comfort feeding? is it a problem?

[Fuchsia!]

Just going off another thread about rewarding behaviour with food and it got me thinking that when i give cooper and comfort feed is this going to set him up with a bad relationship with food? Will it turn habit forming?

Cause if he bumps his head or if he's upset i like to offer him booby cause it makes him feel better and comforted. So does this become habit forming?

What are your thought?

[stellarella]

BFing is totally different to offering lollies when a child is 'good'.

For one, BM is extremely healthy and is very nutritious. Lollies, maccas, chocolate is not.

Secondly, BFing is not just about food it is also about a cuddle and being close to mum and demonstrating love and nurturing whereas reward food is solely about having something you really shouldnt. Its like a bribe almost.

BFing is a unique situation and I wouldnt include it in discussions about food as a reward. :)

[the_queen]

I agree with the ever-wise Stellarella :yes:

[Fuchsia!]

that's what i thought too. But i mean he really really likes it so really it is a treat for him so how will he know the difference? Does that makes sense?

And i mean a baby doesn't know if its nutritious or not.

Don't get me wrong i agree with you though:)
just like to kinda discuss it

[AM]

Breastfeeding is the whole package, nutrition, comfort, security etc, and it is all associated with MUM, not with a piece of food, so it is really attaching your bub to YOU, not to breastmilk. It is a GOOD thing!! :) It is actually important for their emotional wellbeing.

[stellarella]

I know he really really likes it :) , but its not a treat to him, it is his food, comfort and love and his birth right and he is biologically designed to have it iykwim. So it is just normal and an every day thing to him, not a treat at all.

If someone uses lentil soup as a reward for their kids then great!!!! but the whole point of reward food in general is that it is 'naughty' food and it starts a whole cycle of naughty foods and good foods and over eating, binging, guilt etc etc.

One of my rewards might be allowing Oscar to choose the families meal for the night (out of range of healthy choices) but it wouldnt be KFC or Maccas. It would be allowing him to be involved in the family meal and more of a "you are so grown up and have shown yourself to be a big boy so lets share the responsibilty of making the families meal" iykwim. Not, you have been good so you can have KFC or lollies.

[Fuchsia!]

yep totally get it now! Phew! well he can keep on getting his beloved booby feeds then! I like it too! its really cute! He bumps his head and then he looks straight at my boobs! Its funny! I am guilty of using lollipops as a reward for jaxon when he cleans his room so now i will stop doing that.

[KatiesMum]

Also - there is a big difference between food rewards as a treat for a 2 - 10 year old and offering a bf (comfort love and support) to a baby.

If you were offering booby to Jaxon there may be a problem - Coop is still a baby and needs to be comforted......

[AM]

My 3 and a half year old still has boobie for comfort, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.:thumbsup:

[sja]

I would think it'd be more the sucking that comforts him than the milk. I don't think it's any different from how my kids run to me when they're hurt so that I can kiss them better.

[KatiesMum]

My 3 and a half year old still has boobie for comfort, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.:thumbsup:

and to you I say :yelclap: but not too many manage tandem bf for that long ......

my point was for Jaxcoop - comfort feeding bubby at that age would not be a problem

[AM]

Cool, I just wanted to point out that there are mums out there who DO comfort feed older children (6 is the oldest I personally know), and it IS a very natural normal process. :)

[bel_aiden]

:no: no problem at all no matter what the childs age! im glad i know that a lil b@@by will fix ds1 ouchy, so quik, easy and convenient :)