Breastfeeding a toddler. . .

[Bucket_85]

Hi,

I have a 3 and a half year old son and a 4 week old daughter. My son is very jealous of the new baby. I am managing to breastfeed my daughter (I couldn't with my son) . Anyway what I would like to know is - I think it would be lovely to try and breastfeed my son at the same time so I could have one on each breast. I've discussed it with my husband, he thinks it's a great idea because it would be quality time with them both. Obviously I wouldn't breastfeed my son during the night but maybe a couple of times during the day. I've mentioned it to my sister who said it was a terrible idea (she said I'd be like Daisy the cow) and that 3 year olds don't need breast milk.

I can see where she's coming from BUT surely all my nutrients wouldn't harm him, if anything they'd be good for him? I am thinking of trying it tomorrow

[Bucket_85]

Thanks for all your opinions, have decided that I won't start something that isn't necessary. It's just that my son is being a nightmare at the moment.
Also, a friend told me about the Jo Frost programme on the other night and she said that 3 year olds don't need a bottle etc etc. Thanks again ladies

[suzie1]

Phew.................................im sweating buckets here

[puzzled54]

Actually I think you are feeling guilty that you were not able to feed your son when he was a baby, but it's not really a good idea to try it now. He'll want to do the same things with you that you were doing before the baby was born (playgroup? painting? dominoes?) and not doing 'baby ' things. If he wants to try baby milk, let him taste a drop from your finger.

[brenda]

OMG.-- he'll end up with a complex when older --- he'll bite every breast he sees.!!!!!!

[RJUKL]

The way a new baby learns to draw milk from the breast is with a movement of their lower jaw combined with sucking and swallowing. It is possible to continue after teeth begin to come although a few accidental bites may occur when the first teeth start to come through. But a three year old would not how to "milk" your breasts in the same way as your baby as your little boy has learned to drink from a vessel which flows and does not have to be kneaded.

[IggyB]

surely it would be better for the whole family if you treated your oldest child as a "big boy" whose little sister needed him to help look after her rather than to treat them both as babies and double your workload