Preschooler Kicked out For Being Breastfed!!!

[fyrflymommy]

http://www.telstraclear.co.nz/newsfe...m.cfm?id=55756

Here's the first paragraph: "A mother whose three-year-old son was kicked out of preschool after she was seen breastfeeding him has been advised to take her case the the World Health Organisation."

here is another link about this, w/ video
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/tvone_minisit...%3fformat=html

[1Plus2]

This is what stood out to me:

"But Ms Guest says it is important there is a balance because, although a child has the right to be nursed, the people around them have a right for the mother to show discretion."

The article says she's a member of LLL yet she thinks that other people have a right for her to be discreet while she's bf'ing?!

[sntm]

The video was good -- a lot of visuals of BFing moms and even breasts and a nipple. That's a strong mom to make this public -- good for her! Wish I was local and could give my 2 cents to the school.

[merpk]

1Plus2, not sure why being a member of LLL means that she shouldn't actually consider that some people don't feel comfortable seeing women in various stages of undress. Not everybody is a hypocrite who complains about breastfeeding and then goes home to their Playboys. Some people are genuinely uncomfortable with it.

















And before you ask, yes, I've been a member of LLL. And yes, I've nursed all my children in public, even tandem nursing a preschooler and toddler in public, in very unusual public places. And have never hidden that I was nursing them (which is a logistical impossibility anyway when you're tandem nursing a 3.5yo and 1.5yo on a public fountain in the middle of an American cultural landmark ... ie., the plaza at Lincoln Center in NYC :LOL)

And yes, I've made a conscientious effort to keep my body covered at all times. And am generally successful.

[Greaseball]

If they were genuinely uncomfortable, they wouldn't be looking. No, they do not have the right to never see a breastfeeding woman. Maybe the child doesn't enjoy discreet nursing - did anyone think of that? Some kids want the mom's shirt pushed all the way up.

[muse]

heck i see way more of women's bare bodies with some of the fashions these days than I do seeing a woman nursing...
I don't owe it to anyone to be discreet while bf-ing, i owe it to other mothers to show that it's OK to bfeed in public. I was nursing Ds (2 1/2) at the zoo here in england where you rarely see nursing mums and a mother came up and congratulated me and said she feels so uncomfortable nursing her 18 mo old in public after so many negative comments but was re inspired seeing me with DS.

[Meiri]

I'm confused. What's it to the school if he's still nursing? Does the school regulate the other children's diets and the parents' comfort measures as well, or are they just the lucky ones needing to be controlled by outsiders?

Was she nursing him at the school? I suppose if they want to be ignorant and bigoted they can try to say no nursing there, but what of other nursing moms?

DS nursed through most of 2 years of preschool. DD has nursed through both years of preschool. For all I know she'll still be nursing occasionally when kindergarten starts (but I'm not holding my breath). Makes no difference in how they've done. The schools didn't/don't even know, though some parents do....

[Greaseball]

If we ever do preschool, I will plan on asking them how they feel about moms nursing children at school. I will ask this even if dd is not nursing then, because I don't want her to see some other mom getting shamed for it.

I will also ask them for a written policy on offenses resulting in expulsion of the child. A child should not be expelled from school because the teacher doesn't agree with what the parents are doing.

[Sustainer]

No, no one has the right to not see my breasts. If someone's uncomfortable about my breasts, they have the right to get over it. I have the right to uncover my breasts.

[fourgrtkidos]

This is unbelievable!!!!! Why do they think they could dictate that the mother can't nurse?????? And if she does the child is barred from the school? I'm without words. All I can think is: Ignorant!!!!

[MamaAllNatural]

Originally Posted by SBF

If someone's uncomfortable about my breasts, they have the right to get over it.

(Ok, that is the weirdest smilie ever! - I wanted to but thought people might get sick of me doing it too much. )

[TiredX2]

Wow.

Thanks esp for the link with the video--- it clarified a lot.

One, he was not yet 2.5 when he was kicked out! (I get this because they show him nursing and the mom is saying, "It's your 2.5 birthday").

Two, she was nursing him in a cloakroom (read: CLOSET).

Three, the school thinks nursing a 9 MONTH old is damaging.

I wish they would have said how long it had been (like the first day... months, what) before the school realized how he was being "stunted".

Thankfully, they found a supportive preschool and I think it is great that she is sticking with it. I sure wouldn't send my kid to a preschool w/that messed up of ideas about attachment/independence!

[Meiri]

What research did the school present that the Human Rights Commission says they can't be the arbiters of which is more valid???

I don't see how the World Health Organization can help in this case, beyond their statement the breastfeeding should continue at least to 2 and beyond.

I'm glad she's got him in a preschool in which the administration doesn't suffer from cranial-rectal invertion, but I'm also glad she's continuing to pursue the case.

[rareimer]

good for her! i'm glad shes not backing down, and it sounds from the video like she really knows what she's talking about, and is very confident. i hope some changes come from this.

i can't believe they think that nursing a 9 MONTH OLD is harmful...much less a 2.5 year old. they actually think it's DETRIMENTAL. i just can't believe people would think this...but i guess it's a common opinion. you would really think a Montessori preschool would be a bit more informed on the benefits of breastfeeding...is this common in Montessori schools?

why would it be any business of theirs? i agree with Meiri...do they control the diets and parental comforting techniques of ALL the kids in their school, or just the ones that are lucky enough to be still nursing? it's ridiculous.