For many students, our human development unit in psychology is not just a lesson—it’s an immersive experience. It’s personal. We are required to take care of flour babies as if they are real, learning responsibility and gaining an understanding of the pressures and demands of parenthood. All too often, however, one reality of motherhood is overlooked within this simulation: breastfeeding. Why should we spend unnecessary funds on a baby bottle when many actual mothers would instead opt for breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is a transformative experience that connects mother and child in profound ways. It has numerous health benefits for both parties involved and is the most economically sustainable choice. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding not only provides crucial nutrients for the baby but it also strengthens the mother-baby bond. Furthermore, UNICEF has underscored its cost-effectiveness and the potential positive socio-economic impacts.

We believe that it's time to make our human development unit as close to the reality of parenting as possible. By depriving female students of the option to simulate breastfeeding, we deprive them of a fundamental part of the motherhood experience. We’re calling on our educators to allow female students the choice of breastfeeding their flour babies, to truly underscore the real-world aspects of the parenting experience that our unit seeks to recreate. Please sign this petition and make our learning experience more comprehensive and true to actual parenthood.