Toddler breastfeeding doll is “crude”
As reported in The Telegraph yesterday, this is the picture that has come under heavy critism after it was displayed in a Rochdale hospital. It shows a littl girl of about 2 or 3 years pretending to breastfeed her dolly.
It is, of course, perfectly natural for little girls to copy their mummy, and many first children will copy the act of breastfeeding when they see their younger sibling being fed. However, although the poster was designed to promote breastfeeding, it has come under fire, with complaints along the lines of it being “innappropriate”, “offensive” and “shocking”.
Personally, I feel it is a good way to highlight how natural breastfeeding is. We all know breast is best, but there are still many areas of the UK where the majority of babies are formula fed, though choice rather than necessity. Although I only managed a couple of weeks feeding my two children, I certainly do not find this image offensive. At the end of the day, it is a photograph of a child playing. If someone chooses to be offended by what they percieve the message to be, then that is their choice.
SnugBaby#2 copies me and his father (and older brother, but let’s not go there!) all the time. Just the other day, he asked me if he could use the SnugBaby sling which I use to carry him in, so that he could carry a dolly around. I am fairly sure that isn’t disgusting.
So let’s be clear here about what is offensive – is it the thought of a child doing a grown up act (my son hoovers – is that wrong too)? is it a child copying their mother? or is it the actual breastfeeding? If it’s the latter, I think it is a sorry state of affairs, and that the breastfeeding counsellors and midwives of the North West really have their work cut out!
As always, let us know what you think…
May 21st, 2009 at 8:58 pm
It’ so true that breastfeeding is still some sort of secret, under cover activity. The more that people are encouraged to see it as normal and natural the better. I think they are trying to get some publicity as the poster is quite bold but I agree with the principle!
May 21st, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Absolutely no problem with the image whatsoever. I could only feed my eldest for 3 weeks due to severe mastitis, BF my second until he was 1, and had no end of people asking when I was going to take him off the breast.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Just two days ago I sat in my lounge feeling as proud as can be. My 28mth old daughter sat beside me playing with soft toy, as I sang “row your boat” and “rowed” with my 5mth old she copied, words and actions, When I then BF my 5mth old she placed the toy to herself and told me she was giving him milk. Nothing about this disturbed me, I felt a swell of pride at the thought that my child will see BF as a natural part of motherhood. I see nothing offensive in the campaign and hope it works.
May 21st, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Couldnt agree more with you Claire, it is indeed a sorry state of affairs that an image such as this would be deemed ‘offensive’ to anyone. Totally ridiculous. Makes me really quite angry actually…
May 27th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Such a fantastic article, Claire. I only wish that those that see breastfeeding as disgusting could be made to read this!
It makes me angry, but also very sad, to read about attitudes like this.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
it does not suprise me that some people think this is inappropriate, they are probably the same people who think nuts magazine et. al . are ok. I have fed both my kids until they were over two and know how negative peoples views are.I think that as parents and educators it is our role to model positive behaviours, this is how children learn. therefore what could be more natural than a child mimicing it’s mother feeding. perhaps those criticising should remember that we are indeed mammals and it it those that bottlefed are the ones deviating from the ‘norm’:)