To think attitudes to BF have changed on MN?

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Been a MNetter for about 6/7 years (namechanger).

In the first few years I was struck by how incredibly rigid the majority was about breastfeeding being the only option - was on several threads where posters would not in any circumstances see FF was a legit choice.

In fact posters were scared shitless to admit to FF and would always preface it with medical reasons about why they couldn't bf.

I didn't bf and was once treated in a very patronising and offensive fashion by a breast feeding support nurse and told that when she saw a bottle teat in a baby's mouth it made her feel physcially ill.

Now I see many threads where posters encourage and advocate FF especially when bfing has become untenable and/or proving detrimental to mental health or marriage etc. There's one on here now.

Anyone else notice this? Why do you think it is? Is it a reflection of RL attitudes (I'd prefer to see it as supporting parents' choices rather than anti breast feeding - I'm in the first camp and certainly not in the second).

Yes OP I do think the hardline stance that was generally taken on mn has softened over the last year or so. My ds is almost 4 now and I think attitudes have shifted slightly since he was born, although I admit I am a little out the loop these days.

Also agree that it is quite a tedious debate and like most things, what's the trend one year, will be out the window the next year.

I couldn't give a fairy's fart how people choose to feed their babies.

I FF all 3 of mine through choice, and thankfully no-one I knew in RL gave a fairy's fart about that either.

I think there's more toleration for simply feeding the baby.

More understanding of various reasons why people ff beyond being obviously lazy feckers which was what it used to sound like.

Less snobbery to either choice.

I find that the whole feeding issue is so polarized. You either exclusively bf or ff, and have to give explanations as to why.

I bf my dd until 26 months. I was happy with it. But she did take a bottle with expressed milk-I read so many threads where a baby is ebf and will never be given expressed milk, because either the baby or mum is reluctant. I really do believe if a baby is starving, they'll take the bottle. But I won't be the one dealing with the fallout, so I don't say anything.

Alternatively, I've seen ffing mums argue over which formula is better, how long babies have bottles, etc.

What the fuck ever, folks. We all know that the benchmark for good parenting is whether or not you would leave them to use the toilet in a public place.

Yes OP I do think the hardline stance that was generally taken on mn has softened over the last year or so

You know what? I think the hardliners have moved to Facebook. There are SO many groups now dedicated to BF, AP, etc (I know, because one of my friends is constantly liking and commenting and sharing stuff so it appears in my news feed) and I rather suspect if the judgey, anti-formula views are still widespread - and of course they are - it's a discussion that happens in a more closed, partisan environment. Which is fine by me.

I've been using MN for about 3 years now and I think people are slightly less judgemental of formula feeders than they were.

I've read some incredible threads with posters being so rude about formula feeders which actually really upset me!

I now consciously try to avoid opening threads about bf/ff to avoid feeling upset and feeling the need to 'justify' why I didn't manage to bf.