We often talk about what breastfeeding means to us as mothers, so we asked some LLL mothers what their toddlers and children say about breastfeeding. One thing’s for sure, our babies definitely think breastfeeding is about more than just nutrition! Out of the mouths of nursing babes …
When my daughter was two, I talked to her one night about maybe going to sleep without breastfeeding when she was older. She stopped, looked me in the eye and said ”are you joking me?”. Rachel
My son is a bit young to say lots about breastfeeding, but he does squeal and run upstairs when I say “boob then bed?”. CharlieÂ
“I like milk because it makes me feel good” and “I don’t want mummy milk in a cup. It has to come from your bra”. Helen
Eleanor says she has milk because it makes her feel “happy, safe, lovely and it’s mummy time”. Sarah-JaneÂ
“Are we starting with righty-tighty or lefty-wefty mummy?” Alison
From about 18 months, the running commentary I got was/is “mummy milk milk, both sides, please mummy, other side, finished”. LouisaÂ
If I ask my two year old daughter anything about breastfeeding, her answer is ‘mummy milk makes me happy’. Can’t argue with that! Sarah
Whenever my baby fusses, my two year old is very insistent that she needs mummy milk and that will make her ‘all better’. Meghann
My youngest called one side strawberry and one side chocolate. Still does actually. Sally
“Meeeulk!!!” “I will stop having milk when I grow big like mummy”, “I want your milks mummy”. Nicola
My little girl keeps saying when I’ve finished feeding my baby, “Mummy, put your booby away now please.” Abbie
Every time his little brother is unsettled or crying my four year old says: “Mummy, I think he needs his babymilk” and I don’t think he is ever wrong with that! Nicole
My two year old says “booby make it better” about anywhere that hurts. Samantha
If my toddler sees anyone sad, he says they need booby milk to make them happy. EmmaÂ
Dat side! Noooooo! Dat side! Nooooooo! Dat side! Yeah!” It takes her ages to make her mind up, and I’m certainly not allowed to choose for her .Amanda
This column was first published in edition 202 of Breastfeeding Matters (July/ Aug 2014).
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