Reactions of siblings and other young children to breastfeeding?

[waitingtobloom]

Just got this idea from the other thread on amusing things other people have said about breastfeeding. What do your older children think about you breastfeeding if you have them? Other children?

I have spent a lot of time with toddlers pressed right up against a feeding child watching intently lol - I always think its very sweet and try to answer questions. Ended up giving a four year old a very informative lesson on it the other day including why, how, when etc.

Thought my DS (2.3) would be jealous but he loves watching DD. Has called my one breast "baby breakfast" and the other breast "baby more breakfast". When she has had one side he asks her if she wants more and tries to unclip the other side of my bra. He also tries to latch her on for me by grabbing the back of her head and forcing her on - bit like dodgy midwives at the hospital lol.

Aww your DS sounds very sweet!

My youngest sister is only 6 and is absolutely fascinated my the whole process. My mum started off telling her to leave me alone when I was feeding DD- told her it was private. But being a typical 6 year old this only made her more interested

I didn't mind talking to her about it, I agree it is really sweet, and like the idea that it seems normal and natural to her. The first time she watched me feed DD she watched quietly for a bit and then said very solemnly "is it milk coming from there" ... once I said yes a cascade of questions followed... will it run out, does it hurt, is it warm , does the baby like it? etc etc.

Now when I feed DD she is very knowledgeable and its..."that will never run out... and it doesn't hurt... baby loves it doesn't she etc"- on loop

My niece is fascinated by my breastfeeding DD.
In fact, after spending a weekend with us, she went to nursery, whipped up her top and put her dolly to her chest, telling the workers that baby was having milk.
lol

My DS1 was 2.5 when his brother was born. I told him all about mummy milk and what breasts were for. I thought it was important he saw it was normal.

Ds was 22 months when dd was born and never took notice of me breastfeeding her.

When dear friend's dd was born my dd was around 18 months and copied her, breast feeding her dolls.

My nieces(4.5 and 23mo) were both bottle fed from birth, the older one was absolutely entranced by the sight of me bfing newborn ds, though she kept asking me when he was going to have a bottle, as she didn't understand what I was doing until I explained how my boobies were making milk for the baby, she just hadn't had any exposure to bfing as my Dh comes from a bottle feeding family - his 2 cousins also bottlefed from birth, and so were dh, his brother and most of his cousins.
Now she doesn't take any notice because she is used to it, I guess! Her dad's gf was until recently bfeeding her nearly 3 yo so I guess she now sees it as pretty normal.
I also went to Spain last month to see my family, and my cousin's son, who is 5 was also fascinated by my bfing ds - he sat next to me watching intently.

My DS was 2.8 yrs when DD was born. He didn't seem at all bothered by bfing. In fact he got his own dolly, sat in his rocking chair and stuffed dolly up his jumper saying she was hungry [ahh emoticon]

DD1 is very interested and I'm trying to wean her out of the habit of pulling DD2's head back so that she can see the milk. Funnily enough DD2 isn't so fond of that! She asked to try some of the milk too, so I expressed a bit for her. But she seems quite content with cows milk for her and "mummy milk" for DD2.

My dd is 2.2 d sticks her dolly up her dress to bf it, then rubs its back to wind it!

Whenever her little sister cries, she tells me, 'mummy, Iddie (Lydia) boo boo milk'

My youngest ds obviously doesn't remember being BF - but knows it is what women's breasts are for (dh doesn't quite see it that way!). Yesterday we were watching a nature programme where an animal was feeding it's baby and he got all excited, pulling up his top to show me that they do it the same as us!
I think he was a bit disappointed to find out that boys can't BF!