Post-Op Mom Calls Cops On Her Sister For Throwing Away 14 Unused Cans Of Baby Formula While Babysitting

"She quite literally took food from your baby’s mouth."

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• March 17, 2024

A Redditor's older sister granted her a huge favor when she volunteered to babysit for free while OP underwent surgery. Except, it wasn't free, as her sister's babysitting services cost OP 14 cans of infant formula.

The siblings gave birth within two weeks of each other. Her sister is a staunch believer in the benefits of breastfeeding, while OP chose to use formula to feed her baby.

Her sister was breastfeeding OP's baby when she arrived home from her 3-day hospital stay. OP didn't mind and thought it was more convenient for her sister to breastfeed both babies instead of preparing a separate bottle for OP's son.

OP only got upset when her sister informed her of what she had done. She threw out 14 unused cans of formula and promised to pump enough milk to cover her nephew's needs.

OP went to the bathroom to call the police after she recovered from the news of what her sister had done. The police told OP that what her sister did was not illegal as long as the baby was fed.

It was her sister's turn to get upset. She said what OP did was beyond unacceptable and that she was only trying to help when she threw away the baby's formula.

Her sister demanded that OP should now pay her for three days' worth of childcare.

OP said she couldn't afford to replace her baby's formula, let alone pay her sister for babysitting while she was on maternity leave.

Her sister stormed out of the house and blocked OP on everything. Their parents bought two formulas for the baby. They said OP shouldn't have tried to get her sister arrested as it could affect her government job.

OP added in an edit that her sister hasn't even tried to pump since giving birth. She couldn't guarantee that she would have enough breastmilk to feed OP's baby.

OP explained that her mom was supposed to babysit her son, but her sister insisted.

The main thing that angered OP was the thought of her son going hungry because his food was thrown away by someone who thought she knew better.

Still, Redditors insisted that OP could have done something before she called the police.

Someone said she shouldn't have had a baby in the first place if she couldn't afford to replace the formula at a moment's notice.

Others understood where OP's anxiety was coming from. They know how expensive a baby's formula is.

OP's post received mixed reactions. While she was ultimately voted not the a**hole, Redditors explained why calling the police was an overreaction.

They emphasized how much trouble her sister could have been in if the cops decided to charge her.

They said, based on the story, both siblings seem to jump to the extreme reaction.

Like most commenters, OP had no idea where the baby formula ended up because she didn't find it in her garbage bins.

Most Redditors sympathized with OP and said they would have done the same thing if their baby's food was depleted in one go because of someone else's meddling decision.

OP's sister thought she was "saving" the baby from the dangers of infant formula. She thought she was the better parent for choosing the natural route for her child.

Do you think OP's choice to call the cops on her sister was an overreaction? Could they reconcile if neither wants to acknowledge how poorly they reacted to the tense situation?

Chelsi