Sesame Street Breastfeeding: Moms Push To Bring Nursing Back To TV Show

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

"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:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/05/sesame-street-breastfeeding_n_1187086.html

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.

Amen. Funny how some of the nastiest posts have come from the "breast-feeding rights" group.

You are probably talking about someplace else but just wanted to say I think this thread has been pretty polite so far.

Being surprised at the anti-nursing-baby-on-Sesame-Street comments and expressing that surprise isn't nasty.

It does seem like a thread on breastfeeding can go toe-to-toe with a thread on circumcision in regards to controversy though. :coollook:

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I think it is unnecessary and we just need to let kids be kids and watch sesame street, learn their numbers, and letters and how to not bite your friends. We take youth away so fast by teaching and exposing them to things can't can't fully comprehend yet. I think it confuses them more. There are more age appropriate things to learn at 3-4 years old.

I don't think we need to be teaching our kids about bottle feeding either. They are little kids for Chrissakes!

Yo Gabba Gabba has there lessons right, Don't bite your friends, don't be scared of simple things, Try it and you'll like it, sharing is caring. All that is really necessary for preschoolers.

I'm really not sure how feeding a baby discreetly is taking away childhood. The stigma attached to nursing a baby surprises me every time I hear of it.

I completely understand where the more militant pro-nursing folks who whip out their breasts and feed their babies in public as a protest will bother people. I do, really!

However, having a new sibling in the family is normal for a toddler to experience. For Sesame Street to show that isn't taking away anyone's childhood, in my opinion.

I am very saddened by the violent video games and how many children have access to ugly stuff on tv at younger and younger ages. I am appalled at that show about little girls and beauty contests. I work part-time as a school district nurse and some of the stuff kids tell me is heart breaking. One diabetic boy stays up until midnight watching R-rated movies while his mom is asleep. THAT kind of stuff is what takes away a child's chance at just being a kid.

Arguing about whether letting a child simply know that babies get milk from mom, without mom showing her breasts at all . . .. well, again, mountain out of molehill.

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Edited to add . . .just to be clear. I am not saying anyone should tell you moms and dads out there that your children MUST watch Sesame Street. Of course everyone has their own opinion and can choose what they want. . . .(decided to edit the rest as that would be another topic).

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Specializes in School Nurse, Maternal Newborn.

"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:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/05/sesame-street-breastfeeding_n_1187086.html

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 disagree, children don't need to be educated on breast feeding. there is no need to put it on a kids show. nothing wrong with breastfeeding, but it's preschool learning and the last time i checked preschoolers don't need to see breastfeeding. they can get the normal natural education when they are ready for sex ed.

and as for the above poster, yes, women make the choice not to breastfeed. what's so shocking? it isn't for everyone. some women find it uncomfortable or their lifestyle doesn't support it.. my friend chose not and she has 2 healthy beautiful children. i couldn't for technical reasons. so, be a little more open-minded to those who choose not to breast feed, then maybe people will be a little more open minded to those who do, in public.

i disagree wholeheartedly. waiting until it is time for "sex ed" does what? treat the breast as only sexual. the breast was made by nature for feeding a baby, not as a man's playthings , whether or not a woman chooses to use them to feed a baby! this attitude is why so many children in america never see a woman breastfeed, and look as the bottle as the only way to feed a baby. seeing a woman casually feeding a baby at the breast desexualizes the process, imo. this attitude is not what is encountered in most of the rest of the world.

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Specializes in I/DD.

I never watched sesame street when I was a kid (the muppets creeped me out), and I am the youngest in my family so I didn't see my mom nurse any younger siblings. It took nursing school, two trips to Guatemala, and seeing my sister's breastfeed to get it into my head that it is not "gross." I see absolutely no problem with educating our young kids on what breastfeeding is, if only to avoid this phenomenon. My mom didn't educate me about breastfeeding (or sex, or anything else of that nature) because it made her uncomfortable. Why does it need to be that way? After watching those clips I think that is the perfect way to present breastfeeding to a four year old. It portrays breastfeeding as a normal and natural process, yet acknowledges bottle feeding as an equally normal option.

Personally I don't care if someone chooses to breastfeed or bottle feed; that is your choice. But why does it have to be such a huge issue? After all, it is just another way to feed your baby.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I'm really not sure how feeding a baby discreetly is taking away childhood. The stigma attached to nursing a baby surprises me every time I hear of it.

I completely understand where the more militant pro-nursing folks who whip out their breasts and feed their babies in public as a protest will bother people. I do, really!

However, having a new sibling in the family is normal for a toddler to experience. For Sesame Street to show that isn't taking away anyone's childhood, in my opinion.

I am very saddened by the violent video games and how many children have access to ugly stuff on tv at younger and younger ages. I am appalled at that show about little girls and beauty contests. I work part-time as a school district nurse and some of the stuff kids tell me is heart breaking. One diabetic boy stays up until midnight watching R-rated movies while his mom is asleep. THAT kind of stuff is what takes away a child's chance at just being a kid.

Arguing about whether letting a child simply know that babies get milk from mom, without mom showing her breasts at all . . .. well, again, mountain out of molehill.

No one is arguing about educating a child about nursing. There are differences of opinion as whether or not it needs to be done on SS. I don't think the program needs to be a kids version of a show that addresses social issues. I agree with the poster who said to stick to numbers, alphabet, etc.

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No one is arguing about educating a child about nursing. There are differences of opinion as whether or not it needs to be done on SS. I don't think the program needs to be a kids version of a show that addresses social issues. I agree with the poster who said to stick to numbers, alphabet, etc.

Sesame Street has a long tradition of addressing social issues, going back primarily to the 1980s. Sesame Street has addressed themes such as death, love, marriage, divorce, childbirth, and even 9/11.

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Specializes in NICU.

This is very cool!

Breastmilk is considered a medicine in the NICU because it can be life and death for a preemie who is extraordinarily more likely to get necrotizing enterocolitis (and especially those that are formula fed!!), which can kill a kid from healthy to dead in 12 hours. I've seen it happen. It's not pretty and is devastating for families.

If I couldn't breastfeed or pump, I would buy donor milk.

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Specializes in OB.
Sesame Street has a long tradition of addressing social issues, going back primarily to the 1980s. Sesame Street has addressed themes such as death, love, marriage, divorce, childbirth, and even 9/11.

Absolutely! That's why I love it. I don't think we need to shelter our kids from issues like that, or hunger as OCNRN63 takes issue with (although I certainly understood your point about how it could be frightening), or AIDS or anything if they're addressed in an age-appropriate, non-scary, non-judgmental manner. If in the long run it creates more empathetic, open-minded children who learn to consider new points of view and new cultures, in a society that's all about "me me me want want want buy buy buy", I'm all for it. Of course, if one disagreed with Sesame Street's point of view, one could simply prevent their kids from watching it, just as I would prevent my kids from playing video games, because I don't like them.

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Wow. Really?

Stargazer said "Sesame Street has a long tradition of addressing social issues, going back primarily to the 1980s. Sesame Street has addressed themes such as death, love, marriage, divorce, childbirth, and even 9/11."

AGREE AGREE AGREE! We live in a rural area of mostly whites. My girls learned on Sesame Street that "people are people" red, yellow, black, white. No difference. When a black family moved here, and their girls attended school, my daughters didn't notice.

I believe that's what most of the lessons on Sesame Street are. Show kids what's out there, so it doesn't freak 'em out, or stare, or make rude comments. It is what it is. IMPORTANT LIFE LESSON.

As far as it not being my business about a womans choice of breastfeeding? As a nurse, when I worked in OB, you darn right it was my business. Just as it's my business to encourage smokers to quit, when I'm in my uniform in in work mode.

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I think if you honestly consider what children can watch on TV (even if you only have an antenna), showing a discretely breastfeeding woman on Seasame Street will be the least of your worries.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

Unquestionably, these days with people trying to be "Politically Correct on all subjects" without hurting anyone's feelings, it's a difficult task to do. Therefore, it's up to the parents on what our children should and shouldn't watch on T.V., so when the subject arises let the guardian of the child answer their inquiries in the proper manner. Furthermore, I myself took the opportunity to speak to my son once the program exposed the issue, it may it easier for me as a single parent.

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