Jessica Ann Colletti Celebrates ‘World Breastfeeding Week’ With Picture Breastfeeding Son And Friend’s Son, Faces Backlash

Jessica Anne Colletti shared a picture of herself breastfeeding her own son as well as the son of her good friend for “World Breastfeeding Week” and has since had to defend herself against critics.

Mom Jessica Anne Colletti Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

“My son on the right is 16 months and my friend’s son is 18 months,” Colletti said to mommy blog Mama Bean Parenting. “I watch her son while she works and have been feeding them both for a year! So much love between these milk siblings, it’s a special bond between us all.”

Despite it being “World Breastfeeding Month” and there being an increased push to normalize the practice, Colletti’s picture was met with criticism. Some suggested that there was something amiss about Colletti serving as a wet nurse to her friend’s child, while more argued that the boys pictured in the photograph were too old to continue being breastfed.

“Breastfeeding my friend’s son came naturally to me. I started babysitting him when he was 5 months old and the first time she dropped him off to me I asked permission to nurse him, since I was already nursing my 3 month old,” Colletti explained to Mama Bear. “She responded with an enthusiastic yes, because he was having issues with the formula his previous sitter had been giving him.”

“My friend struggled with breastfeeding in the beginning and succeeded for 9 months. She was always very happy that her son had the nutrition and comfort he needed while she was working,” Colletti added. “Being able to breastfeed her little boy has created a special bond between us all, a bond I will always cherish.”

Charlie Iterrante, Colletti’s friend and the mother of the other boy she breastfeeds, is more than happy with their arrangement.

“She’s the best mom I’ve ever known,” Interrante told the Daily Mail. “I don’t trust many people with my son.”