Red Cross Babysitter's Training

[JamieBrewHa]

I am an American Red Cross Health and Safety instructor and have been for about 6 1/2 years. I teach CPR, First Aid, etc. I also teach the Red Cross's Babysitter's TRaining Course aimed towards 11-15 year olds. They updated the program a year or two ago as the old program was really outdated. But it continues to bother me that in the feeding section there is absolutely NO mention of breastmilk. The course involves teaching the students to feed a bottle of course, and it says that the baby will drink milk, formula, or water. I always mention when I am teaching the class that it may be formula or breastmilk (which of course many of the girls saw ewwww why would you give them breastmilk ). But I have gone back and forth trying to figure out how to address this or how bothered to be... am I in left field? What's your thoughts?

[hakeber]

No, you're not. It definitely should be ammended to say breastmilk or a young babysitter may very well think "oh, there's no formula, but there IS milk!" and give a young baby a bottle of cow's milk thinking it was no big deal.

It's actually quite irresponsible of the red cross not to make the distinction explicit given the context.

Also if the girls/boys are going to be baby sitting, they need to get over it and get comfortable with things like breastmilk.

Maybe if you explain to them how much less FOUL a breastmilk fed baby's poopy diapers smell comapred to a formula fed baby's they might appreciate it a little more. Maybe bring them a sampler?

[JamieBrewHa]

OK glad to know it's not just me. I think I'll write a letter or something....

Oh and the kids do get over it... most of them have never heard of or seen anyone breastfeeding so they think the 'idea' of it is gross and weird - breaks my heart.

[leaveit2beeker]

I think it absolutely should be ammended to be read as breastmilk, formula, etc...

I'd be a little perturbed if I used the Red Cross for a reference to babysitters, and the babysitter said 'ew' when I explained a bottle of breastmilk to them.

[SashaBear]

They should most definitely be trained in the care of breastmilk. Wouldn't you upset if they ruined a bunch of breastmilk?! This needs to be addressed!

[RoseDuperre]

Yes, this absolutely needs to be taken care of! I'll write a letter, sign a petition, whatever you need. As an instructor, I'll bet a well-phrased letter from you to the higher-ups would probably go a long way already!

[jimblejamble]

They're okay with poopy (sometimes explosive) diapers but breastmilk is gross?!

[Magelet]

Remembering being 11 and taking the red cross babysitter course, I suspect they mostly have NO IDEA what dirty diapers are like of babies/toddlers of any age/food type. The concept that a diaper could be explosive... I think would have turned me off babysitting for years! If they have siblings of an age that they know about diapers and such, they are less likely to take the class, I think. Honestly, I've never been phased by diapers babysitting/nannying, however my 12 year old self probably would have been grossed out by all of them.

That said, yes, they should mention breastmilk explicitly!!

(the course sounds much more comprehensive and useful. about all I remember the class was LOTs of practice of what do we do if one child is in trouble one place and the other in another, how to take off bloody gloves safely, and how to fold a diaper. definitely not anything I ever really used. (except, ironically, I use the thing about gloves all the time, because even if it's not human blood, sometimes I really don't want chicken blood on my hands at work in the kitchen! lol. or chocolate or beet juice etc.) I'm glad they're updating it, but it needs to include breastmilk!

[sapphire_chan]

I'd be tempted to show them a cow's udder. "Yes many mothers will leave their milk intended for their babies, a lot less gross than stuff coming out of *this* don't you think?"

[Emmeline II]

Well, where do they think cow's milk comes from? Cow breasts!

[mrsgrasty]

i know its off topic, but i'm pretty positive i wouldn't be letting an 11-15 yr old watch my breastfed baby, anyway! i babysat at that age, but in retrospect, dang, that's young. i'm not even sure i want my 15 yr old sister babysitting him at this point except for 30-60 min here and there.

of course, i am a first time mom, and the baby isn't even born yet. i will probably loosen up eventually.

[pinky]

I think it can be helpful to use the terminology "human milk" to show it in contrast to "cow milk."

just a thought.

[phathui5]

I think it could be good to give out breastmilk storage and handling guidelines in the babysitting class.

[CellarDoor]

This needs to be changed. The preparation and handling of formula vs. breastmilk is a safety issue. Plus, we need to NORMALIZE breastfeeding in this culture and what better way to do it than to at least give these girls the idea that babies can be fed with their own mother's milk. The gross-out factor might remain, but the Red Cross could definitely be doing better!

[fruitfulmomma]

of course, i am a first time mom, and the baby isn't even born yet. i will probably loosen up eventually.

Or not. Baby #5 is 16mo and I still am not going to let an 11 or 12yo watch them. And I was the 12yo watching everyone's kids back then too.

Does the course specifically state "milk, formula, or water"? Because that would really bother me on a nutritional level, not just a lactivism issue. If these teens are being trained to feed a baby they need to understand that whole milk and water are not appropriate breastmilk substitutes. An older baby might be getting sips of water but certainly shouldn't be making a meal out of it.