Kudos to all the mothers who responded to “The breast police” (Editorial, June 15) in the Voice of the people and online (June 16 and 22). They shared many good reasons why it is perfectly acceptable to use formula. As the proud father of a healthy, adorable, 6-week-old, formula-fed baby, I’d like to share an additional benefit that using formula provides. Formula gives me the opportunity to feed and bond with my daughter.
My wife and I strongly believe that we need to share all the responsibilities of being a parent, and that includes waking up in the middle of the night to feed our daughter. While I’m sure the fathers of breast-fed children are enjoying many more hours of uninterrupted sleep, they are missing moments like I had one recent night when, after feeding her a bottle, my daughter smiled at me.
Maybe it was gas (I know, I know, likely induced by the artificial nipple and powder formula, right?), but that’s a risk I’m willing to take every day and every late, late night.
