Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

4yo boob obsession

3 replies

BigWhiteRabbit · 09/01/2022 20:17

My 4yo son was breastfed up to 16 months. We bed shared up until about 3 years old. I think my boobs and specifically my nipples are his comfort. I've heard of some young babies having to twiddle on hair or ears but nipples is just not sustainable. I hate it. So over the years I've tried most tactics from being firm and kind to gentle slaps to shouting stop it angrily...I'm not proud of that but when I've said to him then million it's sometimes my only way. I'm now also breastfeeding my baby. My 4yo will always come over and sneakily try and touch my njpple. I know it's a comfort thing but how can I make it stop? I feel like my way of handling this has been all v wrong and I've messed him up and is developing a weird sneakiness to trying to touch my boobs. I'm at a loss. Do.i just need to continue the firm but kind approach knowing that one day it'll stop? I'm scared he's developing dodgy habits of the future ..... probably not but my anxiety doesn't help these thoughts. Has anyone had this experience? I feel like I destroy him a little bit each time I say no.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
JohnLapsleyParlabane · 09/01/2022 20:23

How do you say no? I have had similar with my now 6yo and my younger one who is almost 3.
I have had more success saying "this is my body, I make choices about it. I don't choose to let you do that right now" than just a flat "no" or "don't touch".

BigWhiteRabbit · 09/01/2022 20:52

Thanks JohnLapsleyParlanane. On normal occasions I'll perhaps say a firm no of please don't do that it doesn't make me feel good. I will try your sentence to see if it helps. I'm not sure any of this is premeditated on his part which makes me feel guilty. I hope my 6month old isn't the same!

OP posts:
littleselda · 09/01/2022 21:13

It's hard op, DS was the same with me
I have to say, stop I don't like very firmly and move his hand away many many times before he got it.
Also I could predict when he was likely to do it and preemptively put my hand on my boobs to prevent him from doing it

New posts on this thread. Refresh page