"before "sesame street" was hosting the likes of katy perry, michelle obama and emma stone, the acclaimed children's television show was home to other more frequent guest stars -- breastfeeding moms." full article:
it thought this was interesting. i didn't know that they addressed the subject so casually on the show in the past. it is sad that they have to sign a petition to allow it now, nearly 40 years after it was first on the show.
i think we need to go back to sesame street actually is- it was founded as, and is, a show about a neighborhood and it's diverse inhabitants, and how they all get along and learn from each other (yes, it has educational points, as any show aimed at young children should). people breastfeed babies, this is a totally normal thing that happens-my kids see this happen in our neighborhood. it's not gross or inappropriate, it's a daily part of living and there is absolutely no reason to hide the act of feeding babies from kids.
Yes, yes, yes. Which is why neither has to be shown to kids of sesame street age. It's a personal decision that can be addressed when they are ready to bear children.
Sex ed isn't only sex ed, it's health and about the human body. It also teaches of pregnancy. But I take it back, they can be educated on it when they are ready to bear kids. Then make a decision for themselves.
breast feeding teaches of sex and pregnancy... but babies don't? by this reasoning, shouldn't we hide all babies from kids for fear of imposing sex ed on them? breasts are how mammals feed their young, it's not a sexual act to feed babies.
I think it's absurd that breastfeeding is being lumped in with "sex ed" as if its somehow equivalent to teaching a 4 year old how to use a condom. Breastfeeding is a part of childhood for many children - and (shockhorror) many children are breastfed to the age of 2 or older. The idea that they shouldn't be able to witness at age 3 or 4 something that they themselves may have been doing just a year or two before is, to me, completely illogical, to say nothing of its overtones of shame.
Just take a look at the clips embedded in this article - breastfeeding is being presented to children in an entirely age-appropriate and educational way as a reaction to simple curiosity. It's even presented "modestly", with no skin showing at all! (I personally don't think there's any need to swaddle yourself and your baby in a blanket while feeding, I'm just pointing out that objecting to this seems to me to fall squarely into an unhelpful puritanism.)
I am all for it. I firmly believe that if we are (as a culture, not any one individual) going to get over this weird thing we have about breasts equalling sex, it has got to start when kids are Sesame Street age. It is perfectly appropriate for kids to be taught that babies can eat from a breast. For many millenia it was the ONLY way a baby ate. I have breastfed my DD (now 7 months old) in front of her big brother literally from day 1. He isn't traumatized and honestly I don't think he even thinks about it. It's just how Sissy eats.
I'm not saying that breasts can't be both sexual and utilitarian, but adults should be able to know the difference and not foist our hangups about normal human bodies onto still-innocent children.
Do countries where breastfeeding is the norm everywhere even have debates like this?
Do countries where breastfeeding is the norm everywhere even have debates like this?
nope. they also get a year off for maternity leave and try to breast feed until around age 3 or when the kiddo self weans, at least where my family is from.
I think part of it is that people assume that if kids aren't shown breastfeeding, that they become scarred for life because of it. I think kids probably learn more about breastfeeding and its rights/wrongs in the first time they encounter it and how their parents/adults react. For those parents who have breastfed in front of their younger children, that's creating a positive version of breastfeeding for them. For parents who react negatively to a breastfeeding Mom in public, it starts creating the whole "must hide it away" thing, methinks. It's actually a similar thing to ageism.
Yes, yes, yes. Which is why neither has to be shown to kids of sesame street age. It's a personal decision that can be addressed when they are ready to bear children.
Sex ed isn't only sex ed, it's health and about the human body. It also teaches of pregnancy. But I take it back, they can be educated on it when they are ready to bear kids. Then make a decision for themselves.
Completely and utterly ignorant...you are the stereotypical parent who's 15 yr old will come home 7 mos pregnant and you will be completely surprised that they even knew about sex. Then you will kick them out on the street telling them they should be ashamed of themselves when it's not their fault that everything they learned about sex they learned not from you, but from watching Jersey Shore over at their friends house.
Breast feeding is a beautiful and perfectly normal thing...I will make sure my children grow up comfortable with their bodies and in their knowledge of their sexuality and the responsibilities that come with it.
"I don't think that breastfeeding belongs in sex ed because that implies that breastfeeding is sexual in nature."
Amen! I am a breastfeeding mom of an infant and my 3yo knows that "baby eats milk from mommy" and "boobies make milk" end of story. Why does it have to be sexual!? Everyone makes such a big deal out of breastfeeding and makes it like you have leoprosy or if you're BF your baby in public that you're going to be flashing boobs all over town. It's really a shame that something so totally natural (and healthy!!) is such a social taboo lately. Just my
Wow! This is the last forum I would think would have some responses like the ones I've read. Any person that has had any Anatomy & Physiology or Microbiology classes should be jumping at the opportunity to breastfeed their children and/or encouraging women to breastfeed their babies for at least 2 weeks if anything. I don't understand why a mother would not want to feed her infant the best milk available- breastmilk (of course if she has no medical reasons that keep her from doing so)! After reading these posts, the topic should still be on Sesame Street! Apparently, some adults just don't live in the real world, so maybe if they watch Sesame street with their children, Big Bird can teach them about nature and how things are in reality. How some people can take an innocent moment between an infant and mother and make it seem vulgar or age inappropriate is beyond me.
I breastfed all four of my children. My parents were not embracing the whole idea at first. When I told them this was what I wanted to do and thats final. They were alright with it. I think,people who,reject it do so for lack of,knowledge about the subject. Also, because it's not the norm or maybe because it won't fit into their lifestyle as someone else mentioned. Once I learned the benefits of breast feeding I wanted to show or coach every new mother I knew. It's truly a beautiful thing and you're giving your baby the best gift ever. Just my two cents....
I do remember the old Sesame Street and the occasional mom who nursed her infant.
That is a good age to introduce kids to how some babies are fed - before they become jaded little brats who yell at you for nursing your child.
It's simply part of life on the Planet Earth - some folks choose to do it and some don't. The bigger deal we make out of it, the worse image the kids will have.
I think it's absurd that breastfeeding is being lumped in with "sex ed" as if its somehow equivalent to teaching a 4 year old how to use a condom. Breastfeeding is a part of childhood for many children - and (shockhorror) many children are breastfed to the age of 2 or older. The idea that they shouldn't be able to witness at age 3 or 4 something that they themselves may have been doing just a year or two before is, to me, completely illogical, to say nothing of its overtones of shame.
Exactly.
I was breast fed, my brothers were breast fed in front of me. Big deal. I wasn't scarred for life, nor did I turn into a ****.
And the next time you drink milk, eat cheese, eat ice cream, etc....you are eating cow's breast milk. Now that's kinda gross if you think about it!
fromtheseaRN, BSN, RN
464 Posts
i think we need to go back to sesame street actually is- it was founded as, and is, a show about a neighborhood and it's diverse inhabitants, and how they all get along and learn from each other (yes, it has educational points, as any show aimed at young children should). people breastfeed babies, this is a totally normal thing that happens-my kids see this happen in our neighborhood. it's not gross or inappropriate, it's a daily part of living and there is absolutely no reason to hide the act of feeding babies from kids.