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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Anyone experienced older child wanting to breastfeed again once baby arrived?

13 replies

Thinkstoomuch · 27/01/2008 19:52

My DS (now 2.7) was a pretty keen breastfeeder and we kept going until 17 months when he naturally trailed off. But he's still pretty interested in boobs and has even made the odd attempt to latch on when I'm getting dressed and I'm down on the floor or something. He hasn't really done this recently but I'm wondering if when baby arrives (about three weeks) he's going to want to have a go.

I'm not appalled by the idea or anything, but I really don't plan to be feeding him and the new baby.

Anyone got experience of this? Is he likely to try and, if he does, how should I handle it?

OP posts:

deaconblue · 27/01/2008 20:28

my friend had this when her dd1 was 3 and new baby arrived. DD1 used to lay her head on breast feeding pillow and say me too when she was feeding dd2. She just said that it was just baby milk and big girls had juice instead, her daughter was fine with that explanation. I think they are bound to find breast feeding fascinating and am expecting ds to have a renewed interest too when I have my new baby in May

JingleyJen · 27/01/2008 20:32

DS1 was really interested when DS2 was born I offered him some boobie. he said yes but the first suck and he was off! Uh I don't have boobie milk I have cows milk.
And then proceeded to breastfeed tigger himself each time I fed DS2 (lifting Tshirt and holding tigger to his nipple)

It will be ok if you are happy to - offer it and see what happens

suzi2 · 27/01/2008 20:32

I was partially hoping that my DS would take renewed interest in feeding when DD was born as he won't take any other dairy in his diet. He was offered a lot but refused. Nowadays he says that milk is for babies. I would go with the milk is for babies line if you have to.

DS did used to breastfeed his teddy while I fed DD though and that kept him involved. Nowadays he's lazy and sticks teddy up MY t-shirt for a feed. Typical bloke...!

Ledodgy · 27/01/2008 20:37

I gave my 2 year old ds a go last week but he bit my nipple so won't be trying that one again! However I have been spiking his cup of milk with breast milk for the last week as he hasn't been well and I thought it would give him a bit of a boost.

mybabywakesupsinging · 28/01/2008 00:25

ds1 asked once but tended to bf his toy elephant instead. I told him bf was for babies and he had a nice cup of milk (he has too many teeth to go near my breasts these days ) When I tried to give ds2 some ebm he nicked it and polished it off, obviously not liking it but determined to drink it anyway.

frisbyrat · 28/01/2008 06:27

I found the same as JJ - although my dd weaned at about 18 months, she wanted to have bm when the new baby came along, and she was nearly three at the time. She's tried it a few times, but is not keen on the taste and, interesting, seems to have lost the knack of the latch anyway.

broguemum · 28/01/2008 07:33

Yep, my 4 yo DD asked to BF when her little brother arrived. I wasn't prepared for it but I said that there was none left at the moment, your greedy little brother has eaten it all. She accepted that and has now taken up BFing her toys instead.

aGalChangedHerName · 28/01/2008 07:40

My dd did want to have some milkies too when her sister arrived and i wasn't sure how to handle it either. I posted a thread and i think it was Moondog who said why not let her?

So i did and she had the odd feed after her sister was finished,she now asks occasionally and i am fine with it.

broguemum · 28/01/2008 08:03

Hi there aGalChangedHerName. I was tempted to let DD have a sip but she is 4.5 yo and has lots of TEETH. I wasn't brave enough... You are much braver than me!

liath · 28/01/2008 09:44

Dd asked to Bf too, which surprised me as I'd stopped BF her at 6 weeks. I felt very odd about it but I let her have a go as I didn't want to make her feel jealous of the baby. She just nuzzled a bit and hasn't asked again. She likes to play at BF her baby Annabel and often when I'm feeding ds she'll lie up alongside him and tell me she's pretending to be a little baby .

aGalChangedHerName · 28/01/2008 13:54

Lol Broguemum dd1 had loads of teeth too but i just closed my eyes and hoped for the best!! She doesn't actually do a really strong latch tbh,it's more of a gentle mouthing thing and then goes off again.

Has only asked once in the last two weeks so i think it'll stop fairly soon.

MamaMaiasaura · 28/01/2008 14:46

ds1 (7 years) wanted to try breastmilk when ds2 (4 weeks old) came home. I expressed some off in a cup as I said that him mouth wasnt the right shape anymore to breastfeed having adult teeth etc. He tried a sip, said yuck and didnt want anymore. He did however bresatfeed his teddy a few times, that has stopped too. Now his teddy has a babygro

Original poster

Thinkstoomuch · 28/01/2008 19:57

Thanks all. I think if he asks I might try gently saying that booby milk is for little babies and how lucky he is being a big boy that can have juice and water and cups of milk. Then, if he's really keen and it looks like becoming an issue, I could let him try a bit, crossing my fingers that 1) he doesn't bite and 2) that it'll just be a one-off.

OP posts:

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