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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that small children imitating breast feeding...

39 replies

invisibleink · 15/08/2010 16:13

...is totally normal and just them imitating women around them and all part of developmental role playing?

Or is it weird and make you uncomfortable as it does my friend?

And does it matter whether it is a boy or girl doing it and at what age does it become weird? (if it does, but at 14 I might be worried!! Grin )

OP posts:
PassMeTheKleenex · 15/08/2010 19:07

DS (3y) is, at this moment, reading stories to his babies in the bed/cot he has made in the living room. Arthur the Bear is Mummy, he is Daddy.

He has also pulled his top up to offer his ''nippers'' for feeding...!

Cute & funny, a sign of a good imagination.

May not be when he's 16 though!

Morloth · 15/08/2010 19:12

YANBU, DS1 has pretending to BF his favourite toy since I had DS2.

He was most put out to find out that his breasts will never be up to the job.

terryble · 15/08/2010 19:22

Don't worry, I meant "you" as in universal you! Blush

I should use "one" more often, but it looks affected if I use it frequently...

LynetteScavo · 15/08/2010 19:24

YANBU.

I am Sad that my DSs think I bottle fed DD. I breast fed her for 9 months, but they don't seem to remember that. Sad

iceandlemon · 15/08/2010 19:27

YANBU, but I suppose it all depends what you're used to. If your friend bottlefed she might be a bit weirded out breastfeeding in general...

AbricotsSecs · 15/08/2010 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsrupertpenryjones · 15/08/2010 22:17

yanbu - it's too cute for words - my 2 year old did it the other day to her teddy.
it just shows they learn so much without us realising.

Not as cute is shouting "shut up baby" after learning that choice phrase from her mother after a particualy stressful morning!! Blush

Giddyup · 15/08/2010 23:30

YANBU! My 7 year old DS does this, I had to tell (childless) best friend to shut it and that she was the odd one when she told him to stop it because "it's weird".

BrittanyBeers · 15/08/2010 23:38

I think it's adorable.

Shock at your friend, Giddyup!

Another thing that grinds my gears is people (MiL) saying it's weird that my DS pushes a buggy about. I have to point out that her son, the father of my children, a bloke regularly pushes a pram and takes great pride in it.

PrettyCandles · 15/08/2010 23:42

Agree that it is completely normal, yet at the same time slightly weird because it's not somethingwe are used to seeing, and it can be disconcrting to see small children mimicking very adult behaviour. Breastfeeding is one of the few exclusively adult behaviours that are not either frowned-upon or sexual. Off-hand the only other one that I can think of is driving a car, and that's a very public, very frequently-seen behaviour - quite the opposite of breastfeeding.

It is very cute and amusing - especially when the child is a boy.

MisterMahoohoo · 15/08/2010 23:45

My two elder DS' (5 and 3) pretend to breastfeed each other. They take turns in being mummy. Just normal kiddy roleplay ime. YANBU.

MrsKitty · 15/08/2010 23:52

DS (3) breastfeeds a dolly. H's good too - can do cross cradle position and the rugby ball position! Does one side, then declares "bit more on the other side", and switches sides before he's finished.

It's adorable.

I agree with previous posters - It's what you are used to, I suppose. Friends I have who have breastfed think it's cute/funny/normal, but childless friends think it's weird. My best friend screwed her nose up and pulled a face when I told her about it in an 'amusing anecdote' kind of way...not the reaction I was expecting TBH Hmm

SirBoobAlot · 16/08/2010 00:17

I think its sweet! I saw a little girl "breast feeding" her teddy whilst sat next to her mum breastfeeding the baby a few weeks ago. Really made me smile :)

biddlek · 16/08/2010 01:11

I think its sweet, my friends DD came round when my DS was young and asked me what I was doing when I fed him. I explained, and then her mum called me that evening to say she was feeding her dolls! She thought it was lovely too.

Where I lived when I had DS had one of the lowest BF rates in the country, and I think the main reason was down to awareness and it appearing "normal" so I think it can only help, if that makes sense?

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