Breastfeeding Calendar - what does everyone think?

[jampot]

Good idea

Or just a parent and child calendar? Jan = newborn, Feb = 1yr old etc? That way everyone can contribute pictures if they want to.

My initial reaction is that it's a brilliant idea. I can understand why people might be uneasy, given the trend for raunchy calendars featuring (semi) naked women (and men). But frankly that's a problem with other people's interpretation of breastfeeding. And I guess some bottle feeders may feel left out, but then again that's always a sensitive issue when promoting breastfeeding. Where do you draw the line between encouraging women to breastfeed if they can without making the women who can't for whatever reason feel guilty. It just has to be done sensitively. So overall I still think it could be a lovely way of promoting breastfeeding. The message is that it's totally natural and that women should be able to feel comfortable feeding their baby wherever they want to.

Don't have any piccies though. And it would be nice if it could include breastfeeding older children (says she, still feeding her nearly 2 year old once a day!).

I agree with what Pidge says, if the aim of the calendar is to promote breastfeeding, that is what it should be about.

If we're talking about promoting Mumsnet, then of course it should include mums of all kinds, with children of all ages.

I like the idea of the calendar but would not like to see me in it...sorry!!!

I like the idea - good to see the range of bf styles out there

Would this include weaning and bf too?

i think that promoting breastfeeding is such an important issue that i'm sure bottle feeders will support the idea of a 'breastfeeding awareness calender'. wasnt there a survey recently that said only around a quarter of new mums even attempt to breastfeed.... perhaps part of the reason is a lack of awareness, lack of confidence to feed, lack of support, public attitude etc. surely its okay to promote breastfeeding without offending bottle feeders?

You can already buy a breast feeding calendar so I don't think there's much point in re-inventing the wheel, tbh. A collaboration with BMA might be a better idea.

I've got a photo of me breastfeeding ds at 6 weeks above the snowline in the Alps - can that go in? I got some weird looks from other walkers

I've got a good photo of me feeding ds lying on one leg and my cat sitting on the other!

I think that the target audience for such a calendar would be women/mothers/hospitals/doctors offices etc. Anyone that would buy it for sexual gratification I think would be sorely disappointed, especially considering that the photos would be carefully selected. I think it would be nice to focus on how discreetly, comfortably and conveniently one could breastfeed in public and at home. I don't think that there is any need to 'promote' bottlefeeding as such as there is enough of it going on by people who can not or choose not to breastfeed as well as people who wean from breast to bottle. I would hope that focusing on breastfeeding would be understood by all those bottlefeeding groups on health grounds, and of course promoting Breast is Best is a generalisation not a prescription for everyone and every situation.

MN could do an annual calendar. One year it might be breastfeeding, the next special needs, the next relationships etc etc. A good promotion of MN, a bit of a money spinner etc. Besides the photos the calendar should be designed so that people can fill in activities and appointments under the dates - we know how busy a mums life can be. Rambling now, so will stop.

Interesting Suedonim but an MN calendar would be far more high-profile (given the amount of media attention MN has had recently). I wasn't aware of the Baby Milk Action calendar so clearly the message that breasfeeding is a normal thing to do (if you do it at all) isn't getting across. But link with BMA could be good, or Royal College of Midwives or Community Practitioners and Health Visitors' Association?
As for offending bottle-feeding mothers, this would be in response to the ludicrous airbrushing of a nipple in a depiction of breastfeeding so bottle feeding is kind of irrelevant. But context needs to be clear.

PS I'm about to start a new job editing a pregnancy magazine and would be happy to talk about a joint project, if appropriate?

better not encourage too many HV to look on here- there aren't too many positive comments about them!

On the other hand....

my first off reaction, having just read this thread is that an exclusively breastfeeding calendar might alienate bottle feeders, and that's not good for mumsnet's image. Just my opinion and I am prepared to be persuaded otherwise.

I like the idea of a mumsnet calendar though... I can visualise pictures of mothers throwing jugs of water over tantrumming todlers... feeding children grapes in supermarkets...wearing tights on their heads to keep a mobile phone in place..the sort of things you do that aren't in books. You could add the title of a relevant thread on each calendar page.

I thought calender was to promote breast feeding for mums to be who wanted to but were unsure in which case it would eb useful B&w photo's would look good, perhaps to give balance it should be done with a bottle /weaning calender or linked to a ppromotion and MN just acknowledged as asource for info and help

Fab idea! I used to forget that I was bf and casually stroll around with them hangin' out. It was great. Power to the boobies!

I couldn't bf so had to bottle feed and I wouldn't be offended, can't see why bottle-mummies should be..the whole thing is it's supposed to be about freedom of choice and not about being tucked away in a public loo.

Super idea. Took this one when little fella was 5 weeks. Still breast feeding at 5 months and plan to continue to 1 year so loads more opportunities.

I've got a pic of me feeding my dd too! would love to offer it if it suits!

Thanks for all the feedback. Lots of great calendar ideas out there - we'll have a think/ do a bit of research on it and get back to you. Eddm when are you starting as editor? We would certainly be interested in talking about a joint project. Give us a shout on [email protected] and let's have a chat.
Justine, Carrie and Rachel

No surprise to anyone I expect, I would like to see at least one positive picture of a baby being bottle fed!

kiwicath - what beautiful photos!