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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Not sure whether to make an issue of this or not

30 replies

fartingfran · 10/05/2011 08:25

Firstly, I am aware that a significant amount of people will read this, make Hmm faces and tell me to get a grip. But I feel quite strongly about this so I'm going to post anyway.

DS goes to a preschool and it's a lovely place. It has a huge range of toys and stuff for role play which is great. It's also stuffed to bursting with babies, prams and oodles of bottles. I really want to say something about the bottles because these kids are at a prime age to absorb information about how babies are fed and normalising breastfeeding from an early age seems to me a fairly important way of improving future breastfeeding rates.

Does anyone know of any literature or something which I could use to make a case to the nursery without looking like a yoghurt-knitting loon?

OP posts:
MummyBerryJuice · 10/05/2011 08:43

I would actually, perhaps not make a HUGE issue about it but ask them to remove the bottles (in line with a healthy eating policy perhaps?) and suggest some books for the library that have normalised bf images. Even if they only take you up on the second it will be an improvement.

MummyBerryJuice · 10/05/2011 08:44

Oops, I didn't read properly. I don't know of any studies as such but will have a look around for some...

MoonFaceMamaaaaargh · 10/05/2011 08:50

I would want to say something and hope i would Blush

Maybe there should be a couple of bottles balanced with plenty of images of bf.

Don't have any sources to offer i'm afraid, just moral support. Smile

Original poster
fartingfran · 10/05/2011 13:25

Hmmm healthy eating policy, that sounds good. I shall seek out some breastfeeding posters perhaps. They will think I am a crazy hippy but I think it's so important, I can live with that!

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NikkiTwinkle · 10/05/2011 13:30

My friend and I were having a similar discussion as she runs a pre-school and we were talking about breastfeeding (strange conversations I know but nevermind)

We were saying that it's really difficult for her to get 'toys' or 'prompts' for breastfeeding as what do you produce, other than a fake boob. There is that product available where the child wears a bib or other with fake nipples on and the baby attaches (not seen it but read in the papers) but with the uproar in the papers it didn't seem appropriate in the pre-school setting.

I've been feeding my baby in public/groups and other little ones including the boys have gone to feed their toy baby by lifing up shirt or just putting the toy to their chest.

It's also quite difficult sometimes for Pre-schools to tackle these types of issues as it raises lots of questions that workers aren't aloud to answer and parents dont want to answer. Ofsted controls alot of what is said too.

I know my friend would prefer a parent who has worries or concerns to speak with them first. Try talking to the owner/person who runs it as they'll be able to give an opinion, but I wouldn't suggest making a huge issue as you've got to see these people for months/years to go. A quite chat is often the best way to solve these things.

Original poster
fartingfran · 10/05/2011 13:47

Oh yes, I have no intentions of charging in and demanding to see the head or anything Grin but just a gentle word about how these images and stereotypes affect kids and how it's important to aim for normalisation of BF. Hence looking for some sort of literature to support my case a bit - ie so I can hand over a leaflet and mumble something before running away Grin

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NoTeaForMe · 10/05/2011 17:15

I can't help you with scientific research or anything like that and in someways I think it's hard for the pre-school, as a previous poster has pointed out ofsted controls what they say and do. However, the 'Katie Morag' stories which are used in year 1 when learning about islands are stories about a little girl living on an island off Scotland. In almost every book there is a picture of the Mom breastfeeding the little brother. Maybe if the preschool had some books like this it would be a start?

Hope that helps a bit?!

stripeywellies · 10/05/2011 18:20

Yep you got it right op. You really need to get over yourself. Whatever next at preschool these days eh? A tea party for the local paedophiles...thank god i never saw any bottles when I grew up. Oh hang on, i did now i come to remember, I was ff and I have no issues with breastfeeding. Oh and I also have a doctorate in chemistry, am not a fcuk up and I don't get I'll very often

stripeywellies · 10/05/2011 18:20

Yep you got it right op. You really need to get over yourself. Whatever next at preschool these days eh? A tea party for the local paedophiles...thank god i never saw any bottles when I grew up. Oh hang on, i did now i come to remember, I was ff and I have no issues with breastfeeding. Oh and I also have a doctorate in chemistry, am not a fcuk up and I don't get I'll very often

Original poster
fartingfran · 10/05/2011 18:24

Woo stripey, would you like salt and vinegar with that chip? Hmm

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stripeywellies · 10/05/2011 19:07

Only if it comes in a bottle

But seriously, I prefer to see the bigger picture. There will be kids in that school subject to more serious disadvantages than the fact they are not exposed to enough images of breastfeeding. If some of the people on this site spent as much time helping disadvantaged kids(joining reading schemes, donating unwanted clothes and toys perhaps) as they did spouting sanctimonious BS we could go a long way to solving a lot of children's issues.

MoonFaceMamaaaaargh · 10/05/2011 19:16

at leav what the op is talking about doing could help kids, disadvantaged or otherwise. How does bitching about that help? That is the bull shit.

PenguinArmy · 10/05/2011 19:20

ooh I would love some vinegar soaked chips. Now my pg body is going to crave that for the next few weeks and I can't indulge as I'm in the states Grin

yep I have a doctorate too stripey (physics) and was FF and from a deprived background, but every little helps so lay off a little bit yeah

FreudianSlipOnACrown · 10/05/2011 19:29

I think you'd be right to say something - just gently. Maybe they haven't even thought about this, and that's not really their fault because bottle feeding is now the cultural norm.

I get a bit quietly irate when I see all the dolls, books etc that have bottles!

Original poster
fartingfran · 10/05/2011 19:30

If you've got a doctorate stripey then surely you should know that your anecdotal evidence of FF being harmless is not data?

Honestly, I'm not into fighting about this. But if breastfeeding rates are to improve then one of the most vital things that needs to happen is that instead of kids growing up seeing bottles as a normal usual part of having a baby they see breastfeeding instead. And if a school can't promote images of normal baby feeding then why are they facilitating play which normalises formula feeding?

It's rare to come across a FFer or FFed person who's actively anti improvements to breastfeeding rates. However, I guess they're obviously out there

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FreudianSlipOnACrown · 10/05/2011 19:32

And yes I totally agree there are bigger issues... But where's the harm in normalising BFing, really? It's hardly sanctimonious bullshit to have a few pictures of BFing babies around is it.

Lastyearsmodel · 10/05/2011 19:42

Was helping out at a nursery class this morning and thinking the same as the OP - there was a tin of formula in the role play area and I wondered how you could introduce bf to balance things out.

This book is about right for pre-school and has a page that says 'Lamb likes warm milk' then a flap to lift for a pic of a baby bf '...me too!'. Came in Bookstart packs about 4 years ago.

MummyBerryJuice · 10/05/2011 19:43

Well said Freudian

QueenOfFeckingEverything · 10/05/2011 19:46

Suggest one of these to them?

Original poster
fartingfran · 10/05/2011 19:53

QoFE you are a superstar! I'm a member of the BfN anyway and never thought to look there, what a muppet I am!

I shall go and have a chat with them this week, armed with useful bumf, and maybe we'll get somewhere. As someone else mentioned. I'm sure they've just never thought about it :)

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Original poster
fartingfran · 14/05/2011 08:31

Just to update: I contacted the hospital Infant Feeding Adviser and she's on the case - this is much better because she's trained in this sort of thing whereas I'm a tactless arse. She said she'd visit them with me if I wanted, and has promotional materials :)

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WoTmania · 14/05/2011 09:16

I had a similar issue at DS1's school. He started reception in september and they had a 'growing up corner' with dolls and bottles. I found them a load of BF photos and a BF doll.
FWIW I don't think you're overthinking this.

organiccarrotcake · 15/05/2011 20:31

I don't think there's any need for BFing toys. There's all the controversy about the breastfeeding doll, but really it all seems a bit OTT to me. One of the wonderful things about BFing is that it needs no special equipment so just having dolls to play with without bottles is fab. While BFing toys are fine they, to me, are too much deliberately making a point which is ALSO not normalising BFing.

Of course giving children infant milk bottles to play with perpetuates the normalisation of FF. It's really important as part of the campaign to normalise BFing to remove doll bottles or images of bottles.

And of course this is separate to the question of the (clear and obvious) need to have formula available to those who require it.

Excellent work OP.

Original poster
fartingfran · 16/05/2011 04:50

Totally agree re BFing dolls, carrot. Defeats the object IMO and just appears to be making an issue out of something which isn't one.

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Original poster
fartingfran · 16/05/2011 09:39

Sorry WoT I don't mean to be dismissive of what you did for your son's school, just my personal opinion. I think it's something the majority of people don't even think about (therein lies the problem I guess) so well done for approaching the school :)

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