with their daughter is more important to Charlotte than seeing him sweeping or whatever. It’s everyone’s own choice to make. Maybe Charlotte is enjoying being in house-mode right now. Empowerment is not the choice you make, but having the option to make the choice in the first place.

- Sasha, USA on August 28th, 2008

As much as I love this site,I agree with the kids having anominity.Celebrities sell the rights to a lot of those photos in the hope that they won’t be swarmed by paparazzi’s and that some greasy guy won’t make lots of $$.That way they have more control about it and where the money goes (aka Brad and Angie and the charities).

And it is creepy to have people hiding out in bushes and that. If it were us, we’d probably hit that person and charge them with being a pedophile.I think that there should be more laws out there to protect these kids.

Just like Ben Affleck says : he is the one who chose to be a celebrity, not his kids so leave them alone.

And before anyone starts the age debate again..anyone remember a certain unwed, young, pregnant celebrity everyone made fun of called Reese Witherspoon ?? People were harsh with her and said it was the end of her career and that she would be horrible, but look at the great mother she has turned out to be.

- Aya on August 28th, 2008

Annie, please review the following policy statements issued directly from the source:

American Association of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/policies/b/breastfeedingpolicy.html

World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/infantfeeding_recommendation/en/

Health Canada (government’s health care arm)
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/pubs/infant-nourrisson/nut_infant_nourrisson_term_3-eng.php

UNICEF
http://www.unicef.org/ffl/04/key_messages.htm
http://www.unicef.org/ffl/04/7.htm

American Association of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/feb05breastfeeding.htm

There are many more, but as you can see, direct from the health, medical, and governmental organizations in question there is a consistent recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age, followed by continued breastfeeding until age two or older, as mutually desired by mother/nursling (with the exception of the AAP, which recommends at 6 mos exclusively and breastfeeding to at least 1 year or beyond).

- JJ on August 28th, 2008

Annie – I was about to correct you – but JJ beat me to the punch.
Well done JJ.

Bottom line is – yes – everyone has the right to choose how long they breastfeed.
But there is NO doubt that a breastfed toddler is a healthier toddler.

It saddens me that people could be so affected by modern culture that the view of a breastfeeding toddler is now “wierd” or “gross” – when in actual fact it is healthy, normal and lovely.

- N.S on August 28th, 2008

Aya, Reese Witherspoon was not unwed when she had Ava. Her and Ryan had been married for several months by the time she was born. But I do agree with you that many people predicted that would be the end of her career (clearly they were wrong.)

I completely agree with those saying that papparrazzi have no right to snap celebrities in their homes/backyards/private property. I hope Halle Berry wins her lawsuit and wins it handily at that. At the same time, I still can’t feel for celebrities who sell their kids’ pictures, do these elaborate spreads (which is essentially bringing in huge bucks for their own benefit), then complain when the paparrazzi hounds them when they are in public. Honestly, I’ve never seen a photo of, for example, Violet Affleck scared or upset by photographers. She ALWAYS looks happy and I think part of that is because she feeds off the energy of her parents. They are high-profile celebrities and right or wrong, there is a natural curiosity about them. No one has the right to intrude on their privacy but if being photographed from a distance is the price they have to pay for the million dollar paychecks, they’re just gonna have to cry me a river.

Amandamay, I was not being judgmental; perhaps you shouldn’t be so quick to accuse people who don’t agree with you of being judgmental. And you said yourself that your young mother came from a different generation and her age was pretty typical for a young mother–and that was my point. 22 year old mothers were certainly not rare one or two generations ago (my own mother was only 23 when she had my older brother, and she also had a four year university degree under her belt), but 22 now is relatively young nowadays–I didn’t say it was wrong or bad, so please don’t put words in my mouth, just that it was young. I personally love children and think if the cost of education were not so high it would be easier for people to start families younger here in the US, but this just isn’t the case. I can’t even think about having kids until I at least put a dent in my student loans.

- Erica on August 28th, 2008

I would’t judge a woman who wants to breastfeed their child until 5 years old…, just like I wouldn’t judge a woman who wants to stop at 6 weeks. Everyone is different and breastfeeding is a very personal thing between a mother and her child. It’s not for everyone and everyone has their reasons for doing/not doing it. I personally breastfed all my kids until they were ready to wean on their own – 15months, 13 months, 14 months, and currently breastfeeding another. I was pregnant again when all of them weaned so I am a firm believer in the fact that the milk takes on a different taste when I’m pregnant. I also don’t think there’s ANYTHING wrong with a toddler breastfeeding. It takes a loving relationship between a mother and child to do that, and what’s wrong with that? To each his own!!

- SH on August 28th, 2008

Taylor- you can personally guarantee that you are healthier than the majority of people on this site-really? That’s quite a statement. I guess that means you know the health status of all the people on this site since you KNOW you are healthier than we are. I think you need to learn to express your opinions w/o making such ridiculous statements because while you are entitled to your opinion, statements such as this one make you sound silly.

I firmly believe breastfeeding is healthier for babies in most situations. I breastfed my two kids well past the first year. However not everyone can or wants to breastfeed and that’s fine. Let people decide for themselves what is right for them and their children.

- sarah on August 28th, 2008

Wow…I cannot believe how crazed people get when talking about breastfeeding. I started out nursing my son until he was about 3 months old and unfortunately I had a physical reason that didn’t allow me to continue. My son is more healthy than most other kids we know and has always been in the 95-98 percentile. So to say that unless you breastfeed your child until they are 2 or however old that they are going to be less healthy than a child who is breastfed that long is insane! Many people are predisposed to certain things no matter how healthy they try to be due to genetics. I know plenty of kids that were breastfed until they were over 1 and they aren’t any more healthy than the children who weren’t.

PS – Don’t nail Charlotte to the cross because of the choices she made with her daughter. She is her mother and knows what works best for them.

- Elle on August 28th, 2008

Ditto Sarah and Elle. Breastfed babies aren’t necessarily healthier, regardless of what WHO or anyone else says. Did anyone read the article that was recently posted here on CBB? There has been an increase in cases of rickets because babies who are breastfed tend to be deficient in vitamin D. That’s a serious problem. Sure, you can supplement with vitamin drops but to assume that breast milk has EVERYTHING that a baby needs is false.

Also, my mother only breastfed my sister and I for a few weeks. We turned out fine by most people’s standards and haven’t had any serious health problems yet *knock on wood*. I think breastfeeding is a good thing and I’ll definitely try it out when I have kids, but I’m honestly getting turned off by all the pro-breastfeeding advocates that are so judgemental. Each mother has to make her own choice based on what she is comfortable with. Babies who are formula fed generally end up just as healthy as babies who are breastfed so it’s not the end of the world.

- Ash on August 29th, 2008

N.S., I know that you said it is ‘just your opinion’, but I take offense (as I’m sure many others do) to the comment of being a young mother hindering our choices. I am 20.5 with a 6 month old, my husband is 22, and he is in grad school a year away from his masters and I am almost done with school, as well. I am a touring vocalist and I still have time for everything I did before, without having to rely on a babysitter. Being young has nothing to do with it– it’s a person’s maturity. I’m sure you’ve met some 40 year olds with the maturity level of a 15 year old, right? She sounds like she is doing a wonderful job. Focus on maturity, not age.

- David's Mommy on August 29th, 2008

Ash brought up a point, but I would like to correct something. The article was saying there was a correlation between breastfeeding and rickets. The authors also allowed that there could be other causes, such as drinking too much juice and soda or spending too much time in front of the TV and not outside. So breastfeeding isn’t *necessarily* the cause of an increase in rickets.

That said, it seems to me that breastmilk is as good as what mothers put into their bodies. If mothers are eating right and getting enough vitamins, then it does seem like breastmilk is healthier overall. But if a mother isn’t, then yes, health problems could be caused.

The important thing to remember is that every child and every family is different. Sometimes it’s just not possible to breastfeed, and sometimes a mother just isn’t comfortable with the idea. Why force something a mother is clearly uncomfortable with? I would think that it would then make the child uncomfortable as well, and that just seems like a poor situation. Also, if a mother works she may not be able to afford a pump once she comes back to work (WIC has a program for those if anyone is interested and eligible btw) or may not work in a pumping friendly environment.

While I do plan to try to breastfeed, I just think it’s important to acknowledge that whether you do or you don’t, it doesn’t mean you are a bad or a good mother.

- MB on August 29th, 2008

Um, Sarah, it was a generalization, so just calm down. My point was that I, luckily and thank God, have not had and have no health problems, am not sick and haven’t been seriously ill, work out 5-6 days a wk, eat healthy and am in great shape. Considering a large population of American’s are now entering obesity and have health problems, I was generalizing that I’m probably healthier than most, and that not being breastfed really didn’t matter to my overall health, and that while I do understand that breastfeeding is better for baby, if you don’t breastfeed it won’t mean that your child will be unhealthy and that it’s every woman’s choice whether to breast feed or not.

- Taylor on August 29th, 2008

MB-

I think a big issue is that many (if not most) women in our country don’t have the best diet and probably don’t get all the nutrients they need. Therefore, by breastfeeding, their babies could be suffering because of their deficiencies. The majority of doctors don’t test babies to see if their levels of vitamin D are up to par which is the problem.

I just think it’s an overgeneralization to say that breastfeeding is always the best choice for the health of a child when there’s a possibility that it might not be (due to allergies, illness, etc.). I think mothers should be receiving advice that’s more well-rounded rather than just hearing “You should breastfeed your baby or else!”

- Ash on August 29th, 2008

So Ash, it sounds like we are in agreement

- MB on August 29th, 2008

Ash and MB -
I don’t care weather you breastfeed or bottle feed…your business…and I’m not sure if you even have kids…but I really feel you need to educate yourselves on breastmilk and breastfeeding a little more before you write anything else – some of what you’re writing is so inaccurate it’s insane.

Breastmilk is as good as formula? Huh? Not being able to afford a pump? If you can afford to buy formula, you can afford to buy a pump. Do you know how much formula is? It’s pretty darn expensive. Once you buy a pump, breastmilk is free, and the fact is breastmilk IS best for a baby. Well known fact. If you get formula advertisements at a hospital when you have a baby, THEY even claim in their pamphlets that “breast is best”. Increase in rickets due to breastfeeding? Breastmilk doesn’t have everything a baby nutritionally needs? What?

Also, I’ve breastfed 4 babies and no Dr., lactation consultant, or pediatrician has ever told me “Breastfeed your baby or Else”.

Really, some of these statements are almost laughable. Like I said in my previous post, breastfeeding your baby is a personal choice, and I would never judge people who formula feed. It just urks me when people who have no experience breastfeeding act like they know it all.

- SH on August 29th, 2008