Boobing... is this a bad term to use??

[Goodgollymiss]

Just been playing in my mind a little bit (slow day I guess).. just read on another post that people find the term boobing (breastfeeding) offensive, cringy, chav etc... I had NO idea.. I think I prob use this term alot... is this really a terrible word?

What’s wrong with baby wearing? Do you mean you don’t like the term baby wearing or that you don’t like seeing babies in a sling? If it’s the latter then you have issues. I found my sling an absolute life saver.

I hear this all the time at breastfeeding groups and things. Actually more so with DC1, in a more middle class area. Less so with DC2 as I live in part of the country with much lower breastfeeding rates.

Never really struck me as bad or bothered me, but I don’t mind the word boob.

Some people get so defensive about why they didn’t breastfeed, that I don’t talk about it. I think said people might dislike the term. I’m not fussed how people feed their babies.

It's rather cringeworthy, which amuses me so I say it sometimes. I actually usually say booby rather than boobing, it stuck somehow and now my toddler demands booby so I can't change it now. But if people find it terrible that just makes me want to say it more. But living abroad I doubt anyone around me recognises the cringiness of it (actually I hear some mums use a very similar term except I would translate it as giving tit which is even more cringy than giving boob)

@Marahute exactly!

I am currently boobing DC2 to sleep. He isn’t feeding, he isn’t hungry, he’s not even taking milk really. I could say I’m going to go let baby suckle to sleep? But I think that might be worse.

It's horrible and twee - holibobs and 'counting sleeps' are up there with it

Hideous. I would have less respect for someone using this nonsensical word. Harsh maybe, but true nonetheless.

Yes it sounds incredibly infantile and like something teenage boys would say.

To boob means to make a mistake.

Had to laugh at the idea of titting though

You can use whatever words you want! You don’t have to live your life according to e very narrow confines of what MNers find acceptable you know. Boob and be proud I say.

Someone at a group we go to refers to breastfeeding as ‘Mummyjuice’. He toddler always looked very confused. That I found pretty awful too. I think breastfeeding or feeding or milk if older works.

I use boob and boob to sleep etc and it’s not because I want to broadcast that I’m breastfeeding or that I’m a chav (quite the opposite), It’s just what I use. With strangers, work colleagues etc if the subject comes up I’ll say I’m breastfeeding. Everyone else gets boob, it seems to be the norm in my social circle. Clearly We didn’t get the Mumsnet memo when it went out.

I don't like it but don't think it's chavvy - if anything it's a supercool MC instamum type of word IMO.

When DS1 was tiny, I went to a La Leche League meeting where there were several toddlers going up to their mums saying "mummy I want booby" or just "BOOB!" Decided there and then that I was going to call it something I didn't mind him yelling in public one day!

Yes it's fucking grim

Thank you for starting this thread and I hope people who use this expression will now think twice!

Yes, it's an abomination.

And 'alot' is not a word.

When DS was tiny and ravenous, and I was exhausted to the point of hallucination and barely clinging to sanity with my fingernails, I joked that DS thought of me as Boob Lady, as that was my primary (nay, only) purpose in his eyes. DH was in charge of nighttime nappy changes, which DS objected to strenuously, therefore he was known as ‘Unhand me, you oaf’. Some may cringe... but it was a tiny glimmer of humour in what was (for me anyway) a pretty grinding time.

If it amuses you and it gets you through the insanity of having a small baby, you crack on with your boobing, or whatever you wish to term it. Bugger what other people think. It’s hard enough without worrying about them!

Haha oh I think it’s cute and so use it. Better than nursing or suckling 🤮

Reclaim the boobs!

You’re not absolutely alone! I use it (but will stop now having read the thread!) and in my NCT group which is in London and consists of doctors, magic circle lawyers etc (which might fit with a class thing or higher breastfeeding rates as a previous poster mentioned - I only now realise it’s probably odd that only 2 of our group aren’t breastfeeding at 8 months) it’s used quite a bit - more recently which might be as the babies get older (8-9 months) ‘to boob’ isn’t synonymous with milk or feeding anymore.
Lots of suckling for comfort / to settle back to sleep, often when they want the breast now it isn’t because they’re hungry / thirsty at all.
Looks like we need a new word though

@Spudlet During that exhausting and tedious phase you described I referred to myself as the lactator. And DH was the poopmeister as he dealt with the other end 🤣

Oooh, I like the lactator! I am never, ever, ever doing it again but if I did, I think I would have to steal that

Oooh I really dont like suckling 🤢

Someone at a group we go to refers to breastfeeding as ‘Mummyjuice’.

When I really want to make people cringe, I refer to it as Magic Mummy Milk

😂 go with my blessing. I’ve yo-yoed between never again and can’t wait to get started on the next one for a while now. In theory it sounds great but those early months were killer. Do it all again with a toddler too 😬

@Shahlalala exactly this! Especially with older ones boobing is not the same as feeding (might be food), milk (might be cows milk in a cup, or a bottle of formula) and ‘breastfeeding’ implies they’re actually wanting a feed and is a mouthful.
Suckling is more accurate but sometimes my DD is barely suckling, and I think suckle is a much worse word.

You need to bear in mind that you might still be feeding when your child can talk. My 2 year old will say 'I want milk mummy' I wouldn't like him to say 'I want boob' or 'boob me mummy' 🤢

No one at my work knows I breast feed .. my baby is nearly 2 and tbh they would b very judgemental I also dont feed in public which leaves us pretty confined to the house at times ... I do wish I had more confidence