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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Expressing in front of older children?

19 replies

twiglett · 10/06/2004 10:17

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OP posts:
Clayhead · 10/06/2004 10:20

I just did it in front of dd, who was about 2 at the time, she was fascinated. Personally I can't think of a reason why older children shouldn't see it, it's just part and parcel of life isn't it? I would imagine he'd just get used to seeing you do it, if that's what you decide to do.

elliott · 10/06/2004 10:31

I did it with ds1 (aged 2) - he added 'breast pump' to his vocab but otherwise wasn't particularly phased - just interested in the way he is interested in everything. But then I wasn't particularly bothered about him seeing me so there wasn't any problem.

motherinferior · 10/06/2004 10:36

I did

secur · 10/06/2004 10:42

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GeorginaA · 10/06/2004 11:48

I do it in front of ds (3). He's fascinated and wants a go himself Tried to explain it probably wouldn't be a good idea and that little boys don't have the necessary parts, but I'm sure he thinks I'm doing him out of something fun...

throckenholt · 10/06/2004 12:28

I did it all the time in front of my 18 month old (he was 2.25 when I stopped) - he was interested sometimes and not others. I think it helped him understand what is going on.

I also did it once of twice in front of my nephews - probably 5 and 6 at the time. They were interested for a couple of minutes but soon got bored !

Bozza · 10/06/2004 12:31

Do it in front of DS and he's virtually exactly the same age as yours Twiglett. He asked me what I was doing and I said that I was just getting some milk to put in DD's bottle which he accepted.

Actually at first I think he was expecting DD to take a bottle because I'd explained that babies couldn't eat and only drank milk. Also although he's seen friends breastfeeding I think they've been so discreet he's not registered what was happening so I think the actual bresatfeeding was more novel to him.

Metrobaby · 10/06/2004 12:32

I do in front of my 3.5yr dd. Sometimes she wants to help by holding it but most of the times she ignores it. Although last night she said 'mummy you're like a cow'

Was however actutely embarrassed this morning when my cleaner walked in on me doing it!

pesme · 10/06/2004 12:37

I am contemplating doing it in front of my work collegues if I am still feeding when I go back to work. That should be a laugh and a half!

Pidge · 10/06/2004 13:10

I expressed in front of all sorts of people - parents, parents in law, my friends, partner's friends, brother and brother in law!! Didn't have an older child then, but next time round I would have no problems expressing in front of my dd. I did feel a bit embarassed in front of adults ... am kind of mortified about it now I think of it, but at the time I just needed to fit in my evening expressing to top up the supplies in my freezer for when dd was at nursery, so I just got on with it.

susanmt · 10/06/2004 13:34

I never did it in front of another adult except my dh adn my Gran! But the older kids have watched me express and I once caught dd with the breast pump doing her best on herself! I explained she's have to wait until she had her own baby before she'd get very far, and she was very disappointed!

prufrock · 10/06/2004 13:55

dd (2) has got the hang of pumping for me - she even holds the handle down until the stream stops- so all I have to do is hold it to my breast

poppyseed · 10/06/2004 14:04

DD was nearly 4 when I tried it. She was mesmerised by the whole affair and wanted to 'squirt mummy's booby to see the milk'!! I wouldn't have done it in front of anybody else though, except DH of course.

Tommy · 10/06/2004 14:23

Prufrock - my DS1 did that for me too! he pushed the handle thingy so he could help. He also told me I was like a cow - that's the last time I take him on an outing to a farm

champs · 10/06/2004 17:02

ds1 who is 6 is very interested in the pump and asked to pump the milk out!! Have only used pump in front of dh tho and hand expressed in front of my mum when needed some for ds2 cereal.
would be embarrases to express infront of others cos i have to take my whole boob out (quite blessed in the breast dept)and sqeeze it in an odd position.

zaphod · 10/06/2004 22:59

I have always done it in front of children. Ds1 is 10, dd is 8, ds2 is 6, ds3 is 2. None of them think/thought it is/was a big deal, just a natural consequence of having to go to work, and leave milk for the baby. Ds3 is always getting the pump and pretending to express.

JulieF · 11/06/2004 00:47

DD aged 2 and a half was fascinated when I first started expressing (had to do it exclusively for the 1st month.)

She does her best to help but hasn't quite got the knack of pumping hard enough yet so I usually let her have 2 or 3 pumps before saying mummy do it now.

She looks at the milk coming out and says Ds's name milk.

Ghosty · 11/06/2004 01:58

I express in front of DS who is 4.5 .
I don't feel embarrassed at all. He is interested in that usually says, "Can I have a go?" and he does a couple of pumps and then he wonders off to do something else ... in fact he likes it when I pump because he gets to go on the computer then ... (so I can do it in peace).
I have never ever dreamed of doing it in private ... and because it isn't an issue with me it isn't an issue with DS.
Having said all of that I would never pump in front of anyone but DH and DS (and my parents when they were here).

hercules · 12/06/2004 09:18

i express in front of ds (8) and he glanced at first but finds the tv far more interesting. To him it is just part and parcel of mummy going to work.

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