what do you tell curious kids

[curious&eager]

On more than one occasion when I was breast feeding my baby, a child has come up to me interested in the baby and what was going on so they start asking questions.

"What are you doing?"- Feeding the baby.
"It sounds like he's drinking."- Yes.
"From where is he drinking."- From me.
"Can I see?"- I didn't feel like saying no, so when DS let go I let her catch sight of my nipple and said, "From here," I said.
She stroked DS's head and I concluded, "When you're older like your mommy you can feed babies like this too."
Then the mom called the child away. But she did not seem annoyed.

Ok, so this is my first child, meaning a baby. I don't know about kids. What do I say to kids? How much is too much info? How much is not enough? They are curious and I don't want to ignore them. But, I don't want to upset their parent's either with my words. But, I want kids to see someone breastfeeding early in their life and know that it is a normal and natural way to feed a baby. How should I handle kids curiosity? What would you say? How does this look from a parents perspective?

[groovynaturemama]

i just tell any child who asks that ds is having a snack or meal (depends on the time of day). usually they stop asking there, but a few times i've had kids ask if he was nursing, what he was eating, why he was eating from my breasts, etc. to those kids i just said, respectively; "yes, he's nursing", "he's drinking the milk my body makes especially for him", and "because that is where the milk is made". so far, so good most of the time, though, kids are less interested in the fact that he's nursing and more interested in asking if they can give him a hug or touch his hand...i think kids around here really like babies

[MamaG2]

i dont have much advice...

this just reminded me of my ds (2.5) a few weeks ago. We had just brought by dd home from the hospital, and he was VERY curious and jealous about what his sister was doing when I would nurse her ( he wasn't nursed). After explaining to him that she was eating her dinner one night, he told me that he was hungry too. I misinterpreted what he meant because I replied okay, lets go down to the kitchen and make you some dinner, to which he replied no mama im huuuungry and tried to latch on to my other breast. It was so cute and too funny, but i had to explain to him that this was the babies special food just like when i make him his favorite special food which is pizza lol.

also just last week we were laying down together (dd, ds, and I) watching a movie before bed, he asked me to hold him and i told him i couldnt do so while feeding the baby...he said ok mama put her down, hold me...so i asked how we would feed the baby if i did that, he said gimme her, me do it (while taking off his shirt) haha

i know, not helpful i just felt compelled to share because i didnt know what to tell him either.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

I've had some very curious looks from small children, but rarely any comments.

One little girl (4?) was watching intently and I asked her if she knew what I was doing. She said yes, and that her mom used to "hold me close and let me do that too". It was so sweet how lovingly she recalled this!

I think your answer was just fine. Kids often just want a simple answer.

MamaG2 - you could maybe explain to your DS that only mommys can make milk, but that if he would like to pretend to feed his favorite stuffed animal or something while you nurse your new LO that he could.

[lifeguard]

I usually try to follow the lead of the parent(s). My closest friend's dd thought I was feeding ds from my belly but as my friend didn't seem inclined to correct her I just left it at that. But otherwise I tend not to be shy around lo's & let them look & get close (much closer than I would be comfortable with adults!) & chat about it.

[sdbeachy]

I brought my then-2-month-old baby to work with me at the (very) small elementary school where I teach for the last week of school this past spring. The children (ages 5-9) all got to see him nurse, and some asked questions, which I answered. (It is a very nursing-friendly environment--the other staff member was still nursing her 3 year old.)

One interesting conversation happened when I was nursing while playing with three boys there. The youngest (6) asked what the baby was doing, and I said "He's nursing." He said, "I thought it was called breastfeeding." I said that, yes, it was the same thing, some people call it nursing, some breastfeeding. The student sitting across from me chimed in, "And some people call it disgusting!" (!) He was 9 and had been intently watching my son latch on--I figured he was at an age where he might have been uncomfortable watching. (He was the same student who, when I told the kids I was pregnant, had asked if I would breastfeed or bottle feed, and when I said breastfeed he said "Good!" ) I answered "[Baby] doesn't think it's disgusting--he thinks it's great!" The really interesting part was that the student's best friend (age 8) spoke right up and said to him, "You know, you used to do that too. And some people nurse until they're 4."

In response to the OP, if it was a child I didn't know, I'd answer their questions honestly without giving more info than they asked for. If they asked to see more than what was already apparent I'd probably say that it was fine with me but to ask their parent.

[Michigan Mama]

I find that awkward sometimes, too, but only because of certain parents. I don't know how weird the parent will be about it. If I don't know the parent very well, I'd rather leave it up to them to explain so they can do so in a way they prefer. If it's a friend's kid, then I go ahead and let them see and ask questions. Just depends on the people, I guess.

I usually jsut give simple answers, like others have suggested.

Recently a mom at church shared with me that one of her older children was appalled that I was bf'ing in church and he asked her, "is she allowed to do that in church? shouldn't she go in another room or something?"

And she very matter-of-factly told him, "That's the way God made us to feed our babies. It's normal. That's exactly what she should do! Would you rather have teh baby screaming all through church???" Funny, but I thanked her. I think it's important that kids understand it is normal and natural and the way we were meant to feed our LO's!

Right after ds2 was born, my ds1 (2.5) kept telling me that he had "nulk" (Milk) in his elbows. Now he just says, "Baby drinkin' nulk?" And he understands and is fine with that.

[Ellien C]

I think you handled it just fine. I had a similar incident with a very good friend of mine's kid. The daughter was about 4 and BF as a baby. She knew intellectually what breasts were for, but she hadn't really made the live connection yet.

She came up to me and we had a very similar conversation and she sounded just as surprised. A little later I told the story to the mom who was like "E knows what breasts are for." And then the mom yelled across the room - "Hey E - what are breasts for?" And then E answered "To feed babies" and it was like a little light went off in her head.

I wouldn't worry about annoying any other parents any more than I would if I were feeding with a bottle. It's fact of life. You're doing the kid and the parent a favor.

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by MamaG2

this just reminded me of my ds (2.5) a few weeks ago. We had just brought by dd home from the hospital, and he was VERY curious and jealous about what his sister was doing when I would nurse her ( he wasn't nursed). After explaining to him that she was eating her dinner one night, he told me that he was hungry too. I misinterpreted what he meant because I replied okay, lets go down to the kitchen and make you some dinner, to which he replied no mama im huuuungry and tried to latch on to my other breast. It was so cute and too funny, but i had to explain to him that this was the babies special food just like when i make him his favorite special food which is pizza lol.

also just last week we were laying down together (dd, ds, and I) watching a movie before bed, he asked me to hold him and i told him i couldnt do so while feeding the baby...he said ok mama put her down, hold me...so i asked how we would feed the baby if i did that, he said gimme her, me do it (while taking off his shirt) haha

i know, not helpful i just felt compelled to share because i didnt know what to tell him either.

What a sweet boy. I think he sees the bonding and wants that feeling, too. Do make sure that you take some time to just hold him close and maybe let him stroke your breast. I still do this with my 6 year old. He sounds like he just wants to be held close like the baby.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

What you said sounds perfect

[MountainMamaGC]

I have asked the parent if they want them to see it. I tell them I dont mind if they dont. I tell the child that I am feeding my baby milk. I tell them that I can make milk just like a cow does. lol.

[Rivka5]

I say "I'm nursing the baby - this is how he drinks his milk."

The funniest comment I ever had was from a little girl who asked, "Why is he BITING you?" She had a 2yo brother who had been nursed, but I guess she didn't remember that.

When my baby was tiny, just a couple of months old, we were asked to visit the preschool Religious Education class at our church because the kids were having a lesson about babies. We all sat in a circle and talked about what Colin could do vs. what they could do, and what he needed and liked. When he got hungry, I went ahead and nursed in front of the kids and we talked about what I was doing. (I had previously checked in with the RE director to make sure she thought it would be okay with their families.) It was a really nice experience all around.

[vegemamato]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

only mommys can make milk

not that I would necessarily bring it up to a youngster (though my own are aware).. daddy's can make milk too!

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by vegemamato

not that I would necessarily bring it up to a youngster (though my own are aware).. daddy's can make milk too!

I've heard of that too! I brought it up to my husband and he made a reference to Meet the Parents where the FIL says to Ben Stiller...I have nipples, can you milk me.

[sunshynbaby]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

One little girl (4?) was watching intently and I asked her if she knew what I was doing. She said yes, and that her mom used to "hold me close and let me do that too". It was so sweet how lovingly she recalled this!

OMG that is so sweet!!!