DS1 (3.6) keeps trying to breastfeed his toy lamb. Ignore?

[thequietone]

It's been 6 months since his little brother was born. Not once has he mentioned my breastfeeding, or questioned it. Now, all of a sudden, he keeps trying to "feed" his Lamby!

Thats cute

Ohh, that's so sweet! I'd ignore after you have taken a picture to show his girlfriend when she comes round to visit.

When he's older I mean.

That is so sweet of him, why ignore it ?

Why ignore? talk to him about it! Mine does this, I think it's lovely.

Aah. Ds1 used to try to 'feed' his monkey

I guess I don't mean ignore, I mean get into a heavy explanation as to why he can't do it in real life (feed, that is). Boys and girls differences etc. He does look SO cute, especially since Lamby is tiny, about 2 inches long. He does it so lovingly too...

No need to ignore. My DSD often used to bf her teddies whilst I was bfing DD. She doesn't do it much any more, but has told me that she's going to give her babies mummy milk when she grows up! I think it's lovely, and is a step towards normalising bfing in a bottle-dominant society.

Xpost. I would just go with it, he probably won't think he can bf when he's older! I would just tell him it's sweet and enjoy it.

DS2 at 3 used to BF his tractor.

Ds 4 has been know to bf a very realistic model of a t-rex.

My toddler, 20 months, spent our recent weekend away pointing at my tummy and saying 'mamas baby' then puffing his tummy out, pointing to it and saying 'baby'.

He did it whenever anyone new gave him attention. i just thought it was cute.

My boy (14 months) makes me "feed" Percy the engine on whichever boob he's not latched onto

Both DS and DD breastfeed their animals sometimes (DS is 4.9, DD is 2.11). They both know that boys can't really breastfeed - I don't think you need a detailed explanation.

Definitely don't get into a heavy explanation as to why he can't do it in real life. How cute...

Beyond casually mentioning that only ladies have boobs, I can't see why you would need any heavy explanation. DD was amazed to hear that only my boobs were capable of feeding her little sister, but she took it in her stride and carried on role playing breast feeding whenever there is a baby involved in her game.

It's good that he sees BF as the normal way to feed his "baby" - let's hope it lasts till he's a daddy!

Would you bat an eyelid if he were feeding his Lamby with a bottle?

Nothing to worry about, I would say. He is just copying what he has seen, and what he knows is the way to feed babies.

Can't see any reason to engage in a huge discussion with him about it either ...

oh please just enjoy it
it's sweet and lovely and just a game

It's lovely, DS (2.1) has been doing this a lot recently, there's a lot of tiny babes round our way atm.

Why choose that one thing to pick up on though? Surely kids of this age do all sorts of make-believe things that they can't do in real life?! eg. DD (5.5) keeps talking about how she's going to marry me when she's older ("because, like you told me Mummy - ladies can marry other ladies, can't they?") I am quite confident that by the time she gets to the marrying age she'll have realised that daughters don't marry their mothers, just as by the time your son grows up and has children he'll realise that he can't breastfeed them! Also, if I were you I'd be positively proud that he is choosing to breastfeed his toys and not choosing to formula feed them

I think its harmless having a small boy pretending to breastfeed a lamb. Just think how supportive he will be to his wife if she chooses to breastfeed.

At least he is giving his toy lamb the best start in life. Would you have posted if he was pretending to bottlefeed his toy?

that's lovely

neither of mine bother to bf their toys... they just shove them up to my boobs for me to do it

i doubt you'd be bothered if he was pretending to bottle feed the lamb so why does it bother you him trying to bf it?

Oh that's so sweet. why bother having any discussions about it? he's copying what he's seen, and what is normal to him. Just let him get on with it. Agree you should take some pics though to embarass him when he's older!

Oh that's so sweet. why bother having any discussions about it? he's copying what he's seen, and what is normal to him. Just let him get on with it. Agree you should take some pics though to embarass him when he's older!

oops sorry!