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Positive Breastfeeding Images in Children's Literature

By Shel Franco

tfeeding is a very important part of many children's lives. Seeing pictures of babies nursing supports the reality of those who are breastfed. Many mothers today are making the conscious decision to nurse their babies because of growing awareness that breastfeeding is the best all-around choice for their children. These children deserve to have the way that they take nourishment, receive comfort and the special bond that they share with their mothers validated in the books that they look at and read regularly.

When children are raised with positive images of breastfeeding in their immediate environment, especially within their literature, the likelihood that they will see breastfeeding as normal as they mature is greatly increased. The images offered to us during our first most formative years have an uncanny way of staying with us. How many of us still know Dr. Suess' illustrations like the back of our hands? The images we present our young children will matter, and it is important that we approach this consciously. If 95 percent of the books available to them contain only bottle-feeding images, this sends the message that bottle-feeding is the norm. This is not an honest portrayal, as breastfeeding is the most normal, natural and healthy way to nourish babies. It should be depicted as such in their literature.

It is still important for children's literature to occasionally feature bottle-feeding, as this supports families who are unable to breastfeed, as well as educates breastfed children in the different ways that babies are fed. But for all the children's sake, there needs to be more literature available that openly portrays breastfeeding. Showing breastfeeding not only supports breastfed children in their way of life, but helps those who are not breastfed understand how other children feed and are comforted. Their awareness of this affects the next generations. Children who are raised bottle-fed, but regularly see images of breastfeeding in their literature will more likely grow to adulthood with the understanding that breastfeeding is normal and accepted, increasing the chances that they will choose to breastfeed their own children.

Society at large also benefits from seeing pictures of breastfeeding in children's books. Positive images of breastfeeding in the culture in any form, be it in children's books, on highway billboards or in ollywood movies sends the message that breastfeeding is a normal and wonderful part of everyday life.

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