{"id":444688,"date":"2026-06-25T16:12:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=444688"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:12:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:12:06","slug":"critiquee-allaite-public-mere-choisi-repondre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/criticized-breastfeeding-public-mother-chose-to-respond-444688","title":{"rendered":"Criticized for breastfeeding in public, this mother chose to respond"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Breastfeeding should be a normal, everyday thing. Yet, some mothers still face criticism when they feed their babies in public. This is the experience recently had by a London singer, who unwittingly became the symbol of a debate that goes far beyond her personal story.<\/p>\n<h2> A moment of complicity turned into controversy<\/h2>\n<p> In early June, Tayah Ettienne attended a private music festival designed for families. A music enthusiast and professional singer, she brought her 16-month-old daughter, Aaliyana, to experience the atmosphere of open-air concerts. During the event, the little girl naturally asked for a breastfeed while her mother danced under a tent. A friend filmed the spontaneous scene and then shared it on TikTok. What was meant to be a simple memory quickly became a viral phenomenon, racking up over 700,000 views in just a few days. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ettienne.mp3\/video\/7645571689572535574\" data-video-id=\"7645571689572535574\">\n<section> <a title=\"@ettienne.mp3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ettienne.mp3?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@ettienne.mp3<\/a> Our first festival together \ud83d\udc9c The weather was determined to test us. Rain, more rain and then just for variety\u2026 even more rain \ud83d\ude02 But honestly? We had the best time. Little one danced, people smiled, music was everywhere and somehow the rain became part of the adventure. Definitely not the last festival for this little team \ud83e\udd79\u2728 #M <a title=\"Motherhood Journey\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/MotherhoodJourney?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#MotherhoodJourney<\/a> F <a title=\"FestivalLife\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/FestivalLife?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#FestivalLife<\/a> B <a title=\"BreastfeedingMama\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/BreastfeedingMama?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#BreastfeedingMama<\/a> W <a title=\"Women Supporting Women\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/WomenSupportingWomen?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#WomenSupportingWomen<\/a> <a title=\"\u266c original sound - Ettienne | Singer-Songwriter\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7645571733491026710?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u266c original sound - Ettienne | Singer-Songwriter<\/a><\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2> When breastfeeding is still a problem<\/h2>\n<p> The video&#39;s visibility has attracted a wave of negative comments. Some internet users deem the scene &quot;inappropriate,&quot; believing that breastfeeding in a public place, and even more so at a festival, is out of place. This reaction surprises the young mother. While breastfeeding is encouraged by healthcare professionals, many women continue to face remarks when they nurse their children outside the home. Between stares and outright criticism, the subject remains sensitive in certain public spaces.<\/p>\n<h2> Being a mother without giving up on yourself<\/h2>\n<p> Faced with the attacks, Tayah Ettienne chose to speak out. For her, a persistent idea continues to fuel judgment: that motherhood forces women to put their desires and passions on hold. She defends, on the contrary, a freer vision of parenthood.<\/p>\n<p>According to her, it&#39;s perfectly possible to be an attentive mother while still enjoying your interests, outings, and social life. She even believes that children benefit from seeing happy, fulfilled, and authentic parents. This message resonates with many women, weary of the contradictory expectations that still surround motherhood.<\/p>\n<h2> Women&#39;s bodies at the heart of the debate<\/h2>\n<p> Beyond her personal experience, Tayah Ettienne points to a deeper phenomenon: the difficulty a segment of society still seems to have in separating women&#39;s bodies from their sexual dimension. For her supporters, breastfeeding primarily serves a nourishing function and should not be perceived as an embarrassing or provocative act. The controversy thus reignites a recurring question: why does an act intended simply to feed a child continue to elicit such strong reactions when it takes place in public?<\/p>\n<h2> A wave of support stronger than the criticism<\/h2>\n<p> While there were many negative comments, they weren&#39;t the only ones. Numerous mothers, as well as ordinary internet users, expressed their support for the singer. Many praised her for speaking out and her commitment to defending women&#39;s right to breastfeed freely wherever they choose. This mobilization reflects a shift in attitudes. Even though criticism still exists, the voices advocating for the normalization of public breastfeeding are increasingly numerous.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, Tayah Ettienne&#39;s story highlights a persistent contradiction: breastfeeding is widely recommended, yet those who practice it sometimes still face judgment from others. By publicly responding to her critics, she reiterates a simple idea: feeding one&#39;s child should never be a source of shame.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breastfeeding should be a normal, everyday thing. Yet, some mothers still face criticism when they feed their babies...","protected":false},"author":8375,"featured_media":444692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6139],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-444688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-vie-de-maman"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Gisele-Seidel-_-Pexels-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Gisele-Seidel-_-Pexels-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Gisele-Seidel-_-Pexels.jpg","author":{"name":"Fabienne Baure","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/fabienne_baure-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":6139,"name":"Parenting","slug":"vie-de-maman","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6311,"taxonomy":"category","description":"<p>The Parenting section of The Body Optimist supports moms, dads and every kind of family through everyday life with kids: raising children, emotions, school, relationships and the mental load. Advice from child development professionals, explainers and personal stories approach parenting without guilt, whatever your family looks like.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Parenting section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Raising kids<\/strong>: teaching children to share, setting limits without yelling, praising effort over intelligence, with ideas drawn from positive parenting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>School and bullying<\/strong>: helping your child feel good at school, spotting the signs of bullying and knowing how to respond.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Postpartum for both parents<\/strong>: your body after birth, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/sleep-deprivation-fatigue-loneliness-the-reality-of-young-mothers-433661\">exhaustion and loneliness of new mothers<\/a>, and postpartum depression in fathers, still too little known.<\/li>\n<li><strong>All kinds of families<\/strong>: single-parent, blended and same-sex parent families, parents with disabilities, with more stories in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Family relationships<\/strong>: your bond with your own parents, toxic families, overbearing grandparents, sibling rivalry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Life choices<\/strong>: wanting children, or not, discussed without judgment or social pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do you set limits for your child without yelling?<\/h2>\n<p>Setting boundaries without yelling relies on clarity and consistency more than strictness. Keep instructions short and positive (\u201cwe walk in the hallway\u201d rather than \u201cdon\u2019t run\u201d), get down to your child\u2019s eye level and look at them. Announce transitions ahead of time to head off meltdowns when an activity ends. Name your child\u2019s feeling without giving in on the rule: \u201cYou\u2019re angry because the screen is turning off. I get it, and it\u2019s bath time.\u201d When tension rises, stepping out of the room for a few seconds beats raising your voice. Some parents even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/giving-orders-to-a-singing-child-an-unusual-trick-to-avoid-shouting-428727\">sing their instructions<\/a> to keep things light. No parent is perfect: apologizing after you lose your temper also teaches your child how to repair a relationship.<\/p>\n<h2>Our take on parenting<\/h2>\n<p>Parenting doesn\u2019t rest on mothers alone: we also talk about dads, co-parents, blended, single-parent and LGBTQ+ families, and people who choose not to have children. There\u2019s no single model or \u201cperfect mom\u201d here: our articles share guidance without making anyone feel guilty. For any concern about a child\u2019s health or development, your pediatrician, family doctor or a child psychologist remains the best person to ask.<\/p>\n<h2>Where to start<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/top-phrases-help-children-express-emotions-444372\">What to say instead of \u201cstop crying\u201d<\/a>: five phrases that help children express their emotions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/monster-under-the-bed-really-means-childhood-fear-428271\">The monster under the bed<\/a>: what this classic childhood fear really means and how to respond.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/eldest-daughter-syndrome-confirmed-by-science-study-reigniting-debate-430888\">Eldest daughter syndrome<\/a>: what research says about the responsibilities often placed on firstborn girls.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/be-a-mother-but-stay-slim-she-breaks-the-silence-pressure-weighs-on-young-mothers-432933\">The pressure to \u201cbounce back\u201d after birth<\/a>: one mother speaks out against the demand to stay thin.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/you-post-pictures-of-children-on-social-media-heres-something-you-probably-dont-know-428755\">Posting photos of your kids online<\/a>: what to know before you share.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Can fathers get postpartum depression?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Some fathers go through sadness, irritability or anxiety after a baby arrives, sometimes called the \u201cdaddy blues.\u201d When these symptoms last for several weeks, it may be paternal postpartum depression, a condition recognized by health professionals. Intense fatigue, feeling useless or withdrawing from others are warning signs: talking to a doctor is the first step toward getting support.<\/p>\n<h3>What is positive parenting?<\/h3>\n<p>Positive parenting, close to what is often called gentle parenting, guides children through listening, explanation and encouragement rather than punishment, yelling or humiliation. It isn\u2019t the same as being permissive: rules still exist, but they\u2019re set with respect. A growing number of countries have also banned corporal punishment of children, spanking included.<\/p>\n<h3>How can you tell if your child is being bullied at school?<\/h3>\n<p>Several signs can raise concern: refusing to go to school, repeated stomachaches or headaches in the morning, slipping grades, damaged or missing belongings, isolation, trouble sleeping, mood changes after using their phone. Start the conversation calmly, without dramatizing, then contact the school. Many countries also have helplines dedicated to bullying and cyberbullying.<\/p>\n<p>Keep exploring: all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">psychology topics<\/a> on emotions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\">Self-confidence<\/a> to find your footing again after a baby arrives, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\">Body positive<\/a> to see your body with kindness, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/sante\/grossesse\">Pregnancy<\/a> for the months before birth.<\/p>","parent":6138,"count":706,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":6139,"category_count":706,"category_description":"<p>The Parenting section of The Body Optimist supports moms, dads and every kind of family through everyday life with kids: raising children, emotions, school, relationships and the mental load. Advice from child development professionals, explainers and personal stories approach parenting without guilt, whatever your family looks like.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Parenting section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Raising kids<\/strong>: teaching children to share, setting limits without yelling, praising effort over intelligence, with ideas drawn from positive parenting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>School and bullying<\/strong>: helping your child feel good at school, spotting the signs of bullying and knowing how to respond.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Postpartum for both parents<\/strong>: your body after birth, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/sleep-deprivation-fatigue-loneliness-the-reality-of-young-mothers-433661\">exhaustion and loneliness of new mothers<\/a>, and postpartum depression in fathers, still too little known.<\/li>\n<li><strong>All kinds of families<\/strong>: single-parent, blended and same-sex parent families, parents with disabilities, with more stories in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Family relationships<\/strong>: your bond with your own parents, toxic families, overbearing grandparents, sibling rivalry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Life choices<\/strong>: wanting children, or not, discussed without judgment or social pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do you set limits for your child without yelling?<\/h2>\n<p>Setting boundaries without yelling relies on clarity and consistency more than strictness. Keep instructions short and positive (\u201cwe walk in the hallway\u201d rather than \u201cdon\u2019t run\u201d), get down to your child\u2019s eye level and look at them. Announce transitions ahead of time to head off meltdowns when an activity ends. Name your child\u2019s feeling without giving in on the rule: \u201cYou\u2019re angry because the screen is turning off. I get it, and it\u2019s bath time.\u201d When tension rises, stepping out of the room for a few seconds beats raising your voice. Some parents even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/giving-orders-to-a-singing-child-an-unusual-trick-to-avoid-shouting-428727\">sing their instructions<\/a> to keep things light. No parent is perfect: apologizing after you lose your temper also teaches your child how to repair a relationship.<\/p>\n<h2>Our take on parenting<\/h2>\n<p>Parenting doesn\u2019t rest on mothers alone: we also talk about dads, co-parents, blended, single-parent and LGBTQ+ families, and people who choose not to have children. There\u2019s no single model or \u201cperfect mom\u201d here: our articles share guidance without making anyone feel guilty. For any concern about a child\u2019s health or development, your pediatrician, family doctor or a child psychologist remains the best person to ask.<\/p>\n<h2>Where to start<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/top-phrases-help-children-express-emotions-444372\">What to say instead of \u201cstop crying\u201d<\/a>: five phrases that help children express their emotions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/monster-under-the-bed-really-means-childhood-fear-428271\">The monster under the bed<\/a>: what this classic childhood fear really means and how to respond.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/eldest-daughter-syndrome-confirmed-by-science-study-reigniting-debate-430888\">Eldest daughter syndrome<\/a>: what research says about the responsibilities often placed on firstborn girls.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/be-a-mother-but-stay-slim-she-breaks-the-silence-pressure-weighs-on-young-mothers-432933\">The pressure to \u201cbounce back\u201d after birth<\/a>: one mother speaks out against the demand to stay thin.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/you-post-pictures-of-children-on-social-media-heres-something-you-probably-dont-know-428755\">Posting photos of your kids online<\/a>: what to know before you share.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Can fathers get postpartum depression?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Some fathers go through sadness, irritability or anxiety after a baby arrives, sometimes called the \u201cdaddy blues.\u201d When these symptoms last for several weeks, it may be paternal postpartum depression, a condition recognized by health professionals. Intense fatigue, feeling useless or withdrawing from others are warning signs: talking to a doctor is the first step toward getting support.<\/p>\n<h3>What is positive parenting?<\/h3>\n<p>Positive parenting, close to what is often called gentle parenting, guides children through listening, explanation and encouragement rather than punishment, yelling or humiliation. It isn\u2019t the same as being permissive: rules still exist, but they\u2019re set with respect. A growing number of countries have also banned corporal punishment of children, spanking included.<\/p>\n<h3>How can you tell if your child is being bullied at school?<\/h3>\n<p>Several signs can raise concern: refusing to go to school, repeated stomachaches or headaches in the morning, slipping grades, damaged or missing belongings, isolation, trouble sleeping, mood changes after using their phone. Start the conversation calmly, without dramatizing, then contact the school. Many countries also have helplines dedicated to bullying and cyberbullying.<\/p>\n<p>Keep exploring: all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">psychology topics<\/a> on emotions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\">Self-confidence<\/a> to find your footing again after a baby arrives, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\">Body positive<\/a> to see your body with kindness, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/sante\/grossesse\">Pregnancy<\/a> for the months before birth.<\/p>","cat_name":"Parenting","category_nicename":"vie-de-maman","category_parent":6138}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8375"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=444688"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":445311,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444688\/revisions\/445311"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/444692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=444688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=444688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=444688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}