Woman Who Ran Out Of Formula Berated By Sister-In-Law After Breastfeeding Her Niece While Babysitting

Mar 20, 2023 by apost team

Raising kids can definitely get one’s hands full, but people should remember that it’s OK to seek help. Whether it be taking a vacation or attending a friend’s birthday, there’s no reason to miss these kinds of events because there are people you can always turn to for help, like parents or siblings. Not only will you feel safe knowing the person looking after your children are people close to you, but you also get a sense of relief knowing you can leave your children with people they can be comfortable with. Of course, taking breaks from time to time doesn’t make anyone a bad parent. So, who’s better to look after your children while you’re away than someone you personally know, right? But should you set a boundary as to how your family members can act around your children? If yes, what are these boundaries?
 
In November 2021, one woman took to Reddit to share her experience when she was asked to look after her 4-month-old niece. The woman only had the best intentions when she decided to nurse her niece. But sadly, her sister-in-law did not take it quite well.
 
The woman said she and her sister-in-law gave birth around the same time in 2021, which makes them moms of babies of the same age, only hers was born earlier than her sister-in-law’s.
 
One day, the woman’s brother and her sister-in-law came to her house for lunch alongside her 4-month-old niece. Then, her brother and sister-in-law handed over their child to her for her to babysit as she shared that they were attending a formal event at her sister-in-law’s extended family near her place.
 
While the woman’s brother and sister-in-law were gone, her niece started crying because she got hungry.

Since she didn’t have any formula sitting around her house, she decided to nurse her niece as she always does with her own baby. The woman explained that it wasn’t the first time she nursed her niece, saying she had already done it in the past.

“During the time they were gone, my niece starts crying because she was hungry. Unfortunately, we ran out of formula and don't really rely on it in our household as I nurse my own baby most of the time. I really did not have any other alternative except nurse my niece which I did a few times because they were gone for quite long,” the woman said.

After her brother and sister-law returned from the event, she told her that she nursed their baby. But instead of thanking her, her sister-in-law looked at her with disgust and berated her for what she did to their daughter.

“They come back and me and sister-in-law had a casual conversation till I tell her that niece was hungry and we ran out of formula, so I nursed her. Sister-in-law looks at me sternly with a hint of disgust and berates me for nursing niece,” she said.

The woman admitted that she was shocked by her sister-in-law’s reaction knowing all she wanted was to help. But the woman said that she opted not to respond to her sister-in-law.  

“I did not retaliate because I was too shocked at why she would be so agitated when all I did was feed her child,” she said.

The woman reiterated that she would have given her niece formula if only she had stock in her house. Even though she had the option to buy one, she also couldn’t leave the two babies with anyone to look after them.

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“If I had a formula I would have used it for my niece but I ran out of it and it was only me, my child, and my baby niece. How am I going to leave them alone and then run to the supermarket to buy formula? I don't have two-seater baby prams either so I can't bring them along to the supermarket,” she said.

She said her sister-in-law could have brought formula instead if she didn’t want her nursing her baby.

“If sister-in-law had a preference she should have brought some formula in the baby essentials pack she passed to me. There were only diapers, rash cream and pacifier in the bag she gave me, no formula powder. So am I just supposed to let niece be hungry till they come back? I don't know what she expected me to do,” she said.

The woman said she felt bad and reached out to apologize, but her sister-in-law didn’t attend to her calls.

People were torn in half, with some saying she wasn’t in the wrong for breastfeeding her niece since the parents didn’t leave any formula, while others sided with the sister-in-law because they felt uncomfortable with other people nursing their babies.

“They did not leave the formula so what were you supposed to do? They should have made sure it was available so that this would not happen. I can understand sister-in-law being upset, but come on, what was the alternative given that you could not go out to get any?” one person said.

“I wouldn't want someone else breastfeeding if I wasn't 110% of what she put in her body. I know women who smoked and drank. No thank you. Call me beforehand. Don't go all ‘Hand That Rocks The Cradle’ on my kids,” another person said.

Do you agree with the woman nursing her niece, or do you also believe she should have called her sister-in-law first before nursing her niece? Which side are you on? Let us know what you think, and pass this on to people who might find this story interesting!