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

[lrobinson5]

"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.

[OCNRN63, RN]

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.

Don't put words in my mouth. I never said I thought children should be "sheltered." I think there is a time and place for everything. I also think that parents should be the ones to first be addressing those sorts of issues, at the appropriate time and in the appropriate place. (I know someone is going to say, "But some children's' parents don't address those issues, yada yada." I get it.)

And I am out of this thread, because, as happens over and over in breast-feeding threads, if you disagree, you are judged.

[Beauti381]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with breastfeeding but do young children need to be exposed to that? No. Stick to number, colors, reading, & morals please!

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with breastfeeding but do young children need to be exposed to that? No. Stick to number, colors, reading, & morals please!

Overheard from my stepfather while at home over the holidays, as I sat on the couch nursing the baby: "Breastfeeding is something that we saw all the time as children. Ask anyone my age [he is over 90] and they'll tell you, that was just how you kept the young babies quiet in church."

I think we need to give young children credit for being able to handle seeing breastfeeding without being traumatized.

Not to equate BFing with using the bathroom (I hate the analogy myself), but how many of us have had kids that barge into the bathroom while we're sitting on the john? How many of those kids have done it more than once? If that doesn't traumatize kids, then I really really believe they can handle seeing a breast be used for its intended purpose.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

Don't put words in my mouth. I never said I thought children should be "sheltered." I think there is a time and place for everything. I also think that parents should be the ones to first be addressing those sorts of issues, at the appropriate time and in the appropriate place. (I know someone is going to say, "But some children's' parents don't address those issues, yada yada." I get it.)

And I am out of this thread, because, as happens over and over in breast-feeding threads, if you disagree, you are judged.

I'm sorry you felt I put words in your mouth. I didn't see anything remotely judgmental in my post. I simply disagree with your opinion that the only appropriate situation to discuss social issues with kids is when their parents sit them down to do so. As I stated, if you disagree with this point of view, don't let your kids watch Sesame Street, and voila! Everyone walks away happy.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

2:06 pm by

beauti381

there is absolutely nothing wrong with breastfeeding but do young children need to be exposed to that? no. stick to number, colors, reading, & morals please!

do young children need to be exposed to that? in a word, yes. and they are exposed to it in every country around the world, in every culture, as a normal part of childhood.

a formerly breastfed preschooler playing in the living room is likely to have a younger sibling who is nursing at his mother's breast while mom is watching the preschooler play. she isn't hiding in another room to secretly nurse the baby. it's out there.

non-formerly-breastfed preschooler is at the mall. sees a nursing mother discreetly feeding her baby.

option a: saw it on sesame street; "hey, mom, just like mommy bear on ss! isn't that cool?" (or might just pass by, no big deal).

option b: child stares. stops, points. "why is that mommy doing that with her baby??" uncomfortable for all parties, as child's mother either drags him away or has to try to explain it there.

which would you rather have: a child who knows there are various ways of feeding a baby and that both bottle and breastfeeding are normal, or a child who has no clue and happens upon it without explanation?

numbers, colors, reading is very nice on ss. but life for a child of exactly that viewing audience age is more than that.

[MomRN0913]

So let's shove everything politically correct down the throats before they hit age 6. Slow and steady is all I am saying! We expect these little kids to understand and accept everything before they hit adolescence. When a kid sees someone breastfeeding in public, let the child ask the parent and let the child educate them. We don't need to leave this all up to the TV. It's becoming too much. Just because we are afraid an innocent child will offend someone by pointing and asking perhaps in an childlike blunt way? That's when parents step in. Childrens TV doesn't need to be making politically correct little adults. Let them enjoy TV and not have to sit there and wonder why a baby is sucking on boob. Leave that for the real world and letting parents educate, when a parent feels they are ready for it. Not all young children get it and shouldn't have to at such a young age, honestly.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

So let's shove everything politically correct down the throats before they hit age 6. Slow and steady is all I am saying! We expect these little kids to understand and accept everything before they hit adolescence. When a kid sees someone breastfeeding in public, let the child ask the parent and let the child educate them. We don't need to leave this all up to the TV. It's becoming too much. Just because we are afraid an innocent child will offend someone by pointing and asking perhaps in an childlike blunt way? That's when parents step in. Childrens TV doesn't need to be making politically correct little adults. Let them enjoy TV and not have to sit there and wonder why a baby is sucking on boob. Leave that for the real world and letting parents educate, when a parent feels they are ready for it. Not all young children get it and shouldn't have to at such a young age, honestly.

Shoving everything politically correct down their throats? Politically correct little adults? I was just saying that since it's a normal part of raising a baby, why hide it? Diaper changing is on children's tv, bottle feeding is on children's tv, I just don't know what the big deal is about nursing being on children's tv.

And I didn't say I was worried about the child offending someone by pointing and asking, I was just suggesting that there might be a better way to handle it, that's all. And I think the better way is to present it just the way SS used to do: that nursing an infant was natural, normal, and not something to be hidden away.

On a funny note (or at least I think it's funny): when my eldest son was a preschooler, he witnessed a baby being bottle fed at a play group. Both he and his then-infant brother were breastfed, and it was just "normal" to him. So when this playgroup baby began fussing and crying and the mother couldn't stop that with the attempts to get the baby to eat (with the bottle), my son walked up to the woman and asked "why don't you just give him a nursie? My brother stops crying when Mommy gives him a nursie!" LOL ... Kids.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

So let's shove everything politically correct down the throats before they hit age 6. Slow and steady is all I am saying! We expect these little kids to understand and accept everything before they hit adolescence. When a kid sees someone breastfeeding in public, let the child ask the parent and let the child educate them. We don't need to leave this all up to the TV. It's becoming too much. Just because we are afraid an innocent child will offend someone by pointing and asking perhaps in an childlike blunt way? That's when parents step in. Childrens TV doesn't need to be making politically correct little adults. Let them enjoy TV and not have to sit there and wonder why a baby is sucking on boob. Leave that for the real world and letting parents educate, when a parent feels they are ready for it. Not all young children get it and shouldn't have to at such a young age, honestly.

How familiar with Sesame Street are you?

Coming from a television broadcasting background prior to nursing, I fully support and applaud the mission of the Children's Television Workshop. Would that MORE of TV programming had such values behind it.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

How familiar with Sesame Street are you?

Coming from a television broadcasting background prior to nursing, I fully support and applaud the mission of the Children's Television Workshop. Would that MORE of TV programming had such values behind it.

I am wondering the same thing - how familiar with Sesame Street are some of the folks on this thread?

Sesame Street has been in the thick of political stuff. Disabilities. Race. Bullying.

It's kinda normal for them to tackle things like this.

And don't forget y'all - they used to make breastfeeding an infant just a normal part of the day.

I wonder - and I got this from another poster - if the fact that many baby boomers grew up with mostly bottle feeding being normal - that they are reacting to their OWN inner thoughts and experiences?

No one on this thread, in my opinion, has been judgmental.

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

I would like the moms who choose not to breast feed to gat the same amount of teaching and emotional support as the breast feeding moms. We have the choice and neither group should be scolded for the choice they make. But I think breast feeding moms definitely get more attention and time...not sure why and certainly don't think it should be that way.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I would like the moms who choose not to breast feed to gat the same amount of teaching and emotional support as the breast feeding moms. We have the choice and neither group should be scolded for the choice they make. But I think breast feeding moms definitely get more attention and time...not sure why and certainly don't think it should be that way.

As a nurse who worked with laboring moms and then with newborns and their mommies . ... . right off the bat I'd say it takes more teaching to help some women breastfeed.

But, no new mom should be shortchanged. Regardless.

Sometimes threads about breastfeeding can turn into a pro or con breastfeeding thread. That's too bad although I don't think this thread has gone there yet.

This issue is simply should Sesame Street go back to what they used to do?

I really think this has more to do with the change to bottle feeding in the 1950's. A couple of generations grew up without seeing babies nurse. And so naturally, it looks odd and makes folks uncomfortable.

I really don't think this is a pro or con breastfeeding issue.

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

Steph, while I agree with you about the time spent, I will have to say that anybody who has never breasted for whatever reason, is at a disadvantage when it comes to teaching! Not that having a bf history should be required, but it can't hurt. That being said, I do not regret my own personal decision to not breast feed.