A Cross-Sectional Content Analysis Exploring Women’s Experiences of Family Support Towards Tandem Breastfeeding in a Global Facebook Group sample

OBJECTIVES: This study explored how tandem-feeding mothers felt supported or unsupported by their family members, to identify common responses to this breastfeeding practice. METHODS: Free-text data were collected via an online questionnaire from a global sample of 1,209 tandem-feeding mothers. An emergent content analysis was conducted on 795 statements describing supportive experiences and 1,342 statements describing unsupportive experiences. Coding categories were developed inductively from the data. RESULTS: Five coding categories emerged from supportive comments and seven from unsupportive comments. The most prevalent supportive categories were normalisation of breastfeeding and respect for the mother's choice (52%), emotional support and encouragement (19%), and support provided without specific context (11%). The most prevalent unsupportive categories were questioning, challenging or pressuring mothers to stop tandem feeding (34%); disapproving comments, gestures or insults that caused mothers to feel uncomfortable (22%); and misinformed comments about tandem feeding (18%). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Tandem-feeding mothers frequently experience both support and opposition from family members, with unsupportive responses often characterised by judgment and misinformation. These findings highlight the need for increased education and visibility of tandem feeding to normalise this practice and reduce stigma. Improving family understanding of tandem feeding may enhance social support for mothers and contribute to more positive breastfeeding experiences.