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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Seven year old wants to try breastfeeding

14 replies

PrettyCandles · 25/01/2008 14:22

Ds1 was 6 when ds2 was born (and dd was nearly 4, but she doesn't come into this). I've always been completely open regarding breastfeeding, and the LOs were welcome to watch, touch, or even taste if they wanted. Ds1 did taste a drop off my finger once, and later had another taste by licking a drop from my nipple. Several months ago he wanted to try feeding, so I let him, but he didn't manage to get anything out. He was a bit disappointed, but I explained that humans are designed to breastfeed for somewhere between 5 and 7 years, so the fact that he couldn't get any milk out meant that he had passed the end of the breastfeeding age. He accepted this.

Now he wants to try feeding again, and doesn't accept my explaination. I don't feel comfortable with the idea of letting him 'breastfeed' from me.

Am I being a prude? Am I being a bit too hung up about this? We're all very relaxed at home regarding bodies, nudity and so on, but I feel I ought to draw the line here.

What do you think?

OP posts:

SnappyLaGore · 25/01/2008 14:26

i dont reckon im a prude either, but i dont think id be comfortable with it tbh.

if you dont want to, you can say you dont want to. its your body afterall.

dustystar · 25/01/2008 14:26

I think you should do whatever you feel comfortable with. He might not like being told that he can't do it but its not going to do him any harm.

harpsichordcarrier · 25/01/2008 14:28

no, you are being a prude, I think this is a pretty good place to draw the line. if you feel uncomfortable, then don't feel you have to ignore this.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 25/01/2008 14:28

My then 4 year old wanted to feed when I had the baby but I said no.

katwith3kittens · 25/01/2008 14:29

My boys are exactly the same age as yours, and yes, my DS1 has asked the same questions... maybe thats boys for you ?

I wasn't really comfortable with the idea and said that he had had his turn when he was little.

He was very insistent for a week or so but tbh, the curiosity has passed now and he no longer asks.

I would do what you feel most comfortable with.

littleboo · 25/01/2008 14:30

I think you just have to say no. I don't think IMO it would be appropriate to let a 7 year old try out breat feeding - i wouldn't be comfortable with that.

lucy5 · 25/01/2008 14:36

DD [7] asked when i had ds [1]. I told her I would express some in a cup for her. I never did, although occasionally she asks for a bottle, which I also don't give her. Could he be feeling a little insecure?

ConnieDescending · 25/01/2008 14:39

eeek

must say I'm amazed you let him try in the first place.

just say no

WanderingTrolley · 25/01/2008 14:40

If you're not comfortable with it, I think it's fine not to let him. You're not a prude.

Can you point out to him the things he's now too big for - pushchair, sling, highchair - and say that breastfeeding is just another one?

Original poster

PrettyCandles · 25/01/2008 14:43

Thanks for your responses. A simple issue, but I was getting a bit bogged-down in it.

I don't think he's feeling insecure, Lucy, I think he is genuinely curious. He does like his cuddles, and probably wants to experience this different form of cuddling.

I like cuddling him, too, , but I do wish he'd leave my boobs alone sometimes! That's the other thing - since wanting to try bfing, he keeps fiddling with my boobs, and I've had to explain that boobs are like testicles: they hurt if you are rough with them.

I'm 99.99% certain there's nothing sexual in this, but it can't help crossign my mind... But I'm sure it's too early, isn't it?

OP posts:

Blandmum · 25/01/2008 14:47

Insecurity? feeling a little 'put out' by the baby?

I'd deal with it in the same was as if he'd asked to go back in nappies, 'Oh but you are a big boy, and have lots of big boy games to play etc'

Don't think you are being prude, but if he can't feed, at 7, isn#'t that natures way of saying he's gone past that phase in his life?

SnappyLaGore · 25/01/2008 14:58

nah, it wont be sexual, just curiosity. maybe sensual, but sexual? i doubt it.

having said that, my then 6yo dss was making some pretty sexual sounding requests of a friend a while back. it was a bit of a phase, and i doubt he could really understand what he was asking... but his permanent hard on sort of indicated that he was experiencing some pretty intense hormones at the time... like i say, i think its just urges and drives rather than developed sexual thoughts and desires.

none of which is relevent to you and your ds, no doubt

Zazette · 25/01/2008 15:04

Curiosity, I'm sure - when my (then) 6 year old dd saw my sister breastfeeding her new daughter, she reminisced about being breastfed (which stopped when she was 14 months, so I doubt that she really remembers) and asked me if I would let her have a breastfeed again. I gave her the same explanation as you, and she accepted it, with some reluctance!

dinny · 25/01/2008 15:08

Not a big issue - just say no, it's not cruel of you! Would be the same, as someone has said, if he wanted to return to nappies or something.

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