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Ashley Graham Opens Up About Switching to Formula for Her Twins
Ashley Graham, model, body positivity advocate, and mother of three, recently shared her experience with breastfeeding her twins and why she decided to switch to formula. Her story highlights the pressures parents face around feeding and why these choices should stay personal.
Graham spoke about this on The Daily Show, guest-hosted by Chelsea Handler. She made it clear that parents should not be told how to feed their children. “I don’t think we should be telling people how to feed their kids,” Graham said, pointing out the judgment many parents face.
The Pressure to Be Perfect
Graham reflected on her first child and the societal expectations around breastfeeding. “There’s this whole thing with people telling you how to feed your child. With my first kid, I was like, ‘I could only breastfeed. This is the right way,’ ” she said. Like many first-time parents, she felt that breastfeeding exclusively was the only correct choice, leaving little room for flexibility.
When she had twins, she quickly realized that feeding both at the same time was much harder than she expected. “This is not working here. Both of you want both of these? Like, this is a lot of work,” she said. She decided to switch her sons, Malachi and Roman, to formula at five months. Graham emphasized that her children were happy and thriving, showing that formula feeding does not equal failure. “These little guys are so strong and so happy. So I don’t think we should be telling people how they should be feeding their kids,” she said.
Sharing the Journey
Graham has been open on social media about feeding twins. She posted a photo of herself feeding both babies at four months, jokingly captioned “Double fisting.” Beyond the humor, the photo shows the reality of juggling twins and self-care.
In a PEOPLE interview, Graham explained how challenging it was to take care of herself while breastfeeding. “I thought I would easily be able to breastfeed without having to think twice. I knew there would be some juggling because everyone said if I didn’t feed the twins at the same time, I would never have time for myself,” she said. Her story reflects the reality that parenting is hard and perfection is impossible.
Encouragement and Reassurance
Graham urged parents to stop trying to do everything perfectly. She reassured others that formula feeding is okay: “I had to figure out how to do it at the same time. I remember telling myself, ‘It’s okay if you have to use formula. Don’t worry. You’re not failing as a parent.’”
Her words remind parents that their choices should focus on practicality and the needs of their family, not outside judgment. Parents often face endless opinions about feeding. Graham’s openness normalizes making the choice that works best for each family.
No One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Graham emphasized that there is no universal rule for feeding babies. “I just want people to know that there’s no one size when it comes to feeding your babies,” she said. Her perspective challenges the strict ideas about breastfeeding and infant care.
Her story encourages parents to make decisions based on what works best for both the children and themselves. Feeding choices—whether breastfeeding, formula, or both—should be personal and guided by each family’s needs.
A Broader Conversation
By speaking openly, Graham helps parents feel less guilty or judged. Parenting is about raising healthy, happy children while taking care of yourself. Success is not measured by following society’s rules but by meeting your family’s unique needs.
Her story highlights the value of flexibility and empathy in parenting. It reassures parents that doing what works for their family is enough. Feeding may be just one part of parenthood, but the lessons from Graham’s experience extend to all aspects of raising children.
Ashley Graham’s honesty encourages a culture of understanding and support. Parents should feel empowered to make decisions based on their family’s well-being, not public opinion. Her experience reminds us that parenting is complex, personal, and full of choices—and that’s perfectly okay.
