A rant about Elmo

[zoedeansmom]

I was watching Sesame Street with my DD this morning when that annoying "Elmo's World" segment came on. Today's topic was "babies". They showed a montage of dozens of (human) babies, at least 5 using bottles, none of them nursing. Pretty typical, right? Then they showed a bunch of animal babies, several of which were getting bottles. And I thought, "Seriously?! We can't even show a PIG'S nipple on TV now?!" Then Elmo looked at a scrapbook of Sesame Street character's as babies and today. The one of "Maria" had her in a crib with a blanket and stuffed animals and a bottle. What did Elmo say about the picture? "Look! She has a bottle!" I mean, I know it's a real picture and she had a bottle, but it seemed like he could've found something else to point out. THEN the little cartoon of the gym-teacher looking lady who gives a "lesson" on the topic came on. She showed the life-cycle of a human. She said that when a baby cries, it means he's sad "or needs a bottle" and, sure enough, a cartoon bottle is popped in his mouth with no mommy in sight. So, is SS sponsored by Nestle or what?!
I'm not so concerned with the message to my children, they see breastfeeding in our home and our friends' and families homes all the time. But it's just another example of how bottle feeding is portrayed as the norm in the media, even on shows designed for young children. I could even understand showing a bottle or 2 in with some lovely nursing scenes but there was not one mention or image of BFing among humans or animals. I would've expected SS to be a little more inclusive, and I'm disappointed. I'll be sending an email to them saying so later today.

[hipmummy]

[Eliseatthebeach]

Originally Posted by zoedeansmom

She said that when a baby cries, it means he's sad "or needs a bottle" and, sure enough, a cartoon bottle is popped in his mouth with no mommy in sight.

I just don't know what to say to that!

[turtlewomyn]

That is horrible.

Didn't someone post a link to a youtube of classic sesame street that showed big bird talking to a mom about nursing babies, as she was nursing her baby????

They sure have changed.

[paquerette]

Yeah, now if you buy the DVDs of the old sesame streets, it cautions you that it's not appropriate for small children. I'm sure the old breastfeeding segment is only part of that. They've done so many bizarre things to the newer ones.

[kdubs_mom]

Originally Posted by turtlewomyn

That is horrible.

Didn't someone post a link to a youtube of classic sesame street that showed big bird talking to a mom about nursing babies, as she was nursing her baby????

They sure have changed.

Which is so ironic because birds don't nurse at all!!!

I'm sure this is all part of the view that any mention of breasts is somehow pornographic.

Zoedeansmom, don't forget to let us know what Sesame Street/PBS says in response to your email.

[LeighB]

Originally Posted by paquerette

Yeah, now if you buy the DVDs of the old sesame streets, it cautions you that it's not appropriate for small children. I'm sure the old breastfeeding segment is only part of that. They've done so many bizarre things to the newer ones.

Really, there is a disclaimer?! What possibly is wrong with classic sesame street? It's the most wholesome show I remember from growing up.


Yes, do let us know what they say!

[nyxx]

Originally Posted by zoedeansmom

She showed the life-cycle of a human. She said that when a baby cries, it means he's sad "or needs a bottle" and, sure enough, a cartoon bottle is popped in his mouth with no mommy in sight. So, is SS sponsored by Nestle or what?!

Originally Posted by kdubs_mom

Which is so ironic because birds don't nurse at all!!!

why ironic? that's the reason why she explains breastfeeding to big bird.
see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3DWRhfNm4c

[acannon]

Yeah, I think you actually have to be 18 or older to the get the old school Sesame Street DVDs. That's just what I've heard, though. I'll be getting them to show to DS when he gets old enough. There's no way I'm going to expose him to the Elmo Show. Hopefully he'll be like DP was and be terrified of Elmo.

[Septagram]

The old Sesame Streets are for 18+, but not because of the breastfeeding. I remember reading an article about it last year...

[Meiri]

That kind of thing is why DD didn't really watch SS at all when she was that age. DS had, but it wasn't so extreme in his day. They'd still include the "everybody eats" song montage which includes a mom nursing her baby in a park.

[birdie22]

I got one of the old SS DVDs at the library. It was in the kids' section.

I seem to remember a few cringey-type moments, but I can't remember specifics. I'm thinking perhaps there were racial stereotypes that were so commonplace back then, even in a pro-diversity TV show?

It was also MUCH more psychedelic than I remembered from watching it in the mid-70s.

The DVD is definitely intended as a walk down memory lane for grown-ups. Kids will love it too; just preview it there are no surprises for your particular LO.

I can't stand Elmo. Yech.

[ElliesMomma]

Originally Posted by zoedeansmom

She said that when a baby cries, it means he's sad "or needs a bottle"

not to derail your topic, which is a great point, by the way, but i let my 23 month old nursling watch mickey mouse clubhouse and there's an episode with a crying baby bear, and i made the mistake of telling her that "he needs nursing." now, every single time she sees or someone mentions a bear, stuffed bear, toy bear, bear on TV, she puts on her little "nursing laugh" and brings it to me to "nurse" it.

seriously though, great point about elmo. it totally promotes bottle feeding as the norm. i suppose they figure it is sorta the norm so that will be their excuse. but doesn't make sense at all when you think about it.

[SweetTeach]

I encourage everyone to send an email about your concerns over the lack of bf to SS (check the website for the link). It's important to get your voices heard (and as an insider, I will tell you that people are listening!!)

In the near future, you may see a shift in this area- either on the show, and definitely in related products/packaging.

As far as SS Old School, it is not only for 18 +. The "disclaimer" was more about the fact that children today who watch SS might be confused to see the characters look and sound so differently from how they do today. For example, in the first few seasons of the show, Big Bird was conceived of as a bumbling adult, rather than the 6 year old child he is nowadays. There's also some concerns about unsafe modeling if children were to watch it without an adult nearby to explain some of the differences. Of course, the media takes things out of context and runs with it...

Back OT, keep writing letters!

[PatienceAndLove]

Originally Posted by nyxx

why ironic? that's the reason why she explains breastfeeding to big bird.
see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3DWRhfNm4c

I saw this comment, and I thought it was great:

"Wow, this is a very interesting video. For a long time, I used to honestly think that breastfeeding was gross and I wondered why anyone would do it (I'd mostly heard/read things against it), but this video puts it in a completely different light, and I don't think I'll ever think of it in a negative way again. It's too bad kids' shows won't even mention topics like this now- it's like they're setting kids up to think negatively about certain things..."

It's nice to know that SS still teaches people!

[acannon]

Originally Posted by SweetTeach

There's also some concerns about unsafe modeling if children were to watch it without an adult nearby to explain some of the differences.

I can totally see this happening. Once I bit through a glass because Cookie Monster did it, so I can kinda see where they're coming from a little bit. I'm pretty sure that if my mom bothered to watch it with me, she could've told me that it wasn't real and not to do that. That's one of the many reasons why I'm going to watch things with DS and explain what's going on the first time we watch something.

[zoedeansmom]

I just watched the pro-BF clip-thanks for posting it, nyxx!-and it was so great! Simple, beautiful, just the kind of thing I would love to see regularly on TV. I think it could really make a difference.

[SweetTeach]

I can totally see this happening. Once I bit through a glass because Cookie Monster did it, so I can kinda see where they're coming from a little bit. I'm pretty sure that if my mom bothered to watch it with me, she could've told me that it wasn't real and not to do that. That's one of the many reasons why I'm going to watch things with DS and explain what's going on the first time we watch something.

OMG! Your poor mouth! A goal of SS is what's called "co-viewing". There is a goal to encourage caregivers to watch along with their children and interact around what is on the screen. This is why it operates on two levels- one for 2 and 3 year olds and one for adults (has anyone seen "A's Anatomy" or RSI: Rhyme Scene Investigation?"

[zoedeansmom]

I have always appreciated the little jokes SS slips in for grown-ups. It makes it more pleasant for me to watch as a parent, and also lets me appreciate old clips that are re-run on a whole new level.

[flower01]

Ugh.

Have you seen the Elmo doll that bottle feeds. That one really annoys me.