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Original poster

Teacher's breastfeeding information

55 replies

lurkingaround · 14/03/2015 21:49

So, DD is 9 years old, they have a maternity sub atm, v young (about 24) and by general consensus quite cranky and short-tempered. Very unpopular with the kids. Background is prob not relevant but I am a bit biased against her as a result, and I'm looking for an unbiased opinion.

On Friday, somehow or other breastfeeding came up. Said teacher told the class that now there is 'powdered milk' that's just as good as breastfeeding, so it doesn't matter if you breastfeed or not. And she also pointed out that breastfeeding has disadvantages in that the dad can't feed the baby. And that feeding a 5 year old is 'just silly'.

So. WWYD? Would you correct her somehow?

OP posts:
Original poster
lurkingaround · 14/03/2015 22:30

It came up from a book they were reading. And yes, I was surprised it came up in class too, NoArmani. I didn't think 9 yo would be taught infant nutrition! I'm not sure it's entirely appropriate but I'm not questioning that.

Yes I understand people have opinions on feeding older kids, but it is only an opinion, not fact.

DD I'm sure, will forget. But she brought it up this morning with DH, and this afternoon with me.

OP posts:
zinher · 14/03/2015 22:31

I would speak to her. Breast milk is superior to formula even the formula company's acknowledge it. She should be teaching facts.

StrangeGlue · 14/03/2015 22:31

I don't think she did that badly tbh. She may well have been thinking that lots of the kids had been bottle fed and lots have been breastfed so best to say its much of a much ness so no one gets the hump.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

5 year olds 9 year olds Families
DishwasherDogs · 14/03/2015 22:34

You don't dismiss something just in case it might hurt people's feelings a long time in the future.

I really think she's handled this badly, in her position if she can't say anything useful or educational, she should at the very least remained impartial.

GCCPrimary1 · 14/03/2015 22:34

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Passmethecrisps · 14/03/2015 22:35

Genuinely as a teacher who specialises in these kinds of talks i think you should let it go.

Talking to children about any issue can lead you down all sorts of paths you were not expecting of prepared for so the nature of the beast is winging it.

Original poster
lurkingaround · 14/03/2015 22:37

No need to say anything is best tho, is there? But I take your point StrangeGlue, maybe she was trying to make it ok for all the kids. Still tho, she should be teaching facts.

Oh I don't know, I would like to speak to her, but I'll sit with it for the weekend.

OP posts:
Passmethecrisps · 14/03/2015 22:38

Unless we have a recording of her lesson we cannot know how she 'dealt with it'. We have one child reporting back to a parent who feels aggrieved.

Children throw curve balls into lessons and teachers need to think on their feet. She may or might not have said the right thing but we can't 100% know

catellington · 14/03/2015 22:39

I don't understand why infant feeding isn't taught in school, and why not to 9 year olds? It is a very important part of life which affects us all. There are countless threads on here discussing the lack of information about feeding, (one at the moment about lack of antenatal education on formula feeding) why is none of it taught at school?
This was a teacher giving out information which was not correct, and very judgmental. I would be angry if this happened to my dd and would have to address it with the teacher herself at least.

Italiangreyhound · 14/03/2015 22:42

lurkingaround I am guessing the class was nothing to do with the subject of breastfeeding and she was kind of caught on the hop. If she said 'this is my opinion' then I would say that it is OK for her to express her opinion. Although she is, IMVHO, incorrect and what she says is inaccurate....

Normal 'powdered milk' cannot be given to babies, 'Formula' can, although that is, of course, that is what she meant!

Formula is not recognised by the WHO as being 'just as good as breastfeeding, although for individual babies is this country it may be perfectly fine and brilliant. In fact for some mums who had a lot of trouble establishing breast feeding or who are on certain medications or for other medical reason, it is wonderful and better than attempting to breastfeed (IMHO)

Maybe in this country you could say in my opinion ....it doesn't matter if you breastfeed or not.'

But maybe better to say that either is perfectly valid choice!

And lastly the dad can feed the baby with breast milk, he just has to ask the mum if she can express some first!

With regard to feeding a 5 year old, I would not get into that!

sleeponeday · 14/03/2015 22:43

I'd be annoyed by this. And I am someone whose inability to breastfeed my first (he had severe, late-corrected tongue tie) led to severe PND, and who wishes there was a less rigid approach to encouraging mothers to feed so those who can't or don't want to aren't made to feel failures. But the reality is also that formula is not as good and she promoted the advantages of formula while denying the proven advantages of breast. None of which was her place.

No clue why teaching it to 9 year olds is problematic, though. It's just feeding, after all.

FleurdeHeadLice · 14/03/2015 22:44

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sleeponeday · 14/03/2015 22:45

If she said 'this is my opinion' then I would say that it is OK for her to express her opinion.

The problem with that is she's an adult, and a teacher at that, so 9 year olds are likely to take what she says as next to gospel. The "IMO" clause doesn't really work at that age.

Passmethecrisps · 14/03/2015 22:47

I am not sure how many 9 year olds care about infant feeding anyway. I genuinely cannot see that this bins an issue in the mind of any child other than one which has been placed there

FleurdeHeadLice · 14/03/2015 22:53

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MummyBtothree · 14/03/2015 22:53

Mention breastfeeding and thats it, lol, ' the breast is best' crew are always lurking ready to pounce. It might be nutritionally more beneficial but not always 'best'.

pettyprudence · 14/03/2015 22:59

Maybe she didn't want them thinking breastfeeding was normal. Maybe she wanted them to feel weird about (as happens a lot)

You can present information to kids (and I do think its right to do so from a young age) without saying either feeding method is unnecessary. There is a place for bf and there is a place for ff, but you cannot say that there isn't a need for one because of the other.

Passmethecrisps · 14/03/2015 23:00

I see what you mean fleaur

I teach sex ed to secondary school pupils and feeding comes into R vaguely.

FleurdeHeadLice · 14/03/2015 23:02

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MummyBtothree · 14/03/2015 23:03

shes either very ignorant, immature or naive. To say theres no need to breastfeed because formula is available. Thats like saying theres no need for sex with blokes for pleasure now ann summers invented the rabbit!

FleurdeHeadLice · 14/03/2015 23:04

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Fairylea · 14/03/2015 23:04

MummyB - a lot of women would say that re men and sex! :)

FleurdeHeadLice · 14/03/2015 23:05

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MummyBtothree · 14/03/2015 23:06

I felt like such a failure to my first son at 22 and a lack of milk production that I was suicidal.

Italiangreyhound · 14/03/2015 23:10

MummyBtothree I am so sorry to hear that. The whole subject should be treated very sensitively. For some people it is a very big issue. But of course I am sure your son did very well on formula.

In many ways some people may feel, or be made to feel negative because they needed a C-section and could not give birth vaginally. I had a c-section and was hugely relieved my baby was able to be born alive and well. It is a sensitive subject, but I would not want anyone to be taught misinformation about C-sections just because they needed one.

Formula feeding is perfectly good in this country where it is safe but the issue of formula being marked in other countries can be an issue. So the subject is quite a big one and I think (IMVHO) should be taught in schools.

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