The Story
OP (28F) and her sister (25F) are very close. So, when her sister asked if OP could watch her four-month-old daughter overnight, she gladly agreed. OP has a six-month-old of her own and is familiar with taking care of infants. Her sister came prepared with bottles filled with pumped breastmilk. However, she casually mentioned that she had never actually given her baby a bottle before but assumed it would go fine.
A few hours into babysitting, OP’s niece became hungry. OP prepared a bottle and attempted to feed her. Despite multiple attempts, the baby refused to take the bottle. OP tried everything she could think of, even spoon-feeding the baby, but nothing worked. The baby continued to cry for two hours straight, refusing all efforts to be fed.
During this time, OP repeatedly tried to contact her sister for advice or permission to try other methods, but her messages went unanswered. Feeling out of options and with a hungry, inconsolable baby, OP sent her sister a message informing her of her next step: she was going to breastfeed the baby herself. OP breastfed her niece, hoping to calm her and meet her immediate needs. Since her sister still hadn’t responded, OP ended up feeding the baby twice this way.
When her sister eventually saw the message, she was furious. She accused OP of crossing a boundary, saying she had no right to breastfeed her niece and should have found a different solution. Since then, her sister has not spoken to her. Now OP is left wondering if she made the wrong call in a difficult moment.
Tea & Feels Verdict
Our Take
This is one of those cases where common sense and compassion collided with unrealistic expectations. OP found herself in a tough spot — a screaming, hungry baby who refused to take a bottle, no contact with mom, and no other feeding options. She exhausted every reasonable solution before making the call to breastfeed, and even then, she informed her sister before acting.
The sister’s anger is understandable from an emotional standpoint. Parenthood can come with feelings of vulnerability, guilt, and protectiveness, especially when things don’t go as planned. However, directing that frustration at OP is misplaced. The real issue here seems to be a lack of preparation, not a betrayal of trust.
In the end, OP did what was necessary to care for the baby in the moment. This wasn’t a boundary being crossed maliciously — it was a family member stepping up in a crisis. Feed the baby, keep them safe, and have the big talks later.
Reader Takes
We’re not the only ones with opinions. Here are some top takes from the Reddit crowd that caught our eye:
u/Parking-Reveal-7701:
“NTA. You had exhausted all other avenues, and you were clear in your communication. You didn’t do this on a whim. Your sister’s anger is more about her own feelings of guilt or helplessness than your actions.”
u/borenor:
“It sounds like your sister is more upset with herself for not trying a bottle before than with you. Feeding a hungry baby who is refusing a bottle isn’t crossing a boundary. You did the right thing, and your sister is projecting her own failings.”
u/FictionalBoredom:
“It’s wild that she left you with a baby who had never taken a bottle and didn’t give you any sort of alternative plan. You kept the baby fed, safe, and informed her when you could. That’s what a good aunt does. NTA.”
u/Fatherly-Bias:
“As a dad, if my kid needed to eat and a trusted family member could help, I’d be grateful. Sometimes parenting isn’t clean and tidy. You did your best with the tools you had. Your sister’s reaction is emotional, not logical.”
u/KnittedSweaterGoose:
“NTA. You tried for HOURS. This wasn’t overstepping, it was survival mode. Your sister’s anger should be aimed at herself for assuming the baby would take a bottle without practice. You saved the day.”
TL;DR Verdict
✅ Not the Asshole
