Super booby boy

**Boobycino** · 28-11-2009 08:10

I'm wondering at what age would a super booby baby start to 'grow out of' just wanting to casually feed during the day?

Jasper's just turned 1, so I'm not at all stressed about him feeding like this right now and he's clever enough that he's worked out he can come up to me and feed any time he wants during the day at home, but not so much when we're out and about. Cos I work with him doing childcare I do sometimes if I think he's going to want to feed swap with one of the other girls so that I'm not working directly with him - and once the temptation is gone he's fine without it.

Its purely a comfort thing, its a bonding thing, like this morning he ate his breakfast and then climbed up onto the couch with me, slipped into my lap and pulled at my top (he's not particularly subtle!!!)

I just wonder though, obviously he wont be doing this when he's 3 years old, I'm wondering what age other bubbies started to not want booby time just for comfort and cuddles?

**Gabi** · 28-11-2009 09:23

Ooh this is a good question. Your DS sounds adorable.

**Mrs Nietzsche** · 28-11-2009 09:42

Well my daughter never really did. I fed her til she was nearly 4... I was working fulltime etc and she was in daycare so she was going without it obviously. But I was the one who really discouraged her I guess... as you say from doing it when out and about (after she was about 20 months I think as I was embarassed pretty much). She dropped off naturally a lot by herself due to being interested in other things but really I nudged her in that direction.

DS is doing the same thing now, especially if I am wearing a towel or a sarong or something or feeding the baby... it's a bit of out of sight out of mind. He doesn't do it when we are out but when I pick him up from daycare first thing he does it start tapping my boobs and saying 'bibby bibby'. No hello mum or anything of course. Straight for the boobs.

eta when I finally did wean her it was very easy to just have cuddles instead... she didn't protest it was quite a natural thing but it was me nudging her that way (just not letting her pull my top up but letting her rest her head against my chest while I stroked her hair etc)

**Opinionated** · 28-11-2009 09:52

I have a 2.5 year old who is still breastfeeding. It has ebbed and flowed. When the molars were coming in, the feeding went way up. Partially that was for comfort, but partly her mouth was so sore she wasn't eating a lot. Most of the time we only have one or 2 feeds a day at the most, but if she is feeling insecure or upset she will ask for booby and then just latch on suck twice and latch off.

She has been in family day care a couple of times a week for 2 months now and has just started to occasionally ask the carer for booby. Her carer takes this as an indication that she needs a bit of a cuddle and some extra attention.

**Hollywood** · 28-11-2009 12:03

Originally Posted by chel87

I just wonder though, obviously he wont be doing this when he's 3 years old

you never know!! DS will be 3 in Feb and still likes a little comfort feed even though he's just eaten

I guess they're all different, but if we're just bumming around at home, DS feeds throughout the day because the opportunity is there, sometimes even hourly or 2 hourly if I let him (like if I'm not doing much anyway and am happy to sit down). Yet if we're out and about he can go from morning til night without any, quite happily.

**Boobycino** · 29-11-2009 06:10

Tysons Mummy - thats like Jasper, if we're bumming around at home he could have 5-10 quick feeds, but if we're busy he might only have 2-3 big feeds. (not including the all-night-feeding

)

Its very cute/sad/embarressing though when we are out and he just wants to feed for the sake of feeding and I'm busy, or talking, or whatever he'll throw a full on tantrum, he'll hit the floor crying, or he'll try to burrow his way into the boobs while crying. It seems so strange because when we're out he's such a 'big boy', he wants to walk by himself (he gets frustrated because I insist on holding his hand), he 'talks' to everyone, I dress him like a big boy, he just seems to be 1 going on 3 - and then he cries like a little baby wanting booby. He's an adorable split personality child

Hopefully not too far from now we'll have some laungage to talk about the odd occasion where its not appropriate for him to feed.

I do wonder sometimes how long I'd be happy to feed for. I do think I would feed him for as long as he asks for it. Because if I've not fallen in a heap from exhaustion so far, I dont think I'm going to, so I could breast feed him until he's finished. (though, maybe not beyond 3 - hmmm... we'll see.... I laughed at the idea of baby wearing when I was pregnant, and I'm still baby wearing when I can, so we'll see if I end up feeding a 3 year old

)