I'm not sure how I am going to handle BFing in front of DS. He will be 4 when I'm BFing but has already shown alot of interest in my boobs. At this point he knows they are for "the baby's milk/food" when LO "comes out". I'm really affraid he's going to try and latch on or something once he see's LO BFing which I am NOT ok with. I'm also affraid he is going to go to school and talk about it to the other kids. Do you BF in front of your other kids? Or do you use a cover? If you do BF in front of them cover free how do they react have they tried to BF also?
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I don't cover in front of my almost 4 year old daughter, she gets that they are for the baby to eat from and has never showed interest in joining in.
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I was JUST wondering this today. I am curious to know how DD is going to react when she sees me BFing her baby sister. She will be 2 yrs 9 months.
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Not a mom of more than 1, but am an ebf mom and the oldest of 5 kids. My mom fed all of my siblings in front of us. I don't remember it being an issue, because it was just normal. To me, that was just how babies get their food. I have fed my daughter in front of other peoples kids, many who didn't have prior breastfeeding exposure and it was so easy to explain to them. I would say that Mommies make milk for their babies just like animals (using pigs or dogs or cats as an example). Most just said that made sense and went on doing what they were. Others were more curious and watched, but it didn't bother me. I am sure you will find out what is best for your family!
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I didn't breastfeed my second, but I have mommy friends that have breastfed in front my daughter. It wasn't a big deal, at all. The first time it happened that she was actually aware of it (maybe around 18 months?) I just explained that some babies eat from a bottle and some babies eat from their mommy's breast, she watched for a minute and went on her way. Sometimes, now, she does stop to watch, and she'll tell me that the baby is eating "boobies" (lol), but she's never tried to get involved.
She does sometimes pretend to nurse her stuffed animals, but she also sometimes pretends to feed her stuffed animals a bottle.
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I do bf in front of my three boys, they are three. I don't use a cover. The few times I did they pull the cover off and say baby sister can't see. So I just leave it off. I just told them that it's how babies eat.
One of my boys said "is it my turn". I said "it was your turn when you were a baby." I showed them pictures of them having a bottle or nursing and that was the end of that. They are much more interested in playing than nursing. -
I bf in front of our 4 year old. He has never tried to latch or anything (that seems like a crazy concern to me). He does talk about it though. Is that so wrong? He also breast feeds his toy monkey which people think is funny.
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I am going to have to I think, DD will be only 20 months old when DS is born, so I hope she does okay with it. I will use a blanket or nursing cover if that helps her take less notice/issue with it.
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@junebugmama: mine breast feed their toys too. It's really funny
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I only have one but I am the second oldest of five and watched my mom breastfeed all my siblings until they were two. It is only an issue if you make it an issue....if you treat it like the natural thing that it is, I don't think your ds will have anything to talk to his friends about. I feel like covering would just make it more of a secret and therefore make it more of a big deal.
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My son's 3 and I don't use a cover. He does, from time-to-time, want to lie on the nursing pillow to also drink milk. LOL! He knows it's for his little brother's and that he has his own milk. He is curious though. One day he put his hand on my boob and said, "look!" I wasn't even paying attention b/c I'm so used to having my LO on there. I just laughed it off.
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@Mrsdaredevil: 100% agreed.
I am from a family of 6 kids and I grew up watching my mom breastfeed my younger siblings - it was SUCH a nonissue for me. And I didn't think twice about it... also I never went talking about it to my friends because it seemed like second nature. I guess I didn't even really think about it until I was in jr high and all of a sudden my friends were obsessed with their boob growth...and boys. But even then I was like... whatever, boobs can be good for both I guess lol!
I grew up totally non chalant about it and I think that's the healthiest mindset to have.
I have a friend who is keeping it a secret from her bonus son who is 10 or 11 and I think that is just going to cause problems further along down the road.
Be honest with your kid, say this is how you used to get your food too!
The little girl I nanny has full knowledge of it, it's so cute. She calls them "milks" and now that I have a baby and bring him, she comments on it, "you feed him from your milks, because he is a baby. I used to eat my mama's milks, but I'm big now and my little brother needs her milks now."
It's so freakin adorable.
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This isn't in response to the original question, but I'm enjoying reading this thread and wanted to add:
My little cousins, age 6, is really interested in everything in the world and he still remembered that he was breastfed and had a cute term for it called "Mommy's Milk'. He'd ask me, "Is Nico getting Mommy's Milk?" whenever I was holding him in my sling or if he couldn't tell if I was BFing or not. And I'd say yes or no. And he did like to watch (just take a little peek) and I was fine with that (baby was latched). The funny part to me came when I had a bottle of "Mommy's Milk", and he was like 'How did you get it out?" and I said that there is a machine you can use......and wouldn't you know, another time, he walked in on me using the machine (I quickly covered up). For that I said "I need privacy because I am getting the milk out for Nico to have later".
Oh, and when my dog had puppies and various kids would come over to see the puppies, I noticed lots of Moms and Dads would point out to the kids that the dog is breastfeeding (or whatever term they use with their kids) the puppies, 'just like Mommy did with you when you were babies'. I liked that.
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I have #2 in my womb, but I plan on nursing him in front of LO
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I only have one LO. But my mom has three kids and I'm the youngest. She used to nurse me in front of my siblings. My sister would sit next to her while she nursed and feed her doll a bottle.
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My girls are only 23 months apart, and I BF Toddler Girl to 17 months, so I was a bit apprehensive that she might remember and want to join in but she's never tried. She's big into being a Big Girl and milkies are for babies. She is super interested, and pretends to nurse her toys all the time. She's tiny, so it's adorable. When she's old enough for people to think it's weird, I doubt she'll do it anymore because Wonder Baby will be weaned.
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I breastfeed DD in front of DS who is 3. He acts like its no big deal. He knows his sister stops crying when she's fed so he doesn't seem to mind. He knows we don't talk about "girl parts" and he really never showed interest in how she eats. He did pick up one of her bottles once to taste the milk when I was in the other room but after that was done with, he moved on and didn't care haha.
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I breastfed my younger one in front her older brother too. He never questioned it or got jealous. They are 23 months apart.
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I'm still pregnant with my first but as the oldest of four, I saw my mum breastfeeding A LOT and NEVER ever ever wanted to join in. I guess it depends on your age (I was four when my first sister was born) but for me it was just the way babies were fed, end of.
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Gosh I was BFing so much in the beginning it would've been pretty hard to hide it from DD... She was almost 3.5 yo at the time.
She did ask once if she could try the milk too... But I could tell by the way she asked that she was hesitant, so you know what? I called her on her bluff because I knew if I said no, she'd keep asking. So I said, "it's really for babies... You're a big girl with your princess cups (she was obsessed with princesses at the time), but you can try." I was right that she backed down and never asked again.
She often "nurses" her dolls though. I think it's cute. She'll lift up her shirt and put them to her chest. The other day she also put a blanket over her shoulder as a nursing cover while doing it.
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I remember my stepmom nursing my brother and sister. I was probably 8 or 9 when my sister was weaned. It was no big deal.
She does sometimes pretend to nurse her stuffed animals, but she also sometimes pretends to feed her stuffed animals a bottle.
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