“My Baby Comes First”: Mom Speaks Out Despite Backlash for Breastfeeding Toddler in Public
The issue over whether women should be permitted to breastfeed in public is not new—it has been going on for decades. But every now and again, a strong voice enters the discourse with a narrative that reminds us why it is still important.
Trinati, a young mother of two, has revived the continuing debate – not with fury, but with serene assurance and a single photo shot at a Costco.
One thing is ubiquitous among all parents who have breastfed their children: babies do not wait for privacy or perfect timing when they are hungry. They cry, wriggle, and need comfort, whether at home or in the midst of a grocery store aisle.
While some mothers desire greater privacy, others, like as Trinati, choose not to hide. She breastfeeds her 17-month-old kid whenever and whenever she needs to, and she makes no apologies for it. However, this does not imply that others are always as comfortable.
Trinati has received sideways glances, uncomfortable stares, and even been directed into broom closets by store personnel who believed she’d “feel more comfortable” breastfeeding in private. Spoiler alert: she did not.
She determined to do something about it.
Trinati requested her son to photograph her as she breastfeed her daughter at Costco, not for attention, but for advocacy. “I never shy away from providing my children with what they may need from me based on our surroundings,” she pointed out.
The response, as expected, has been varied.
Beyond strangers in public, even friends and relatives have questioned her decisions, frequently asking how long she intends to keep “doing that.” Her reaction is consistent: “As long as she needs me to.” And, yes, she has heard the embarrassing joke about breastfeeding “until kindergarten.”
But Trinati’s patience is becoming thin.
“Really? “Have you seen breastfeeding breasts?” she remarked during an interview. “My nipples are far from attractive! These are essentially udders right now. “Get over yourself.”
Her dissatisfaction stems not from humiliation, but from society’s desire to sexualise something that is really about food and comfort.
“To me, they no longer feel like a sexual part of my body. They currently belong to my child — for physical and emotional nutrition.
Trinati believes that nursing is much more than simply nourishment; it is about developing trust, emotional security, and connection. Even if it means “nipple pinching or straight-up acrobatics” from her curious toddler, she accepts it as part of the maternal experience.
“I’ve received strange glances and awkward giggles when people see my 1.5-year-old standing on my lap while nursing — sometimes on one leg!” jokes the mom. “But that’s just real life.”
That Costco snapshot was more than simply a conversation starter; it was also a capture of a moment of dedication.
“I wanted to show my daughter one day just how far I was willing to go to make sure she was looked after — no matter the setting,” Trinati told CNN.
She captioned the shot on Instagram: “My baby’s needs come waaaaaay before anyone else’s attempts to make me feel inappropriate for this sometimes-public act of nourishing and/or comforting my children.”
Her goal is straightforward: to normalise breastfeeding in public and change the emphasis away from discomfort and shame and towards support and understanding.
“Trust is a fundamental tool for developing healthy relationships, and it begins with the care we receive in childhood,” she told me. “For me, breastfeeding demonstrates this to my children, and for this reason, I will never feel shame.”
Whether you agree or disagree, Trinati’s story reminds us that parenting decisions are deeply personal — and that every mother is merely trying her best in a world full of judgement.