Should Breastfeeding Be Shown on 'Sesame Street'?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/01/11 17:00:00

Related Topics: Sesame Street, Breastfeeding, Controversy, Breastfeeding Petition, Lactivists, Health, elmo, Baby, Entertainment, Intelligence, Sexual, birthday, Obesity, Michelle, Email, Son, 80s

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899 votes
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	Yes	484 votes	54%
	No	415 votes	46%

Can you tell me how to get, how to get breastfeeding back on Sesame Street? This is the question that angry moms are asking regarding why the show no longer features breastfeeding moms. Back in the 1970's and '80s, the show often featured women nursing, as you can see in the snapshot below.

Since then, breastfeeding has been replaced with bottle feeding on the show, despite growing evidence that breastfeeding is preferable for the health of both mom and baby. Moreover, as Lani Michelle, the mother of a breastfeeding toddler, wrote in an email to Care2.com: "Women breastfeeding are the images we want to show to our sons and daughters, so that they will view a woman’s body as more then a sexual object."

Another breastfeeding mom, Jessica Williams, has created a petition asking "Sesame Street" to bring back breastfeeding. She has a good case: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life. According to babycenter.com, breastfeeding protects a baby from gastrointestinal trouble, respiratory problems and ear infections; can protect a baby from developing allergies; may boost a child's intelligence and may protect against obesity later in life. But does it need to be shown on "Sesame Street"?

+23

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maryhanna.mpt 2012/01/11 18:50:42

Yes

+27
I totally support Lani Michelle: "Women breastfeeding are the images we want to show to our sons and daughters, so that they will view a woman’s body as more then a sexual object."
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Glenda Carr 2012/01/13 01:13:30

No

+2
I don't think it is right for that demographic, that sort of thing should be taught by family, I think. Any boy should learn that they should treat every woman like they want someone to treat their moms.

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Jay0Byrd 2012/01/13 01:12:12 (edited)

Yes

+2
Sure, let's see Bert and Ernie breast feed off each other for a segment.

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chris to Jay0Byrd 2012/01/13 01:18:38
Bob to Jay0Byrd 2012/01/13 05:15:15

They can't do that....someone said they are partners. OMG.

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kobidob... to Jay0Byrd 2012/02/26 01:14:12 (edited)

Problem is they don't have breasts, and they don't , Ahem ,have the other parts ether.

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ShamshirMkII 2012/01/13 01:06:07

Yes

+2
...Though this isn't much of an issue, IMO.

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momma24 2012/01/13 01:00:55

No

+2
I am a bit iffy about this. Yes it is much better and I highly support breast feeding, but if they are going to do this they should make it as child friendly as possible, how I have no idea but as I said it's a touchy subject to show this on a children's show. Maybe save it for a Sesame Street special.

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LesMiserables 2012/01/13 00:35:11

Yes

+4
It's not that big a deal. Its not sexual or anything. I was breastfed. =/

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ImageBandit ~ American Patriot 2012/01/13 00:20:56

Yes

+2
breastfeednig should be shown everywhere - it teaches the RIGHT way to raise a child - the immunizations in mothers milk are needed by the child - formula does not have those nutrients - teach then that it is the ONLY way to nourish a child

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aslan to ImageBa... 2012/01/13 03:24:36

+1
Thank you for your intelligent comment!

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ImageBa... to aslan 2012/01/13 03:33:59

protecting children is a real interest of mine - all children born and unborn

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Yemi Hi... to ImageBa... 2012/01/13 04:15:54

+1
I balk to say that breastfeeding is the right way and only way to feed a child. I agree that the milk has stuff needed by the child you can't get with formula. One of the downsides to breastfeeding comes from allergens within the milk due to what the mother eats. The mother can avoid eating things like peanuts, but there are also allergies that aren't predictable.

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AnnaJoh... to Yemi Hi... 2012/01/13 08:01:25

+1
And only a trace of what the mother eats actually goes into the milk. Do you even have children?

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ImageBa... to Yemi Hi... 2012/01/13 20:41:32

I disagree - mothers milk is a thousand times better than fake milk

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DeejayS... to Yemi Hi... 2012/01/13 23:05:46

Also the allergens in breast milk help to build up a newborn's immune system :)

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paul 2012/01/13 00:14:56

No

No, just topless women

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pj 2012/01/13 00:10:30

No

+3
no ..sesame street teaches kinds numbs ,letter, counting .. ect .. breast feeding doest go into thos things subjects .. breats feeding is for a health class not a preschool show>> kids dnt need to seee tht.. even if they dnt understand .. .kids sholdnt hve to lean bou tht stuuf tell like puberty .

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Izzy! to pj 2012/01/13 00:55:19

+1
At like puberty? Seriously? I haven't quite hit puberty and i've seen MUCH worse. But hey! It's your opinion.

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Jayce E... to pj 2012/01/13 01:08:47

the street also teaches kids about healthy living, which fits right in to your "health class" idea.
also, kids are learning way early about things that shouldn't be learned about until puberty.
some kids are having sex before puberty these days.
don't get me wrong, i love the idea of waiting until the "proper" moment to teach our kids about certain things. unfortunately, the "proper" moments are getting earlier and earlier.

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Rammstein to pj 2012/01/13 01:53:37

Did you learn spelling from sesame street? Cause if you did then sesame street must not be very educational.

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Rammstein to pj 2012/01/13 01:54:40

+1
not to mention breastfeeding is not sexual, so why should they learn it at puberty?

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imsmarter to pj 2012/01/13 01:57:50

dude, spell check much?

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Emily Keck to pj 2012/01/13 02:13:37

Mhm yeah cause it's not like kids will see things over YouTube that are worse

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Jayce Evans 2012/01/13 00:01:20

Yes

+3
Sesame Street teaches kids about numbers, letters, getting along, sharing, and many other things. so why not teach kids what breasts are *actually* for?

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Kevin1111 to Jayce E... 2012/01/13 01:01:30

+1
They are *also* designed to excite both men and women sexually. This is why they are soft, full and attractive looking, unlike an ape's and other mammals' which are only designed for suckling. But it is all about context: in a sexual context they are sexual objects, but in a breastfeeding context they are not at all sexual but are organs of sustenance and a beautiful bonding between mother and child. The point is that because such limited exposure to breastfeeding, people have a hard time switching gears from one context to the other. That is why this is such a debate right now.

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Jayce E... to Kevin1111 2012/01/13 01:04:31

+1
all the more reason to increase exposure to breastfeeding.

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Kevin1111 to Jayce E... 2012/01/13 01:18:02

Agreed

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aslan to Jayce E... 2012/01/13 03:27:20

Ditto!

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Gimmedap 2012/01/12 23:58:30

Yes

+2
Why not? It will take out the shock value. It natural.

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wayne fester 2012/01/12 23:51:44

No

+1
It over rated subject.

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Stix 2012/01/12 23:46:44

No

Help...

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The Pro 2012/01/12 23:41:11

Yes

+2
There is straight garbage being shown on TV and kids shows and breastfeeding vs bottle feeding is an issue?

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Kevin1111 to The Pro 2012/01/13 01:03:59

+2
So true. Why are we not up in arms about the violence and perversion on so many other shows and movies which appeal to kids?

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aslan to Kevin1111 2012/01/13 03:28:34

+1
Thank you for your common sense!

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The Pro to Kevin1111 2012/01/13 18:16:05

+1
A parent today as so much to combat…and I do mean combat. I must show children what really matters in life and how to respect it.

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Deliciously Melicious 2012/01/12 23:26:06

Yes

+1
Didn't Assassin ask this question. Hmmm... yeah I know she did.

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Jayfeather 2012/01/12 23:11:39

Yes

+1
It's completely natural. Theres nothing wrong with it. Kids should learn that breasts are more than objects of desire.

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dzzshadz 2012/01/12 23:03:38

No

+1
No clearly not ok. There is no reason to do it on the show. Yes it is natural of course and should be done when the child needs it done. Yet breast feeding need not be on a kids show. For men taking a whiz on the side of the road is natural to but not on a kids show.

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Assassi... to dzzshadz 2012/01/12 23:08:46

+6
You equate eating with peeing? Thank God I don't dine at your dinner table. YUCK

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Dr. Sli... to Assassi... 2012/01/13 00:05:58

+2
He was equating eating and peeing with both being natural kinda like screwing... It doesn't belong on a childrens TV show.

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