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Ah, the age-old breastfeeding versus formula feeding debate. The way in which a mother decides to feed her child is an incredibly heated topic — even though it’s an extremely personal choice that is not only different for every woman, but also for every child.
While society largely touts breastfeeding as a priceless bonding experience and the healthiest method of feeding a child — you know, the condescending and stigmatizing “breast is best” motto — many, many women face mentally taxing and painful challenges when it comes to breastfeeding. This is of course a conveniently ignored attribute, because a mother’s strife is a noble sacrifice for the sake of their infant not having to consume formula. (Society actually ignores women’s entire existence and autonomy past the function of being a caretaking machine after they become mothers, but that’s a whole other conversation.)
It's #BlackBreastfeedingWeek! From Serena Williams to Michelle Obama, these celebrity moms have shared the ups and downs of breastfeeding. https://t.co/fqhu5fzwMr
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) August 25, 2022
Extremely common side effects of breastfeeding include clogged ducts, mastitis, low-to-no supply, chapped and calloused nipples, and engorgement, to name just a few. According to a study performed by UC Davis Medical Center, per NPR, 92% of new mothers reported having difficulties with breastfeeding, and just 13% managed to breastfeed exclusively for six months.
Regardless of the overwhelming majority of women who struggle in some way with breastfeeding, the CDC reports that “the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months, with continued breastfeeding along with introducing appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years of age or longer.”
.@hgtv star @ErinRNapier received lots of love for sharing an IG post about being pro-formula-feeding. https://t.co/VJolFFQdKa
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) June 4, 2021
But wait, wait, wait — let’s not forget that while society shames women who don’t breastfeed, they also shame those who do breastfeed, especially in public — because, you know, feeding your hungry child the way in which tell you you have to is apparently gross and inappropriate. Make. It. Make. Sense.
Contrary to unbelievably popular belief, women should not and do not have to subject themselves to the physical and mental struggles that often occur while breastfeeding when bottle-feeding baby formula is a completely safe and healthy alternative. In fact, Mount Sinai, one of the highest-ranking medical facilities in the United States, reports that “infant formula is still a healthy choice, and your baby will get all the necessary nutrients [that they would via breast milk].”
.@ashleygraham's latest billboard promotes both breastfeeding and formula feeding your little ones. https://t.co/y9FslAl5Jk
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) September 9, 2022
If breastfeeding is a breeze for you, that’s beautiful and amazing and great! But if you’re a mom who isn’t able to breastfeed with ease, formula feeding is also beautiful and amazing and great because it means your baby is fed, happy, and healthy. Formula feeding your child does not make you a bad mom. If you’re facing the wrath of mom-shaming and guilt, we want you to make that your new mantra! Say it with us: Formula feeding does not make me a bad mom.
If you need a little extra reassurance, take it from some of the world’s most well-known moms who’ve opted to formula feed instead. From Ashley Graham to Chrissy Teigen, the following celebrity moms have vulnerably shared their personal experiences to help destroy the ridiculous stigma surrounding formula feeding and assure other mothers that they are not alone in the often harrowing breastfeeding experience — because fed genuinely is best.
Jana Kramer shared with People in 2019 that her milk supply never came in, so formula feeding was her only option for feeding her daughter. “There’s so much mommy shame about not breastfeeding,” the actress and singer lamented.
The One Tree Hill alum welcomed baby Roman in 2023, and she decided not to breastfeed again. “I am not [breastfeeding] and he is perfectly happy,” she wrote on Instagram.
“We are doing formula and we’re using Dr. Brown bottles. Used them with all my other babies and they loved it,” she continued, adding, “And I don’t have any shame around it like I did the last 2 times when I tried to breastfeed.”
When Shawn Johnson’s daughter was borned, a lactation consultant shamed her for not breastfeeding.
“I had a really bad experience with a lactation consultant and I all but kicked her out of my house because she basically said that I had ruined my child’s life because I gave her a bottle and formula,” the Olympic gold medalist told PEOPLE. “I was like, ‘You know what? I can’t listen to this anymore.’”
She added, “It was a wrestling match every time. I would be bawling, she would be bawling and screaming ’cause she was hungry, but she wouldn’t eat and she wouldn’t latch anymore.”
After Chrissy Teigen had her son Miles, she shared that her breast milk supply was low, so she opted to combo-feed her baby with the breast milk she was able to produce as well as baby formula.
Teigen, who is known for being outspoken on the internet, even wrote in a 2020 Twitter thread, “People have surrogates, people have trouble breastfeeding, and all you hear as a new, anxious mom is how ‘breast is best’… ‘Normalize breastfeeding’ is great. ‘Normalize formula’ is great, too!”
In 2022, she told Romper, “There is a lot of shame in breastfeeding, still. I feel like people just maybe don’t want to see it or don’t want to hear you talk about it, so it’s not necessarily a shame. But when I was using formula, I felt way more ashamed for using formula than pulling out my boob anywhere.”
Khloé Kardashian has been honest about her formula-feeding journey since the birth of her and ex Tristan Thompson’s daughter True in 2018. She opened up to her fans about the realities of her feeding experience with her daughter True and how much breastfeeding “sucked.”
“I hated every minute of it,” she said. “It was torture. I always felt like I was never giving True enough food. I felt like she was always hungry.”
“Once I stopped, though,” she continued, “the amount of pressure that was lifted off my shoulders and I could enjoy my daughter. I’m all for breastfeeding, I tried, but if you can’t do it you don’t have to feel like a failure.”
In June 2023 she shared that she also formula feeds her son Tatum (b. 2022). She struggled to find a formula that worked for him and in an episode of season 3 of The Kardashians, she shared that she switched him to goat milk formula.
Ashley Graham exclusively breastfed her first child, Isaac, for 13 months following his birth in 2020. However, when she became pregnant with twins, she worried about having enough supply to feed them both the amount of milk they would need.
In a video filmed with the formula company Bobbie, Graham revealed that she decided to combo-feed her twin sons, saying, “We don’t have to breastfeed. We don’t have to pump constantly. We don’t have to solely give our babies breast milk. Sure enough, my babies drink breast milk, they drink formula, and everybody’s OK.”
Molly Sims breastfed her son Brooks for three months, but ultimately made the switch to formula because it was such a painful experience for her. In a 2013 interview with People, she said, “I did nipple shields, nipple guards, supplemental nursing system, it was horrible. He was literally like a vampire on me for three months — it was unbelievable. I’m not breastfeeding and I’m proud of it.”
Jennifer Lopez unapologetically formula-fed her twins Max and Emme from the day they were born. She told The Wall Street Journal in 2008 that she refused to feel guilty or shamed regarding her decision, as it was one made with the best interests of herself and her babies in mind.
Serena Williams breastfed her daughter Olympia for six months, but she ultimately made the decision to switch to formula at the half-year mark because she needed to get back in shape for tennis.
Because she wasn’t able to lose her pregnancy weight while breastfeeding as some women are able to, Williams pivoted to a new feeding approach that worked better for herself and her family, and that’s entirely valid and completely okay.
Adele is known for her spicy use of curse words, and boy did she let them fly with flair when expressing her frustrations with the breastfeeding versus formula feeding conversation.
At one of her concerts, she opened up to her fans about the struggle she faced while breastfeeding her son Angelo past 9 weeks, saying, “It’s f—ing ridiculous, and all those people who put pressure on us, you can go f—k yourselves, alright? Because it’s hard. Some of us can’t do it! Breastfeed if you can, but don’t worry, Aptamil’s (formula is) just as good.”
When Brooke Shields gave birth to her daughter Rowan in 2003, she tried to stick with breastfeeding but ultimately made the switch to formula feeding during her battle with postpartum depression. The model and actress believed in the “fed is best” motto so much that she even partnered with Bright Beginnings infant formula in 2005 to be the brand’s celebrity spokesperson.
Mindy Kaling took to Instagram to share her experience with breastfeeding, writing, “When I had my kids, I always assumed I would breastfeed. So when I needed to supplement my milk supply, I felt total guilt, panic, and ultimately spent way too much time in a frantic, late-night internet spiral.”
She continued, “I’m joining @byheart in their mission to demystify feeding for new parents and show that there’s no wrong choice, we just need more guidance and clarity. #dearnewparents — drop the guilt when it comes to feeding! You’re doing great.”
Christina Applegate underwent a double mastectomy in 2008 after being diagnosed with breast cancer, so when her daughter Sadie arrived in 2011, formula feeding was their best option. Applegate’s experience helped normalize formula feeding for mothers who are literally physically unable to breastfeed, especially after she told People in 2008 that she was still able to form a powerful bond with her infant through bottle feeding.
If Queen Bey feels confident about foregoing breastfeeding, then so can you. After Blue Ivy was born in 2012, Beyoncé breastfed for 10 weeks, then decided to switch to formula feeding — as many moms do.
Kristin Cavallari attempted breastfeeding but ultimately found bottle feeding worked better for her family. In her book Balancing in Heels, she shared, “Once I stopped breastfeeding each kid and we ran out of stock of my frozen breast milk, we put them on a homemade goat milk formula.” She continued, “Giving goat’s milk to children is popular in Europe and other parts of the world. Goat’s milk is not enough, though, so Jay [Cutler] and I, along with our pediatrician, came up with a formula recipe for our kids.”
As a first-time mom, Tamera Mowry-Housley had a difficult breastfeeding experience. She wrote on her personal blog, “Aden wasn’t latching properly, which meant I experienced soreness, my nipples were callused and I was in pain for about 8 weeks. I was having a hard time keeping up my supply of milk and it was taking a major emotional toll on me.”
While she also shared that she was able to breastfeed her second child with ease, she emphasized that “women must do what’s right for their baby — which can include bottle feeding.”
Like Christina Applegate, Giuliana Rancic became a breast cancer survivor and double mastectomy warrior before she became a mother. She and her husband had struggled with infertility prior to her bout of illness, so when the time was right, they opted to have their son Eddie via surrogacy in 2012. All of the above contributed to Rancic formula-feeding her child.
Hilary Duff breastfed her daughter Banks for six months but ultimately made the decision to stop at that point due to her dwindling supply and busy schedule on set. She vulnerable shared on Instagram, “I needed a break. I was going to break. With the stress of a dropping milk supply and a baby that was getting bored or not caring about nursing when I was available to. I was sad and frustrated and feeling like a failure all of the time.”
Kelly Rowland spoke candidly about her struggle with breastfeeding her son Titan, telling Parents magazine in 2016, “I had my heart set on breastfeeding, but I wasn’t producing enough milk. I got down on myself, which I think was mentally limiting my supply.” She ultimately decided to supplement with formula to make sure her baby was fed.
Jessica Alba breastfed her third son, Hayes, for six months, then switched to formula feeding because it was the most practical option for her at that point.
She told Motherly in 2018, “I felt like he wanted to nurse 24/7, which was obviously really challenging when you’re trying to go back to work. Also my milk supply was challenged with him. I felt like I had the most milk with Honor and then it got less with Haven and even less with Hayes. And so that was just tough for me.”
Like Molly Sims and many other mothers, Whitney Port stopped breastfeeding her son, Sonny, because it was too painful to bear. She explained in a YouTube video, “It feels like someone’s, like, slicing my nipples with glass.”
Port wrote in the video’s description, “I’m not obsessed with breastfeeding. There. I said it. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the fact that my baby is getting all the amazing nutrients from my milk and that I am literally giving him life, but it has been quite the challenge. A challenge I didn’t feel prepared for at all.”
While Angelina Jolie tried to breastfeed her twins Knox and Vivienne after their birth in 2008, she, too, switched to formula feeding. “It’s very hard,” Jolie said with transparency on the British morning show GMTV. “I stopped at three months; [it was] about as much as I could do.”
During a 2018 Yahoo! Lifestyle event, Jessica Biel described the difficulties she faced during her breastfeeding experience with her son Silas: “I had a very hard time breastfeeding and getting good amounts of quality fatty milk. For whatever reason, it was just harder for me,” she said. Biel also shared that her nanny assured her formula feeding was just as good an option, which she reiterated to those in the audience at the event.
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