Marian Rivera, a breastfeeding advocate, has been criticized for giving 4-month-old Ziggy solid food. Image: Instagram/@marianrivera
Marian Rivera explained why she gave solid food to her 4-month-old baby after receiving criticism for her decision.
Her statement on Instagram yesterday, Aug. 24, comes after she shared videos this week in her Instagram Stories of baby Ziggy trying a broccoli puree. Concerned Instagram users said in the comments section of a fan account that babies can only be fed solid foods when they are about 8 months old.
Rivera emphasized that giving solid food to her son Ziggy does not mean that she has stopped breastfeeding, as per her Instagram post. To drive home her point, she shared a portrait of her in a blue gown nursing her second child.
“Nais kong ipakita ang suporta ko sa breastfeeding advocacy magmula noon hanggang ngayon,” she said.
(I want to show my support for my breastfeeding advocacy from then until now.)
She said their pediatrician advised that solids could be fed to her baby and that she recognizes the World Health Organization’s recommendation on complementary feeding. Rivera advised that the WHO guidelines be followed, which states that complementary feeding begin at six months. She said she hoped that she would not be judged if she did not follow such guidelines.
Rivera appealed to moms not to insult fellow moms in advocating breastfeeding: “Isang pakiusap lamang po, nawa’y sa adbokasiyang eto ay hindi tayo makasakit ng damdamin ng mga kapwa natin ina, nawa’y hindi gamitin ang pangalan ko sa mga kumento at mensahe na humuhusga sa pag bigay ko ng masustansyang gulay sa aking anak.”
(One request, in this advocacy please do not hurt the feeling of our fellow moms, please do not use my name in comments and messages that judge me for giving nutritious vegetables to my child.)
“Lahat po tayong ina ay gusto lamang ang ‘best’ sa kanyang anak,” she reminded critics. “Hanggat kaya ko ay lalaban ako bilang #padedemom.”
(We mothers all want the best for our kids. As long as I can I will fight as one #padedemom.)
Rivera has consistently advocated breastfeeding since she had her firstborn Zia in 2015. /ra