Bindi Irwin Put Mom-Shaming On Notice In The Sweetest Way: 'Everybody Has A Different Journey'

One of the most challenging parts of motherhood is the influx of negative opinions about your parenting, otherwise known as mom-shaming. Rather than being helpful, making a mom feel bad for the job she's doing when she's already trying her best is harmful, and mother-of-one Bindi Irwin has no time for it. Speaking to Motherly back in 2022, the conservationist and Australia Zoo CEO opened up about her experience raising daughter Grace Warrior, revealing that it's particularly important to be supportive of moms when it comes to feeding.

"It's so nice to have so many options now," she told the outlet. "I think that in this day and age, it's so important as a mother to encourage other moms. Everybody has a different journey when it comes to feeding their baby and it's so important to be supportive of everybody." Giving fans a glimpse into her own experience, the "Crikey! It's the Irwins" star shared that her own breastfeeding journey had been a "learning curve," and it did take a minute for her and her baby to find their flow. 

Sadly, feeding can be a stressful experience because of the expectations that society places on mothers. There's still stigma around formula feeding, leading moms who can't or won't breastfeed to feel guilty, while society also shames breastfeeding mothers for nursing in public. To help dismantle some of these ideas, Irwin clarified that every mother's experience is unique, and comparisons have no place in the conversation. While she didn't bluntly call out mom-shamers the way less tactful stars might have, she gently encouraged fans to be supportive as moms go through this part of their journey, whatever that looks like. In the same way, Bindi Irwin had a kind but firm message for fans asking her about having more kids.

In addition to sharing her take on her own breastfeeding experience and the way that we should be more supportive of all feeding approaches, Bindi Irwin has opened up about several areas of motherhood, including how her "superhuman" mom Terri Irwin helped prepare her. She's also spoken about raising daughter Grace Warrior at Australia Zoo, and even the parallels she sees between human babies and animal infants. Mostly, her takes are positive, but she does gracefully call out problems where she sees them. In August 2024, she gently reminded fans — with the same tact she used while discussing breastfeeding — to think twice before asking women about their pregnancy plans.

"I really appreciate everybody who's curious to see if we will have another child, but I do just want to send it out there [to] remember to be careful when you ask this question because you never know what's happening in someone's life, in a family's world," she said in an Australia Zoo video posted to YouTube. In the clip, she and husband Chandler Powell revealed that they get the question about whether they'll be having more kids constantly, which Bindi admitted had stirred up feelings for her. "Everything may seem fine on the outside and on the inside their own personal journey might have been filled with turmoil and challenges that, you know, you can't even fathom."

Previously, Bindi Irwin has opened up about her experience with endometriosis, which can lead to infertility or make pregnancy more difficult. The way she handled both topics of mom-shaming around breastfeeding and tone-deaf questions proves that calling out problems doesn't have to involve hostile confrontations. Sometimes, a gentle reminder is enough to stimulate conversation that will actually change society for the better.