BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

Ashley Tisdale Says Moms Need to Stop Feeling Guilty Over Baby Feeding

“Don’t feel guilty. The biggest thing for me was just having a great experience feeding. That's the most important, no matter how it is.”
save article
profile picture of Nehal Aggarwal
By Nehal Aggarwal, Editor
Updated October 6, 2021
Ashley Tisdale bottle feeds infant daughter enfamil enspire formula
Image: StarTraks

Actress Ashley Tisdale and her husband, musician Christopher French, welcomed their daughter Jupiter Iris French a little over six months ago in March 2021. Since then, the new parents have been enjoying their bundle of joy, watching Jupiter grow and celebrating her milestones—but it hasn’t all been easy. In recent weeks, Tisdale has opened up about how challenging the postpartum and breastfeeding periods were for her—and believes new moms need to stop feeling guilty about their journeys.

“I had difficulty breastfeeding, so that didn’t really work out,” Tisdale tells The Bump, whose app she used throughout her pregnancy. She adds that she felt grateful there were plenty of other options out there, including her preferred formula of choice, Enfamil Enspire, which she has now partnered with. “She’s on Enfamil’s Enspire, and it’s the closest formula to breastmilk. She gets all of her nutrients and everything she needs for development,” she explains. “There’s definitely those moments we’re like, ‘What am I going to do?’ But then you’re like, ‘Okay, I’ve got this.’ … I feel like we’ve kind of already found a little bit of our footing, but I’m sure things will change again.”

Image: StarTraks

The new mom places a heavy emphasis on being present for her daughter and feels that sometimes moms “can get in their own way” due to expectations they have. She explains that Jupiter wasn’t latching from the start, and it was a frustrating and stressful experience for both. She says she couldn’t figure out why they couldn’t accomplish this seemingly “easy” task. “I just felt like we were striving versus thriving,” she says. “At that moment, I was like, “Why am I doing this? Is it because I think this is the best option? Because there are other great options out there.”

Tisdale and Jupiter have found a great feeding journey through Enfamil Enspire, which provides Jupiter with all the nutrients she needs for development. Tisdale, who believes all moms should be able to access quality care, also supports Better Starts for All, a program—created by Reckitt’s Enfa, which houses brands Enfamil, Enfagrow and Enfinitas, along with March of Dimes—that provides maternal care programs to moms and babies who have limited or no access to them.

The mother and daughter’s feeding journey also recently hit another milestone: starting solids. Tisdale did a lot of research beforehand because she wanted to better understand Jupiter’s journey and be prepared, including taking a class in starting solids to better understand how it would impact development. “We know that it’s really about them practicing versus getting their nutrients. She still gets all of her nutrients from Enfamil. But it’s funny because my Mom—I mean obviously she had us a long time ago—but she didn’t even know that….They’re just starting. They’re just really practicing until they get to a year,” Tisdale shares. “Knowledge is power. So I try to do a lot of research on things before starting.”

So what are some of Jupiter’s favorite foods so far? She loves avocados and bananas and peaches, but isn’t as big a fan of sweet potatoes. While Jupiter may just be getting used to solid food, the new parents had a feeling she would love it—and they’ve certainly been enjoying her reactions. “I knew she was going to love food because she’s been watching us eat for a while now, and, I’m not kidding you, she licks her lips,” Tisdale jokes, adding that Jupiter knows exactly what to do with a spoon and feeds herself. “She’s just very observant. And so I think that’s why she just knew how to use it so quickly because she just watches us eat…And the best pictures have come out of any time she tried something new.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Tisdale’s advice to new moms who may be struggling? Be present and know when something is just not working—and accept that it’s okay. Tisdale found her DMs full of women who thanked her for sharing her difficult feeding journey. “Don’t feel guilty,” she tells new moms. “The biggest thing for me was just having a great experience feeding. That’s the most important, no matter how it is.”

Her other big tip for new moms? Don’t compare! “I think comparisons are always the worst thing for you. It’s like your friends are always going to make it seem easier, better. They got everything together—and I think just now everyone is going through the same thing…We all have those moments of being like, ‘Am I doing this right? Am I?,’ she adds. “You’re just trying to figure it all out, and I think that it’s important to remind yourself that you’re doing a great job. This is all new, and you’re not supposed to have it down…give yourself patience and love through it all.”

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

baby being fed baby food while sitting in high chair
The Best Baby Food Delivery Services
By Martina Garvey
Advertisement
baby drinking from bottle
5 Steps to Take if Breastfeeding Doesn’t Go as Planned
By Chaunie Brusie
What You Need to Know About Baby Growth Spurts
What You Need to Know About Baby Growth Spurts
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
overhead view of baby sitting at high chair and eating food with fingers
The Best Finger Foods for Baby
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
best-manual-breast-pumps-HERO
The Best Manual Breast Pumps for On-the-Go Parents
By Christin Perry
Organic Baby Formula-hero
The Best Organic Baby Formula for Your Little One
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
Baby Food Hero
7 Best Organic Baby Foods to Start Healthy Eating Off Right
By Christin Perry
ADVERTISEMENT
dad feeding newborn baby formula bottle
Baby Feeding Schedule: How Much Should a Newborn Eat?
By Natalie Gingerich Mackenzie
mother testing rooting reflex by touching baby's cheek
Rooting Reflex in Babies: What It Is and Why It’s Important
By Nehal Aggarwal
mother giving newborn baby vitamin D drops
8 Best Vitamin D Drops for Infants
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
ADVERTISEMENT
father feeding baby cereal
Best Baby Cereals: 6 Healthy Options for Your Little Eater
By Bonnie Vengrow
baby holding a jar of honey and a wooden spoon
When Can Babies Have Honey?
By Korin Miller
How History and Racism Reframe the Formula Shortage for Black Families
How History and Racism Reframe the Formula Shortage for Black Families
By Kimberly Seals Allers
ADVERTISEMENT
close up of baby's mouth with lip tie
What You Need to Know About Lip Ties in Babies and Toddlers
By Christin Perry
Choosing how to feed baby
Why I've Breastfed, Formula-Fed and Even Considered Donor Milk
By Danielle Wilson
dad bottle feeds newborn baby
Baby Feeding Negatively Impacts Most Moms’ Mental Health, Survey Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
Formula brand Bobbie launches campaign to foster encouragement for non-breastfeeding moms.
This Campaign Wants to Make the Dialogue Around Feeding Baby More Inclusive
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
23 slides
Best of Baby 2015: Feeding
Best of Baby 2015: Feeding
By The Bump Editors
Holle baby food brand launches in the United States at Whole foods, image of Holle's cow milk product.
This Cult-Favorite European Baby Formula Brand Is Coming to America
By Nehal Aggarwal
mom holding her newborn baby close to her chest
New Study Finds 9 Out of 10 Newborns Are Born With Gut Deficiency
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.