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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed when people describe making up bottles as "faffing around"

140 replies

shuffle · 21/01/2009 02:54

It takes 5 mins! You have to follow similar process when expressing (never referred to as faffing around).

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 21/01/2009 10:33

I agree that both bf and ff can be total faffy affairs in their own right. But would it be terrible of me to point out that with ff, someone else can do the faffing while you stay in bed?

NormaJeanBaker · 21/01/2009 10:34

Why would anyone describe feeding your child as a 'faff' whichever method you choose? FF or BF - we are mothers giving our children food. If that is faffing around what is surfing about MN chatting?

chancelloroftheexCHEQUERS · 21/01/2009 10:37

Surfing about on MN chatting is loafing NJ, totally different concept

MauriceDancer · 21/01/2009 10:38

because if you just have to whip your tits out then it's not a faff, norma.

i'm moving over to bottles just now, it's a pita. but the reason we're doing it is that we've never really cracked bfing so that's a faff too. there were a few glorious weeks, however, when it all seemed to be working out and i could see how easy and fuss-free it would be.

CantSleepWontSleep · 21/01/2009 10:38

YABU

Servalan · 21/01/2009 10:38

Beansmum - me too! I bf dd for 22 months. Because I didn't know anyone else at the time who was bf that long in rl, I always worried people might think I was coming across as smug and judgy when I talked about bf. I think it's the maternal guilt thing - other mums I spoke to would quickly try and excuse themselves for the fact they were ff - I would try and excuse myself for the fact I was still bf...

I would quite often say "oh well, I've never ff because I'm too lazy to go about all the faff with the sterilizing". TBH I never expressed because I couldn't face fiddling around with all the sterilizing, (but then I also have OCD issues which complicated that side of things more)

FAQtothefuture · 21/01/2009 10:40

"we are mothers giving our children food."

well eve as they get older cooking dinner is often a faff

chancelloroftheexCHEQUERS · 21/01/2009 10:41

Sadly, I don't think most people think you're being judgy and smug for still breastfeeding at 22 months, a lot of people just think you're plain weird.

Not me, I hasten to add, but I've come across that attitude a lot

spinspinsugar · 21/01/2009 10:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Deemented · 21/01/2009 10:44

PuppyMonkey - as i don't have anyone to get up with dd while i stay in bed, i might as well just stay in bed and whip ne tit out and stick her on...

NormaJeanBaker · 21/01/2009 10:45

FAQ - especially when they will only eat lobster souffle. The faff, if that's how one sees it, never ends. BF and FF is the tip of the ice berg.

FAQtothefuture · 21/01/2009 10:46

pmsl @ lobster souffle

Deemented · 21/01/2009 10:48

NJB - Your child is indigo, i take it?

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 21/01/2009 10:49

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blueshoes · 21/01/2009 10:50

My bf-ing experience is similar to titty's. Given bottles as well with all the kit to prove it.

OrmIrian · 21/01/2009 10:52

I found it very very faffy. I used to use formula at the CMs (couldn't express). And I bloody hated it.

TheLorax · 21/01/2009 11:11

It's all a faff! I can't wait till they leave home and dh and I can live off ready meals!
T the moment I am bfing, expressing and making up the odd bottle of formula! The formula is the worst faff because you have to be much more careful about hygiene than you do with EBM.

NormaJeanBaker · 21/01/2009 11:13

Deemented - Indigo? Think I've missed something. Which would be typical!

I guess for some of us bf isn't as easy as whipping out a tit and sticking her on. Certainly wasn't for me so ff and bottles were way more relaxed once I'd got over the disappointment and stress of trying to bf - (tried for 4 months first time and DD1 never latched on a single time - barely latched on to a bottle - just poured milk down her throat). So if it works I gues bf is much less of a faff but for people who don't get the hang of it ff gets to be part of the routine - not more of a faff than emptying the dishwasher or hoovering up a pile of craft sequins for the fiftieth time. I do bottles on automatic pilot now and listen to the radio to increase my knowledge of society in case I go on a quiz show one day.

NormaJeanBaker · 21/01/2009 11:15

Besides - doing the bottles tends to be part of DH's faff routine. I am often in the bath with a glass of wine at that time of day.

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 21/01/2009 11:15

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Message withdrawn

NormaJeanBaker · 21/01/2009 11:18

Ah - I see. I think my mother thought I was a Indigo child. Mine are more a sort of khaki.

sarah293 · 21/01/2009 11:40

This reply has been deleted

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ohdearwhatamess · 21/01/2009 13:30

Never understood the faffing argument myself. Must take all of 5 minutes in a day, if that.

Now preparing meals every day for a 2yo who takes one look, says 'no I don't like it' and/or throws it on the floor is faffing imo.

Bubbaluv · 21/01/2009 14:57

OhDear, I think a lot of Bfers read the "reccomended method" for making up bottles and base their judgement on that. I am still to meet a FFer who actually makes their bottles up that way, but that would be a faff!

islandofsodor · 21/01/2009 14:59

Having both formula fed a child from birth to 12 months and exclusively expressing for another child for 1 month I can confirm that both processes are a total faff.

Breastfeeding is MUCH easier (apart from when your ds breast refuses).