does that need explaining? She keeps asking me if she can feed the baby and tries putting on my breast pads. I know she's just trying to help and a little curious about everything, but how can I stop this? or what do I do?
2007-07-05 07:39:51 · 14 answers · asked by thezookeeper 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Sounds kind of weird, but I guess I never thought of it as an okay thing to do.... thanks to you all. I feel a lot better about this.
2007-07-05 07:59:07 · update #1
Completely natural and normal. Feel relieved in the fact that she is learning POSITIVE mothering by wanting to nurse and help.
My 2 younger ones threw out their toy bottles when they saw me nursing their baby brother. My two elder ones and they walk around 'nursing' their baby dolls. Encourage her to nurse 'her' baby while you nurse yours.
You can also tell her that, when she gets to be bigger, her breasts will get bigger so that she can nurse her baby, but right now her breasts are little girl breasts and she has no food for her sister.
It is a beautiful thing, encourage her 'healthily' without discouraging her interest.
2007-07-05 08:03:15 · answer #1 · answered by Nicole D 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not a bad thing, and she will stop on her own. It just means that she has a strong maternal streak and when she is old enough to have the baby on her lap for a period of time, maybe she would like to feed the baby with bottled breast milk under supervision. My niece is 2.5 yrs and she has twin brother and sister who are 7 mos old. She always likes to hold their bottles and she even has a baby doll that she carries and pretends to feed while her mom is feeding the twins. maybe you can give her a specific task while you are breastfeeding, like getting a burp rag or binky for after.
2007-07-05 07:46:34 · answer #2 · answered by Malina 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I see where you're coming from. That might disturb me a little at first too, but when you think about it, it's really no big deal. Children imitate what they see others doing; it's how they learn. The first poster asked if you have explained to your daughter about how milk is produced, etc. That's a good question! I don't think you need to go into great detail, but you can explain that mommies make milk to feed their babies because they are too little to feed themselves. Next time your daughter "nurses" a toy, ask her to sit next to you and say, "You're feeding your baby, just like mommy!" I bet she will get bored with it quickly and be off to something else.
Try not to worry. I think it sounds totally normal...just like when little kids put beach balls under their shirts to look like they're pregnant! Just imitation; that's all it is.
2007-07-05 07:49:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not my child, but I wouldn't feel the need to stop this. She wants to be involved in this bonding between you and the new baby and is trying to reach out. Mimicking is an important part of child development and I would be thrilled if my child could do this (he has autism and imitating is not something he does). I read a La Leche page that suggested asking her if she wants to nurse (hopefully she won't....lol) just to have her involved. You could get her a doll with a bottle, etc.... I think she sounds very sweet.
2007-07-05 07:46:28 · answer #4 · answered by VANESSMC99 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why stop her wanting to mimick Mommy doing something perfectly natural? That's how our children learn to become parents someday, themselves, they learn it from us!
As far as explaining, just tell her that nursing the baby is something that only a Mommy can do, because only a Mommy has the special milk that the baby needs. She'll understand!
2007-07-09 06:59:16 · answer #5 · answered by nightynightnurse 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh goodness that brings back memories. My girls are grown now but they both pretended to breast feed their dollys. Just tell her to feed her own baby and you will feed yours. It doesnt hurt anything and shes learning how to be a good mommy.
If it really bothers you the only way to stop it is to quit breast feeding in front of her which is usually not an option for most Moms.
2007-07-05 07:44:53 · answer #6 · answered by elaeblue 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why would you want her to stop? She learns how to grow up by imitating you and it starts here. Give her a baby doll to nurse while you are nursing your baby. Let her change the baby's diapers and rub her baby's back to put it to sleep. Wrap her 'baby' in her own favorite blanket and tie it in a sling around her body. Then when she is bored she can run around with trucks or build towers or color or whatever.
2007-07-05 07:47:05 · answer #7 · answered by Meghan H 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would tell her that she can't feed her sister right now but maybe when her sister is older. In a couple months, try pumping and feeding through a bottle occasionally, and let the big girl help. She'll love it.
2007-07-05 07:57:10 · answer #8 · answered by Violet 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My four year-old son did that when I brought his brother home. Let her nurse her dolls or toys. Don't discourage her unless you don't want her to nurse your grandkids. It'll get old after a while, especially if you show her what she can do now to help you.
Enjoy this; all too soon she won't want to do anything like what you're doing.
2007-07-05 07:43:55 · answer #9 · answered by Sarah C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's perfectly fine :-) My daughter did the same thing when she saw my sister feeding her daughter...but she'd put her baby doll at her belly button! It was sooooo funny.
2007-07-05 08:09:44 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋