8 year old & breastfeeding

[Boobi]

NC as it could be quite contentious...

I've had my baby 6 months ago and I breastfeed. A couple of times when my 8 year old DN has been over she has said & done a couple of things which make me uneasy.

I'm a ftm and obv not used to breastfeeding, but feel very comfortable in my own home around family, so am quite open about it.

DN keeps trying to kiss DS on the cheek while he is latched on and I gently asked her not to while he is busy. She did this on a few visits.

Another time she was pretending to be DS and jumped on my lap in a breastfeeding position and actually bit my boob!

Before her sibling arrived DN has asked if she can have some milk, which I have said no to which she questioned and told me "mummy's going to let me".

DSIL (DN mum) has just had her second baby a week ago and has been in hospital.
Yesterday DN said she couldn't wait to see her so she can have more "booby milk".

Now I understand being curious and trying a bit, but honestly I think she's meaning full on breastfeeding.

It's not my plan, but I can also understand if she has been continuously breastfeed for 8 years, but the fact she's been weaned for around 5/6 years, the thought of her breastfeeding again makes me really uneasy.

I'm not overly close to DSIL but I could imagine she would breastfeed her older DC if that's what DC wanted.

I will try to find out weather she has just tried some, is drinking expressed milk regularly or is actually drinking from the breast.

What do you think?

YABU - it's her child and breastfeeding is perfectly natural at any age & stage.

YANBU - Yuck, it's not right to breastfeed a child who has been weaned for over 5 years.

'But I doubt he's going to say boobie before 2 year old'

He could well say it before he's 1!

It is if the kid is so messed up she’s biting OP’s breast, fgs

I could be completely wrong here, but it feels to me like your niece is crying out for attention and is infantilising herself in order to get some. Has she gone from being the centre of her mum’s universe and also getting lots of attention from you to getting largely ignored perhaps?

I’m still breastfeeding my almost 2.5yr old, nothing weird or gross about it at all! (he eats like a horse but that’s not what the breastfeeding is about now, it’s more comfort and routine probably). Also, he doesn’t “hang off my tit” or ask for “boobie”

He's 3 months from being 1. He only really says mama dadda and baba. I don't think he's going to say it before then. Probably after 1.

Each to their own i suppose. But I'll be happy if I do manage to breastfeed till he's 2 he might stop before then. Tbf I want him to have a good immune system. being poorly helps builds it up.

Build*

She probably wasn't expecting her niece to ignore it but to just not bite her breast. Seems a reasonable expectation to me.

Children can say/do weird things. My six year old is asking lots of questions about death at the moment which someone without children might find very strange. I would bring it up in a lighthearted way with SIL and see what she says. You don't know that she's actually planning on breastfeeding her again.

Having said that, an 8 year old should know not to bite people.

I don't think there's anything to be concerned about here. I breastfed my son till he was 4 and a half when he decided he didn't want any more. Half a year later, he wanted a try but couldn't get anything out, so I doubt SIL is about to start breastfeeding her 8 year old again.

Your niece might want to get some of the attention that she sees the baby getting - it must seem nice to be a baby and get lots of lovely warm cuddles from mummy! No wonder she wants a go!

And to those posters who think breastfeeding past 2 is weird and something to be concerned about (social services?!) - yawn, move on, nothing to see here

The antibodies from breastfeeding are brilliant for building a healthy immune system!
you’re right he may stop before then anyway. My little girl self weaned at 13 months…literally just started refusing practically overnight 🤷🏻‍♀️ they’re ready when they’re ready, I suppose!

I think it’s nothing to do with you. And definitely not us.

And your opinion is wrong.

Maybe the 8 year old doesn't know all the "rules" of life yet?

You put food in front of me, I'm eating it! An 8 year old, definitely so.

I don't need vegetables but still a lot healthier and better for me to eat them!

That's great 👍

And that's your opinion.

It is going to be a sad day when it's the last feed. I still feed him ever 2 hours even tho he can go longer in between. Like to give him as much as possible. He was poorly one time and just for a day I know it was down to the 12 feeds a day. He's a boobie monster.

I would assert my own boundaries but mind my own in regards to what SIL chooses to do

It's ridiculous if she is!

I really don’t think your typical 8 year old sees her auntie’s breasts as ‘food’.

I breastfed my son till he was 4 and a half when he decided he didn't want any more. Half a year later, he wanted a try but couldn't get anything out

Why did you even let him try?! I can’t imagine how weird and awkward it is to get your boob out to a 5 year old and encourage them to ‘latch on’. If he remembers that he will have some serious questions further down the line.

Plus has anyone else noticed that bar the niece it always seems to be boys that mums do very extended bfing with? Or is it just me? You get the odd girl but it always seems to be boys.

Definitely just you. Please don’t make out there’s something weird or sexual about feeding a child.

I didn’t say anything about it being sexual?