Lindsay White | Founder of The Little Milk Bar
Lindsay White
Founder of The Little Milk Bar
@thelittlemilkbar_
Hey! I'm Lindsay, I started The Little Milk Bar at my kitchen table in Salt Lake City, Utah. I'll never forget going out to eat with my husband Pete for the first time with our new baby, Allie. It was right around feeding time and she started fussing. I turned to my husband and asked, "can I feed her here, in a restaurant?". I was a new mom, and just wasn't sure. We sat at our booth and I fed her anyway. Looking back now, I can't believe how absurd that question was. After having my second baby, Koda, I was out at a wedding. He got hungry so I sat down at our table in the corner of the room and fed him. A woman walked over to me and said, "do you really think you should be feeding him here? Maybe you should go to the bathroom dear". As much as I wanted to tell this woman off, I just chuckled and continued nursing. It was THIS night that I got the idea for The Baby Blanket. There needed to be a brand out there for all the breastfeeding mothers, to stand up for new moms. To unite all the breastfeeding mamas out there. This is when The Little Milk Bar was born.
Our Mission Too many women hide in bathroom stalls, parked cars and dressing rooms to feed their babies... because they're afraid of the comments they'll get from strangers. Our mission is to help put a stop to that. To empower mothers everywhere to feed their baby when and where they're hungry, with or without a cover... however YOU feel most comfortable.
We hope that no other mother EVER has to ask, "can I feed my baby here?" ever again. This is what The Baby Blanket and Milk Maker Tee is all about. We created this product for all the breastfeeding mothers out there. To give them the courage they might need, and to serve as a reminder that it's OKAY to feed your babe wherever you need to :) Empowering mothers everywhere. #dropthecover
We'd love to know your story! How did you get started? How did you get to where you are today? What are you most proud of?
With my first baby, I hated breastfeeding. I made it 18 months and it was the hardest thing I ever did. I was always feeding in public bathroom stalls and hot parked cars. It was awful. I felt like I no longer had a life, I was always missing out. When I got pregnant with my second, I made a promise that I would have more confidence this time around. That I would enjoy my breastfeeding journey this time. It changed everything for me. I loved this breastfeeding journey. Instead of leaving my family in the restaurant to feed in my car, I'd sit right there at the table, eat my meal, feed my baby and enjoy the company. At friends' BBQ's instead of feeding in a private room, I'd continue on with my conversation and feed my son. And guess what? No one cared. Then I went to a friends wedding and was feeding my son at our table in the corner when a woman walked over to me and said, "do you really think you should be doing that here? Maybe you should go to the bathroom and do that". If this was the 5 year ago Lindsay, I would've been mortified... gotten right up from my seat, walked to the bathroom in tears and fed my son in embarrassment. But not this new, confident Lindsay. Instead, I just smiled and said "no thanks, we're comfortable where we're at". That night The Little Milk Bar was born. There had to be a brand that empowered breastfeeding moms. That let them know it was OKAY to feed in public, because you don't know what you don't know. They say the more you say of something, the more normal it becomes. So we show all the breastfeeding we possibly can. I hope to be that little voice in a mother's head who's currently scared to death to feed in public saying, "you got this!".
What advice would you give someone wanting to pursue a career similar to yours?
Find something you're incredibly passionate about. Something you can't stop thinking about. And do that. And do it better than anyone else has ever done it.
What are the best resources that have helped you along the way?
Books books books. The 17 Keys to Success by Napoleon Hill changed everything for me. Having other female business owners to network with and bounce ideas off of.
What do you think is the #1 thing that has helped you succeed?
Connection/caring. We're not just a brand that sells t-shirts, we're a brand that genuinely cares about our community of mothers. I give helpful information as much as I can to help mothers succeed in their breastfeeding journey. I will personally reach out to those who are currently struggling (sometimes via text). I buy my community coffeed a few times a month for the mothers who were up all night with feedings and have no idea how they're going to make it through the day. I occasionally send customers that I know are struggling a bouquet of flowers to let them know they're not alone. I care about my community. I provide value FIRST. And this is what makes The Little Milk Bar so amazing. It's a brand I wish was around with my first baby.
Use your voice even if it shakes, we have your back.