Do They Teach The Benefits Of Breastfeeding In School?
July 12, 2010 by Guest Author
Filed under Breast Feeding Supplies
Do they teach the benefits of breastfeeding in school?
Maybe during sex education?
Or when I was in school they had a class called Parenting and Child Development, but I never took that class.
Do you think it would be beneficial to teach the benefits of breastfeeding to adolescents?
Do you think it would help wipe away some of the taboos our society has about breastfeeding?
I never heard it mentioned ever in school.
But I think that if it was taught it could mean turning the tides toward breastfeeding and against the formula companies.
Most women who nurse now are considered first generation breastfeeders because it was nearly wiped out in the couple of generations prior to this one. We have to learn it ourselves, whereas in traditional societies girls are immersed in breastfeeding and have the women of their families to help them out.
Gosh, imagine if indeed people understood that breastfeeding is the right way to feed their children instead of dumping money into the pocket of the CEOs of similac and enfamil! Imagine the money saved and the changes in children’s health!
That would be such a GREAT idea!!!!
No. They don’t need to. There is so much kids need to learn in school, the significance of breastfeeding doesn’t rank high enough to waste school time on it.
im already a junior in high school & havnt really been taught anything about that.
Parenting and Child development teaches the benefits of breastfeeding, I had that class so I would know and yes it is good to know, especially for teenagers that dont really know that stuff
No
My school didnt have sex ed
No
No
No
they teach you about breast feeding when you are prego.. and after you have the baby.. yes you hear about it…. before but you really learn how to do it when you ahve a child.. its not as easy as it looks
UMM.. DURING SEX EDUCATION.. THEY TALK ABOUT SEX, NOT
BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING….
they don’t teach that in school. I think that women can breastfeed everywhere as long as they are discreet about it. the main issue is that when a boob is exposed, people are programmed to look. so as long as the woman is discreet and not flaunting her side-boob, then it’s all good.
I think breastfeeding is best for the child because it’s natural and free. But when the child is in school, there is no difference between formula and breast fed babies. And if the mother smokes or drinks, then I would encourage formula for the child.
Why would breast feeding be part of Sex ED? There isn’t anything sexual about it. I took Parenting and Child Development in high school and if I recall correctly there was a tidbit in there about breast feeding.
But, really, do you think adolescents would care enough to take a class on breast feeding? It’s not something many teens are focused on. Plus, there ARE breast feeding classes available for those that are pregnant and wish to take advantage of them. I just don’t see many teens signing up for this class if it were made available in school.
the taboo – to my mind – is not the act itself. It’s the exposure of one’s breasts in public. Our society went through a shame spiral in the victorian era from which we haven’ fully emerged. We are ashamed of our bodies, and of looking on another’s naked body. Other countries don’t have that mindset. The human body to them is not only a tool for sex and pleasure, but also a measure of one’s individual beauty and a connection to nature and god. I think first and foremost we need to address our shame and guilt. Then the taboo will all but disappear.
i dont really think that needs to be taught in school. that ways to much the parenting class is there to basically show you to wait to have kids cause it i big deal i am REALLY against teaching beastfeeding to children!
the only sex education i went through was not teaching us to wait until we were married i dont think the school is a proper place to learn about breatfeeding at all
I think there are other things in school that are more important to learn about. Why doesn’t parents talk about the importance of breast feeding?
I don’t feel that that is something that should be taught in school.
They didn’t at my school.
I didn’t take the Parenting class either, though.
But we never really had any sex ed or anything like that. They taught us about uteruses, and urethras and things, and where it goes, basic anatomical aspects of it, but nothing more than that.
Oh, and they brought in an old fat woman covered in moles to show us photographs of STDs.
I think it’s a good idea to teach more about every aspect of reproduction.
So yes, it would be beneficial.
depends on teh school
no
no
Never heard of it
no
no
Breastfeeding is somthing that should be of no concern to people until they have children, and then they can talk to a trained medical professional about what is best for their child and make their own decision. not everybody can or should breastfeed so they certainly dont need to swayed toward it in school
I don’t think so – I don’t think it’s taught. But it sure should be.
I don’t think that it will help with “taboos”. Educating our KIDS about the best way to feed a baby, isn’t going to change the way GRANDMA thinks about it.
i had a sex ed class in sixth grade and it was a don’t do it you’ll go to hell video. they should explain the benefits of breastfeeding. i am really surprised how many people “look down” on it.
My college course for Child Development discussed breastfeeding and natural birth.
I never had coursing in high school on the subject though.
They never taught the benefits of breast feeding in our high school’s sex education class. I do believe it would be beneficial to teach the benefits of breast feeding during *prenatal* classes. Adolescents don’t need to even think about having a baby, therefore I don’t think it’s necessary to teach that to a child so young. But definitely the benefits should be taught to men and women who are thinking of becoming parents or who are expecting.
The prenatal classes I attended when I was pregnant had an entire class dedicated to the benefits of breast feeding. I do think that educating those who plan on becoming parents or who are expecting will help wipe out the taboo associated with breast feeding. I can’t believe it is such a taboo to begin with being that it’s a natural, wonderful thing. How do people think that babies were fed before formulas and alternatives to breast milk?
I think that would be great.
Somebody said that breastfeeding isn’t important??? what?? It’s not as if it would take up a huge amount of time that could be applied to more important things. It could easily be integrated into a related subject.
I doubt it and why teach only one way? People ought to have a choice on how they feed an infant- be it formula or breast feeding. They shouldn’t be forced into it.
I also don’t think it’s “taboo” to breast feed. What people get annoyed about is when you see people with 3 year olds still breast feeding or people that blatantly just “whip it out there” in public like they are on display with what they are doing. While it may be more natural to do so, a sense of MODESTY and not being “in your face” with it is what is more required and asked of. It may be a normal body part, but other people with small children- breastfed or not- don’t need their kids seeing something and going “what’s that mom” looking at someone elses boob or for people who do know to oogle them in their minds while feeding their child.
As a formula mom, I got sick of people looking at me as if I were poisoning my kid when I had to feed him away from home. He was and still is very healthy and never had any problems at all because of it… not once. It should be a mom’s CHOICE with how they choose to feed their child, not what society “thinks” they need to do or because of what a few people decide is “best” for the general whole.
I don’t remember hearing about it when I was in school, no. As much as I think breastfeeding education is better suited to a prenatal course…teenagers DO have babies quite often these days! It may be beneficial for them to hear about how wonderful (and free!) breastfeeding is. It’s not like we can count on OBs or pediatricians to support nursing, since medical school only BARELY touches on it…sigh.
My mom nursed all of us at least 14 months, and my grandma did as well. I don’t know about further back in the family, but I assume they breastfed, as it was before the big formula companies were formed.
**Any class about Parenting/Child Development has a responsibility to present accurate information about breastfeeding and formula; I wonder how it was taught at your school?
**To keevelish: you make some excellent points!! And I’m proud to report that I am not a first generation breastfeeder!
There is no advantage of breastfeeding in school. It frightens the children – and the teachers even more.