UK Telegraph- Poster of toddler breastfeeding doll sparks criticism

[Black Orchid]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...criticism.html

Health chiefs insist that the poster is designed to promote breastfeeding but critics say that the picture is 'distasteful, inappropriate and crude'.

They also claimed new mums are being made to feel like 'aliens' if they are unable to breastfeed.

Deborah Winter, aged 39, noticed the poster when she was visiting her nine-week-old grandson Scott Bowker and called for the image to be immediately withdrawn.

She said: "The picture is shocking and it isn't normal. Children copy their parents but I don't think any little girls should be breastfeeding their dolls.

Wha.......... ?

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by Black Orchid

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...criticism.html



Wha.......... ?

But I'm guessing no one would have a problem with them bottlefeeding their dolls? Odd.

[the_lissa]

That is weird.

[Smokering]

How bizarre.

[terese17]

my sons pretend to breastfeed. And both my sister and I will not purchase dolls that come with bottles, or if someone recieves it as a present the bottles get thrown away.

[calpurnia]

what a hostile article.

rochdale infimary are part of the pct that run this campaign, i think.
http://www.beastar.org.uk/

[mum21andtwins]

yeah sadly that doesn't surprise me..... I find the british attitude to breastfeeding bizarre. A neighbour of mine wouldn't even feed in her own livingroom for fear of offending someone who would look in.
For all the orginasations trying to encourage bf you have the gov giving such weak support I can't really call it support.

Anything not to upset anyone. they should have put a picture of a cow with calf up that would have been ok because with an animal it is apperantly cute

[birdie22]

Well if not dolls, then what? Dinosaurs? Trucks? Thomas the Tank Engine?

It all sounds pretty normal to me.

[MaryJaneLouise]

They also claimed new mums are being made to feel like 'aliens' if they are unable to breastfeed.

Right, because watching someone else BF will just IMMEDIATEly FORCE someone to FEEL GUILTY! :

[runes]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

But I'm guessing no one would have a problem with them bottlefeeding their dolls? Odd.

Exactly!!

Originally Posted by MaryJaneLouise

Right, because watching someone else BF will just IMMEDIATEly FORCE someone to FEEL GUILTY! :

:

[beatee]

:

seriously... This is why it seems like all the campaigning in the world won't actually improve breastfeeding rates, because people just get unbelievably defensive towards everything. Every National Breastfeeding Awareness week all it seems to prompt inthe press is dozens of 'breastfeeding nazis made me feel guilty' stories in the press.... ack.

And just the whole idea of someone being offended and outraged at a child imitating breastfeeding blows my mind... I think I just live in a little bubble where I'm lucky enough not to encounter attitudes that classs breastfeeding as obscene. The kids where I work (waldorf kindergarten) breastfeed their dolls all the time. Once a boy wanted to feed his doll, and one of the girls lifted up her top and held a cup underneath it to 'express milk' for him to feed it with! Wonder how the outraged lady quoted in this piece would feel about that!

[NoraB]

Oh brother. My DD liked to wear her dolls in a sling made from a receiving blanket and she would pretend to bf them. I thought it was adorable. I have a pic. Can't imagine anyone finding it "crude." Definitely shows a hostility toward bf'ing in general.

[AislinCarys]

My friend tells me her 3 1/2 yo sometimes offers to breastfeed her almost 2 yo sister's dolls, as little sister still wears onesies, and refuses to pretend-feed through the top. The youngest weaned at one, so it has been a while since either of them was breastfed.

I find it especially cute as my friend provided milk for my daughter last year, when I battled low-supply, and now her girls are "milk-sharing" too!

I always find it sad that the risk of upsetting the women who formula-feed means you are not supposed to portray breastfeeding at all. Particularly when it is totally ok for everyone (including other mums, doctors and nurses) to try to guilt a breastfeeding mama into formula-feeding!

[calpurnia]

(it does seem an odd way of promoting breastfeeding, am i missing something? a poster of a toddler breastfeeding her doll wouldn't me stop & think, oh yeah, perfect nutrition for my baby. i'd think "huh?")

i think councillor jean ashworth (who said ""The picture is highly offensive. We all know breast is best but they are going overboard") likes to stick her oar in. this was the same hospital that brought in charging of formula (thread here) in situations where it was not medically indicated, & jean ashworth had this to say then: "It is absolutely appalling. Where will it stop?"... it's the rent-a-quote councillor! surprisingly she appears to be a liberal democrat. i had bets on she would be a tory.

anyway, there is more commentary about this here & here.

[guestmama9920]

maybe guilt should be thrown around, seems the only thing that works.

I'm just pretty sick if people telling mother's " oh hun you tried" well sorry but 1 feed isn't really trying. I guess it's better than nothing but come on, having kids isn't easy, breastfeeding isn't always easy. One or two tries and people are patted on the back her saying "oh it's hard, don't worry here is a bottle"

I've been pushed to FF so often here in the UK, even when I say I enjoy BF'ing I"m still told "oh love you need a break" etc.

Maybe some tough love is what is needed, IDK.

I think if people are feeling bad after seeing a poster like that our country has far to go making BF'ing normal.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by birdie22

Well if not dolls, then what? Dinosaurs? Trucks? Thomas the Tank Engine?

i have a friend whos son nurses lightning mcqueen.

Originally Posted by MaryJaneLouise

Right, because watching someone else BF will just IMMEDIATEly FORCE someone to FEEL GUILTY! :

Originally Posted by Britishmama

maybe guilt should be thrown around, seems the only thing that works.

I'm just pretty sick if people telling mother's " oh hun you tried" well sorry but 1 feed isn't really trying. I guess it's better than nothing but come on, having kids isn't easy, breastfeeding isn't always easy. One or two tries and people are patted on the back her saying "oh it's hard, don't worry here is a bottle"

I've been pushed to FF so often here in the UK, even when I say I enjoy BF'ing I"m still told "oh love you need a break" etc.

Maybe some tough love is what is needed, IDK.

I think if people are feeling bad after seeing a poster like that our country has far to go making BF'ing normal.

and if you really do try your damnesed and it just cant be done, why are you freaking out?! People are practically not allowed to talk about bfing for fear of getting attacked.

[BellaRose0212]

It is weird that while trying to support breastfeeding we are attacked as trying to condemn formula feeding. Did the poster say, formula feeding moms are monsters? NO. Bottles should be banned? No. Why is supporting breastfeeding not allowed? Why is it not okay to advertise for the choice that is superior for the health of the baby? If the poster had a little girl feeding a baby with a bottle, no breastfeeding mom would demand that it be taken down, and if she did, she would undoubtedly be ignored and critisized.

[teale]

She said: "The picture is shocking and it isn't normal. Children copy their parents but I don't think any little girls should be breastfeeding their dolls.

Really? So what should they do? Bottlefeed them? Oh, maybe Grandma should call up a formula company to be their newest spokesperson.


You know, in a world we live in, of all the things to get offended by, people choose this? I mean, really? Why not get offended by the fact that our justice system fails to put real criminals behind bars? Or get offended by the parents who abuse their children?

[kcstar]

I breastfed my teddy bear when I was little.

[jocelynr]

My sister and I played going to LLL meetings and breastfed all of our dolls as children. Mom threw away all of the bottles that came with the dolls anyway, so it was the only way they could eat .