Your Comments - the Walker family episode
Introduction
This week's episode of Supernanny has had a huge response from viewers, mostly because of the way in which breastfeeding was featured on the show.
4/5 stars (rated 6 times)
The Breastfeeding Issue
This week’s episode of Supernanny featured the Walker family. With three children and a nephew to care for, as well as a daycare center to run, Alice Walker was feeling overwhelmed, and appealed for Supernanny’s help.
The episode has resulted in a huge response from viewers, mostly because of the way in which breastfeeding was featured on the show. Breastfeeding is clearly a highly sensitive and contentious topic for mothers, and there are many sides to the issue. Below are some excerpts* of comments we have received.
- I love the show and really like Jo in particular. However, I really thought the show overstepped on the topic of breastfeeding and weaning. Nancy
- I hope that in the future the Supernanny show will much more carefully consider the negative impact of interfering with a nursing relationship. Tonight’s episode should be tossed out and never aired again. Rachael
- Just a quick note to express sincere gratitude and appreciation for the March 12, 2007 episode on how to get children into their own beds. For the first time in four years my husband and I held each other through the night, got a pretty good night’s rest, and woke up happy. Tammy
- Perhaps THAT baby and THAT mom in THAT family felt they were ready for weaning, and to encourage sleeping alone. Perhaps though, they were somehow made to feel that those choices were wrong-headed and needed changing. The issues could have been presented without this bias towards "independence", and a bias against breastfeeding. Kristin
- Thank you so much for last night’s show. I appreciated especially the sensitivity Jo had around the special bond that occurs through breastfeeding and how hard it can be emotionally to let go of it. I went through the same thing so it was nice to see that others experience it and how Supernanny helped. Barbara
- I was a HUGE fan of Supernanny before the breastfeeding episode. We have been trying to get mothers to breastfeed for the last decade and this episode set us back at least a decade. Christine
- My one concern tonight was in the advice given concerning breastfeeding and or babies’ bedtime… Whereas, Jo does a wonderful service to families in teaching responsible parenting, maybe breastfeeding/weaning is something she may want to explore more. I love the show and will continue to recommend it to parents – with a nursing clause! Erin
The Supernanny team welcomes healthy debate about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a personal choice, to be made by a mother in consultation with her health professional. There is certainly no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ time to stop breastfeeding, and there is nothing wrong with breastfeeding at 14 months (as Mrs Walker was on the show) – in fact the World Health Organization recommends it up to the age of two years or more if that is what best suits the mother and child.
In the show, Mrs. Walker was exhausted by carrying her 15-month-old baby around for much of the day, and said she wanted a change. Jo made it very clear that it was Mrs. Walker’s decision to wean and at no point did she express an opinion about an appropriate age for a mother to stop breastfeeding her child. Mrs. Walker said she was delighted with the results, and you can read about her experience in the Chicago Sun-Times.
Supernanny.com is first and foremost a parenting community, and we greatly appreciate all the feedback (positive and negative) that we receive. We invite viewers and readers to continue the debate on this and other parenting issues in the Supernanny Forum.
*Full (identity protected) comments available upon request
Supernanny Team
Related Links
- Breast is Best: For a new Mom the breastfeeding issue can feel like a battleground, and what works for one mom or child may not necessarily work for another.
- Breastfeeding - your questions answered!: There’s no doubt breast milk gives your baby the best start in life, but isn’t without its challenges, as these moms’ questions demonstrate!
- The Newborn Baby: The love and attention babies receive in their first few months of life plays a vital part in determining how their brains and bodies develop.
- Introduction to Post-natal Energy: We all want our pre-pregnancy looks back as soon as possible, but Melinda Nicci encourages us to listen to our bodies and set realistic goals.
- Crying Baby: The Supernanny website’s checklist helps you find out what’s wrong with your baby and gives some tried and tested ways to quiet him down.
- Your Guide to Baby Gear: The Supernanny team cut through the confusion to bring you a list of 10 essentials for the first few weeks of your baby’s life, as chosen by mothers.