Sent this to Sesame Workshop

I watched Sesame Street with my son (almost 4) this morning. It was a show
about babies, as Baby Bear has a new sister (Curly Bear). But of all the
babies shown, and some were shown eating, not a single one was shown
breastfeeding. All of the infants were being bottlefed, including Curly
Bear. So I wrote this to the Children's Television Workshop on their
Contact page (http://www.ctw.org/aboutus/inside_contact.php):
------
As a nearly-30-year-old, I grew up on Sesame Street myself, and am happy
that my nearly-4-year-old son also enjoys Sesame Street. However, I was
somewhat disappointed with the show we saw today, which was all about
babies. I have a four-month-old baby girl, and my son has been just
terrific with her. But there's one thing he doesn't see in our house:
bottles. Both of my children were/are exclusively breastfed as babies,
which is the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics, among
other organizations.

However, not a single one of the babies shown on Sesame Street was shown
nursing. All of the babies who were eating were shown having bottles. As
most women in the United States at least start out breastfeeding their
babies, it seems to me that a majority of the preschoolers in the US will
also have seen their mothers nursing their siblings. Why is this not the
case on Sesame Street? Surely it can't be because nursing is somehow
"controversial" in nature; it is quite possible to breastfeed a baby without
showing any of the mother's breast. It would have been nice to at least see
Baby Bear's mother nurse Curly Bear, as she doesn't have any skin to show
(and therefore offend the easily, albeit mistakenly, offendable).

The only way we will be able to increase the rates of breastfeeding in the
United States is to get rid of the notion that bottlefeeding is the "normal"
or only socially-acceptable way of feeding babies. This needs to start when
kids are little. Right now, pretty much every baby doll comes with a
bottle. Bottles are ubiquitous, and so children assume that they are the
way that babies *have* to get fed. Will these children grow up to think of
breastfeeding as a normal way to feed babies? If they see it in the media
along with bottlefeeding, I think the chance goes up substantially!

I would have thought that at CTW would understand that breastfeeding is of
importance to babies and their future health, mental and physical, and give
it at least a little time on a program devoted to caring for babies. Sure,
show the bottles; they are a way for fathers and siblings to feed babies,
and many mothers do chose to bottlefeed their babies. But a growing and
educated number of women chose to breastfeed, and their preschool-aged
children should also see their choice represented.

Regards,
Jan Heirtzler

Excellent letter, Jan! Please let us know if you hear anything back!


"Jan Andrea" wrote in message
...
I watched Sesame Street with my son (almost 4) this morning. It was a
show
about babies, as Baby Bear has a new sister (Curly Bear). But of all the
babies shown, and some were shown eating, not a single one was shown
breastfeeding. All of the infants were being bottlefed, including Curly
Bear. So I wrote this to the Children's Television Workshop on their
Contact page (http://www.ctw.org/aboutus/inside_contact.php):
------
As a nearly-30-year-old, I grew up on Sesame Street myself, and am happy
that my nearly-4-year-old son also enjoys Sesame Street. However, I was
somewhat disappointed with the show we saw today, which was all about
babies. I have a four-month-old baby girl, and my son has been just
terrific with her. But there's one thing he doesn't see in our house:
bottles. Both of my children were/are exclusively breastfed as babies,
which is the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics, among
other organizations.

However, not a single one of the babies shown on Sesame Street was shown
nursing. All of the babies who were eating were shown having bottles. As
most women in the United States at least start out breastfeeding their
babies, it seems to me that a majority of the preschoolers in the US will
also have seen their mothers nursing their siblings. Why is this not the
case on Sesame Street? Surely it can't be because nursing is somehow
"controversial" in nature; it is quite possible to breastfeed a baby
without
showing any of the mother's breast. It would have been nice to at least
see
Baby Bear's mother nurse Curly Bear, as she doesn't have any skin to show
(and therefore offend the easily, albeit mistakenly, offendable).

The only way we will be able to increase the rates of breastfeeding in the
United States is to get rid of the notion that bottlefeeding is the
"normal"
or only socially-acceptable way of feeding babies. This needs to start
when
kids are little. Right now, pretty much every baby doll comes with a
bottle. Bottles are ubiquitous, and so children assume that they are the
way that babies *have* to get fed. Will these children grow up to think
of
breastfeeding as a normal way to feed babies? If they see it in the media
along with bottlefeeding, I think the chance goes up substantially!

I would have thought that at CTW would understand that breastfeeding is of
importance to babies and their future health, mental and physical, and
give
it at least a little time on a program devoted to caring for babies.
Sure,
show the bottles; they are a way for fathers and siblings to feed babies,
and many mothers do chose to bottlefeed their babies. But a growing and
educated number of women chose to breastfeed, and their preschool-aged
children should also see their choice represented.

Regards,
Jan Heirtzler

In article , Jan Andrea
wrote:

I watched Sesame Street with my son (almost 4) this morning. It was a show
about babies, as Baby Bear has a new sister (Curly Bear). But of all the
babies shown, and some were shown eating, not a single one was shown
breastfeeding. All of the infants were being bottlefed, including Curly
Bear. So I wrote this to the Children's Television Workshop on their
Contact page (http://www.ctw.org/aboutus/inside_contact.php):
------
As a nearly-30-year-old, I grew up on Sesame Street myself, and am happy
that my nearly-4-year-old son also enjoys Sesame Street. However, I was
somewhat disappointed with the show we saw today, which was all about
babies. I have a four-month-old baby girl, and my son has been just
terrific with her. But there's one thing he doesn't see in our house:
bottles. Both of my children were/are exclusively breastfed as babies,
which is the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics, among
other organizations.

However, not a single one of the babies shown on Sesame Street was shown
nursing. All of the babies who were eating were shown having bottles. As
most women in the United States at least start out breastfeeding their
babies, it seems to me that a majority of the preschoolers in the US will
also have seen their mothers nursing their siblings. Why is this not the
case on Sesame Street? Surely it can't be because nursing is somehow
"controversial" in nature; it is quite possible to breastfeed a baby without
showing any of the mother's breast. It would have been nice to at least see
Baby Bear's mother nurse Curly Bear, as she doesn't have any skin to show
(and therefore offend the easily, albeit mistakenly, offendable).

The only way we will be able to increase the rates of breastfeeding in the
United States is to get rid of the notion that bottlefeeding is the "normal"
or only socially-acceptable way of feeding babies. This needs to start when
kids are little. Right now, pretty much every baby doll comes with a
bottle. Bottles are ubiquitous, and so children assume that they are the
way that babies *have* to get fed. Will these children grow up to think of
breastfeeding as a normal way to feed babies? If they see it in the media
along with bottlefeeding, I think the chance goes up substantially!

I would have thought that at CTW would understand that breastfeeding is of
importance to babies and their future health, mental and physical, and give
it at least a little time on a program devoted to caring for babies. Sure,
show the bottles; they are a way for fathers and siblings to feed babies,
and many mothers do chose to bottlefeed their babies. But a growing and
educated number of women chose to breastfeed, and their preschool-aged
children should also see their choice represented.

Great letter! IIRC, Sesame Street seems to do a pretty good job
representing diversity in most other ways. I would bet that they just
need to hear this message from more parents. I'm going to watch for a
while and write 'em too.

--
Molly
http://www.sonic.net/~mollyf/

Jan Andrea wrote:
I watched Sesame Street with my son (almost 4) this morning. It was
a show about babies, as Baby Bear has a new sister (Curly Bear). But
of all the babies shown, and some were shown eating, not a single one
was shown breastfeeding. All of the infants were being bottlefed,
including Curly Bear. So I wrote this to the Children's Television
Workshop on their Contact page
[snip]

Great letter, Jan Andrea. If you receive a reply, please post an update.
I've written to them on the same issue, and I've so far heard nothing. I
hope they treat you better!
--
Belphoebe

Jan Andrea wrote:
I watched Sesame Street with my son (almost 4) this morning. It was
a show about babies, as Baby Bear has a new sister (Curly Bear). But
of all the babies shown, and some were shown eating, not a single one
was shown breastfeeding.

Yeah, I wrote a note too when I saw the Curly Bear episodes. It was some
months ago, but I know I didn't write it as well as you did, and I didn't
get a response. Let us know if you do!


--
tristyn
www.tristyn.net
"i have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
i do not think that they will sing to me."

FANTASTIC letter, Jan! I thought about writing the same kind of letter the
first time I saw the eps you're discussing - but I never did it. Good for
you!!

Corinne

Excellent letter, very informative and non-militant/threatening. Keep us
updated!

laurie
mommy to Jessica, almost 3 years and
Christopher, 10 months

"Jan Andrea" wrote in message
...
So I wrote this to the Children's Television Workshop on their
Contact page

Good job, Jan!

Beth