My nursling is three so I’m pretty sure we’re closer to the end of the spectrum of our breastfeeding relationship than the beginning. For the most part I still really enjoy breastfeeding my daughter. I get to sit down and relax, we re-connect and make googly eyes at each other, my mind gets a chance to wander, and today I started thinking about all the funny things breastfeeding toddlers do when they nurse.
I’ve read a lot of posts about breastfeeding toddler antics and suddenly I recalled one that my daughter had never done. She had never squirted breast milk at me.
For some reason this made me feel a little sad. Like I had missed out on something big and important in the breastfeeding world. I wouldn’t have that story to share when years from now I’d be sitting with a group of mothers wistfully telling funny stories about breastfeeding. Well, I couldn’t just let my breastfeeding relationship end and not have something to say about being squirted with breast milk! So when she was done I said “Hey sweetie, look at this!” and I squirted some at her. “Isn’t that funny?” She looked at me, very surprised.
“Mommy! What are you doing?” she asked.
“Now you try,” I offered.
So she did. And laughed and laughed. It got it right in her eye. She thought this was halarious so did it again. This time it got me in the face. Right afterwards, she gave me a mischievous giggle (we have a funny secret!) and went to play.
Now I don’t think I would do this if she were four. And if she were one or two I’d be asking for big trouble because I don’t think she would be able to do it just once. But three seems an okay age to have a game of sillies and explain that this isn’t something we can do all the time. Just once or twice for fun.
Now of course this is just my own explanation and I’m prepared to be proved wrong any time now.
Do you ever enjoy a silly breastfeeding game with your nursling? Do tell!
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Tags: breast milk, Monday Musings, squirting
Did you read my recent post about Riley farting while breastfeeding? What a tooter. He takes after me there!!! I’m surrounded by testosterone, man.
Riley also loves to dimple at me, then nod his head, then, when I nod, he shakes. When I shake, he nods. It’s a silly breastfeeding game we play
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I like this story about the squirting!!! And I’m thinking you’re right; a toddler, no way. But a three year old? Perfect!
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Another thing… =-.
I put her hand in my mouth and pretend to bite it off and she giggles like mad. But it’s only funny when we’re nursing of course. And she’s recently started burying her entire face in my breast then blowing out hard to make an enormous farting sound. It’s so ladylike.
.-= Cave Mother´s last blog ..On a Slightly Different Note: Baby Toiletries =-.
Baby loves to grab my nose etc. While eating, except sometes he laughs so much he can’t keep eating. He thinks it’s hilarious if I pretend to nurse-I put my face down into my chest and make a “numnumnum” sound and he just cracks up, and then wants to nurse, and you can see this look on his face like “silly mommy- that’s MINE!”
.-= Maman A Droit´s last blog ..Get Ready To Paaaartay! =-.
My DS is 9 months. When I kiss his hands and especially his feet while nursing, he just giggles and giggles. Thanks for posting this topic and question.
.-= Brooke´s last blog ..To boob or not to boob? =-.
My son just weaned himself 2wks after his 3rd birthday.
But the last couple months leading up to that point we’d play a blinking game; sort of like Simon, but w/blinking. I’d go first, then he’d try to follow. I’d purposefully mess up just to get that sweet little ‘boob-in-the-mouth’ giggle. Sweet memories.
Ha! I don’t know if we have a special game, really. Kieran goofs off quite often when nursing – sometimes he pretends to “smell” my breasts, sometimes he hides underneath one . . . Really, I am so thankful we’ve been blessed with such a great breastfeeding relationship, it’s given me a lot of fond memories
.-= Dionna @ Code Name: Mama´s last blog ..Are You Calling Me a Liar? =-.
This story made me smile. It is an opportunity my baby and I will not have. As my daughter and I get further and further away from when she weaned (a little over one) I am beginning to see all the factors that went into that. She did it on her own but… well, I wish I knew then what I know now. I wish we would have an opportunity like this in our future.
.-= Upstatemomof3´s last blog ..Can A Mother Breastfeed "Wherever and Whenever" She Wishes? =-.
I ask her, “Is breast yummy?” Then I’ll take her toes and say, “Toes yummy!” And pretend to eat them with Nom Nom Nom sounds. She also really likes to play peek-a-boo with my breast and will say, “Bye bye!” and put my breast away for me when she’s done.
.-= TopHat´s last blog ..A Year of No ‘Poo =-.
My three year old will go to nurse after asking (he calls them ‘ba-bas’) and I’ll lift my shirt and fold down the bra cup, but just as he almost latches on I pull the shirt down and go ‘uh-oh!’ He’ll laugh really hard, go to do it again but this time he knows what’s coming. He pauses to give me time to pull my shirt down but he pretends to still be going for the ba. I’ll say “come on, stop fooling around, drink your ba” and as he’s giggling and pretending to latch on I’ll pull the shirt and ‘oh-oh!’ – this goes on for a couple of times and when he’s all laughed out I can tell and then we just nurse like normal. I kiss his little hands and tell him how much I love him. Sometimes he’ll hold the nipple in his mouth and try to talk to me (he’s a late talker so it’s really jargon, but still so cute) and the absolute best is when he laughs while holding on still. Love, love, love that bob-in-mouth giggle, as someone else coined it. My God, I am so glad I breastfeed a toddler. No one understands how beautiful the experience or how strong the bond unless they too nurse a toddler. Great post!
hahaha, I meant boob-in-mouth (not Bob – he has no business being around while we nurse, lol)
how fun!!! I have never made enough milk to squirt and I wish I did! lol
we aren’t quite old enough for games but we are almost there.
.-= Alexandra´s last blog ..Busy Bees =-.
These comments are totally making me laugh out loud! I LOVE these stories.
@Courtney – I’m so going to try your game with my daughter.
The Boob-in-the-mouth giggle is my favorite too! I especially love when my daughter tries to talk when she’s nursing or if we’re doing a song circle she unlatches to sing one or two parts and then re-latches. It always makes me laugh!
I love this post and the comments! LOL!!! My daughter just turned 4 months today! Pulls off and makes smacking sounds then I gasp and she smiles! I also act like I’m eating her hand and she gets a kick out of it. There is something that she does do though, I’m not sure if it’s common. When she is tired and feeding she turns her head almost all the way to wear my arm pit is and then she turns back and looks at me and smiles, keeps on doing it then she will fall asleep with her face in the crack of my arm.
Just want to say thanks for posting on such a great topic. I’m nursing my first, who is 6 months. I’m afraid I’m going to have to argue to everyone in the world why nursing an older baby will be beneficial, and I’m not looking forward to that. Having great these great things to look forward to is encouraging. Thank you!
.-= Mama Em´s last blog ..Bubbles! =-.
My nursling, who is just 21 months, saw me hand expressing some milk once. Now he thinks it’s really funny to pull off and squeeze. Me? I’m not such a fan.
Our nursing games, or at least the ones I enjoy and allow, mostly center around me kissing his feet. He holds them out, I kiss them, he laughs and falls off the breast. It’s not as funny, but it works for us.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Praiseworthy? =-.
Cave mother, my daughter likes to blow raspberries into my breasts, too. She gets a mischievious look in her eye right before doing it, then she looks up at me to see my reaction.