Cardi B is already a Grammy Award-winning rapper and mother of three (with another baby on the way). But now she’s adding another title: “Advocate.” She’s fighting to help other mothers eliminate the stigma surrounding formula feeding, raising awareness of America’s growing maternal mortality crisis, and fighting for more paid parental leave.
The rappers have teamed up with organic formula company Bobby as part of their effort. “B is for Bobby.” Campaign starting today. This campaign encourages parents to feel good about their food choices and raises awareness of the maternal mortality crisis in the United States.
Founded by her mother, Bobbi is the pop sensation’s baby brand that Cardi B first partnered with. In fact, Cardi B currently serves as Bobby’s chief secret officer.
She is currently pregnant with her fourth child and is expecting her first child with her boyfriend, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs. But she’s already a mother to 13-month-old Blossom, and her estranged husband Offset’s children Wave, 3, and Kulture, 7. As such, she is well aware of the challenges new parents face when choosing how to feed their babies.
Increase confidence in feeding choices
As much as she loves being a mom, Cardi B is equally passionate about advocating for other moms, especially those new to the workforce.
“A new mother is born every minute of every day,” she told Vogue in a new interview.
Being a new mother comes with many challenges and difficult choices. One of the first is choosing how to feed your newborn. A national infant formula shortage in 2022 has spread misinformation about the integrity of U.S.-manufactured infant formula, leaving many parents feeling anxious and even guilty about their dietary choices.
Cardi B wants to dispel the stigma around formula-feeding and give new moms the confidence to choose to bottle-feed. She herself was feeding Blossom Bobby organic whole milk infant formula. She recalled to Vogue how frustrating it was to “not produce as much milk as the next woman,” and now wants to shift her focus to making sure her baby gets the right nutrients it needs to grow.
“You’re not a bad mother if you feed your baby formula,” she says. “You know what’s wrong? Not feeding your child.”
Through this campaign, Bobby and Cardi B aim to rebuild trust in the quality and safety of infant formula.
Dealing with American parenting
release of B is Bobby This campaign feels timely as the maternal and child health crisis worsens. Many people don’t know that the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country. Additionally, black and dark-skinned women are three times more likely to die during childbirth. This initiative highlights the need for safer childbirth and more support for all mothers, regardless of race or demographics.
The campaign also highlights that the United States lags behind other developed countries when it comes to paid parental leave. Not all parents are guaranteed paid leave, which limits breastfeeding options and makes it nearly impossible to breastfeed for as long as you want.
Speaking on behalf of mothers around the world, Cardi B said society needs “support systems like paid leave and safe childbirth for all parents.”
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Importantly, this campaign is not just about rhetoric, it’s also about action. Bobbie for Change is donating $75,000 to partner organizations passionate about these changes, including Paid Leave for All, BirthFUND, and 4Kira4Moms. The campaign features streaming hero spots across multiple platforms that connect Cardi B with four “ordinary” parents looking for non-judgmental parenting advice.
There is also a place where parents can call in and submit personal stories from their own parenting and feeding experiences. The 732-QQ-CARDI number is a dedicated line that goes live starting today. Bobby for Change collects these testimonies and sends them directly to legislators to urge reform. Eight of these applicants will also receive three months of paid parental leave courtesy of their company.
Cardi B infuses her natural confidence into everything she does, and her partnership with Bobby is no exception. She hopes that whether mothers choose to feed their babies or go back to work, they will be able to do so without “side-judgement.” She also hopes the campaign will lead to “real conversations, real support, and real answers” for parents around the world.
