Kaytee, IRL, i was usually in situations, where i was the ONLY mum breastfeeding, using MCN, delaying rearfacing carseats, not doing CIO etc etc. i really relate to what you said.

i did not have the energy to be the educator of the mums around me, and i quickly learnt, no-one was interested in other ways of doing things, the amount of aggression i encountered if i mentioned anything else - quickly got me to keep quiet, and just plug away at doing what i was doing with my baby.

it took all my energy to maintain my own beliefs WITH MY OWN CHILD, as i copped so much flack from health profs, strangers in shops, let alone people i actually knew (to wean from five months onwards, to use disposable nappies, to use CIO, etc etc) IRL. i had to find some kind of support for what i was doing, which i found online, to keep me sane.

I never preached using MCN to anyone, but i noticed two mums who must have watched me at mum's group, later used MCN with their 2nd babies, so who knows, maybe i had an impact in a quiet way. My tack was "don't bring up subject yourself, but if anyone shows interest and sounds positive - then share info". I learnt "not to get into it" with aggressive people who just wanted to "take a shot".

it was hardest when i had a baby with sleep issues at 19 months old, when i was getting "put her on formula and it'll all right itself" from all quarters (IRL).