[Shaunam]

I got to thinking yesterday about how some people attack comfort nursing (ie: "they have to learn other means of comfort SOMETIME"). Like in a recent Parents magazine, one of the doctors that gave his (her?) opinion about the "I'm still nursing my 5-year-old" story. He said something about parents needing to learn other ways to comfort their child (correct me if I'm wrong about this).

I know that nursing is a great way to comfort a hurt/sick/lonely/ect child, but I also know that most nursing moms comfort their child in other ways too.

The reason I was thinking about it yesterday was because my 4 1/2 month old DS fell off the bed. Well, it was only a 4 inch fall since the mattress is on the floor, but he managed to hit his head on the remote and was pretty upset by it. My first thought was to try and nurse him, but then I saw that our cat was watching the whole thing. I called the cat over (DS thinks cats are just hilarious) and let DS pet him. Within 30 seconds, DS forgot about being upset.

I didn't realize until later that, even though DS is only 4 1/2 months, I've learned plenty other ways to comfort him. I don't just "whip it out" every time he cries. Now that I'm a nursing mama, I realize just how dumb these statements are about comfort nursing. It's really just another excuse why women "should" stop nursing at a certain age.

So, other than nursing, what are your favorite ways to comfort DC?

Personally, I like to rock my DS and sing to him.

 

[Past_VNE]

That's funny! I do the same for Jett. I call Hunter, our dog, over to distract him from his hurt or sadness. He usually ends up laughing uproariously.

Otherwise, I cuddle his head in under my chin and sing "Miss Lonesome" to him and dance slowly around the room.

I swing him by his arms and he laughs and shrieks gleefully.

I bzzzzzzzz airplane him around the room.

We whisper in his ear and hold him TIGHT and cuddle him, especially DH.

I know there's more.....

 

[Siana]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaunam ...I don't just "whip it out" every time he cries.

Erm. I do

: Besides being lazy :LOL I also do it to delay fertility

(ecological breastfeeding)

Quite honestly however, this way of nursing is not the norm with the vast majority of nursing moms in North America and just because I nurse for comfort most often, even I have other means of comfort when nursing is not possible ASAP.

 

[mama24-7]

There were times when my first instinct was the "whip it out" like when dd fell at swimming class from one of the cement bleachers to the one below - yikes!!! However, she was too upset.

I have found that then and now, distraction and moving on to the next thing seems to work best for dd. Even for the tantrum that comes up some times, getting her out of the situation, into another room and figuring out something to distract works best at almost 3.

Sus

 

[jadegirl553]

Distraction is the best! After nap, my son is usually pretty cranky, and suggesting a snack and a little bit of a movie helps so much. And it's a pretty good transition from a two+ hour nap to being awake and playing again.

Also, I snuggle him, and rock him, and rub and pat his back. He's such a snuggle bug!

 

[my2girlsmama]

I see nothing wrong with *whipping it out* to comfort a hurt child. I do it without apology.

I love the fact that no matter how hurt she is dd can calm down within mere moments at my breast. They are learning that you are there for them and the best way they enjoy your closeness...........nursing.

When they wean they will always know you care and comfort even if not at the breast, my oldest is easily comforted now even 3 yrs after weaning........

I think people get their undies in a knot over this........for nothing. I have these breasts for a reason and I am using them to their full potential! :LOL

 

[nitareality]

I will continue to nurse on demand, including comfort nurse, for as long as I can. Why should I divert his attention to an inferior source of comfort when what he wants is available? Because other people think that's what's best for my DS?

I can comfort him in 5 seconds with the breast, why bother with anything else? He unlikely to be comfort nursing at 15yo.... :LOL I'm sure he'll find something else that comforts him by then.

Do people really think babies that are comfort nursed will not develop other coping skills?

 

[MommytoTwo]

Hugs & kisses

 

[celestialdreamer]

I do comfort nurse my dd if she needs/wants it. Now that she is a little older, when she bonks her head, etc if I pick her up and let her rest her head on my shoulder and give her a hug, tell her its ok, etc she is fine. She used to be only able to be comforted by nursing when she was younger. I certainly don't mind it if she wants to! I'm all for ecological breastfeeding!

 

[MamaPear]

If nursing doesn't work to comfort DD, then I will rock, cuddle and/or distract her. When she's really upset and nursing, I'll tickle her neck to make her laugh...it works pretty well to help her forget her hurt.

We were at the zoo a couple of months ago with a couple of other mommy friends. DD was still pretty wobbly on her feet, but when we stopped for lunch, she was doing good with walking around like a big girl. I was fiddling with putting some diapering stuff away after a change when DD fell HARD. My poor baby screamed and cried and I did what came natural. I "whipped my boob out." Within a minute, she was happily sucking and her owie forgotten. My one friend whose DD had to be FF couldn't believe how fast DD calmed down. She asked if that was all it took and said that her DD would have screamed for hours over the fall. They all laugh now whenever DD falls when we're around them about her going to the boob and how quick it heals hurts.

So, while I'm sure it is good to have other methods, my theory is if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The boob works best for us.

 

[BabyBumblebee]

We do a little bit of everything here - but *absolutely* comfort nursing, if that is what dd needs. Sometimes she just needs hugs and kisses or dancing and singing...but the boobs are always there for her when she wants. For me, that's just another great advantage to bf'ing

 

[rosie29]

I take my 13-m/o DS outside or just look out the window sometimes to calm him down. He LOVES both!

 

[jadegirl553]

April and Anita, I think you've got really good points! But, for my part, sometimes I am just sick of being comfort nursed on, you know? And if something else will work just as well at that moment, if not better, I'm all for it! I think especially as he grows up and changes, that my methods of comforting him will grow and change.

 

[Past_VNE]

I posted above, but want to add for the record that I primarily use my boobs to comfort Jett. That's just what comes most naturally to me. However, it doesn't always work for him. He is an eater and a sleepy nurser, but for many of his owies or scares, he won't take to the nipple.

Now, for the few pricks he had for pre-surgical testing, he loved some boob for comfort. I highly recommend nursing through any blood draws, etc. that you have to do for your babe, or for vaccinations if you do those.

 

[cedoreilly]

Our computer chair which goes around in circles... Walking him... Bouncing... I comfort nurse my 6 month old a lot but I often have to cut him off after a while because he has a tenancy to puke if he comfort nurses too long.

 

[thismama]

I use the boobs a lot too! She's 19 mos, and I also say "Oh, are you sad? Oh, you're crying" and she often says "Yeah!"

And I repeat what happened that upset her, like "Did Marley (dog) steal your cream cheese?" and she says, "Marley!"

If she's hurt I say, "Oh did you get hurt? Where did you get hurt?" And she says, "Right there" and points to the spot. And I say, "Oh your head? Is your head hurt?" And she'll say "Head!" And I'll offer her a kiss, and she'll present the hurt spot for a kiss.

 

[abac]

I have no problem nursing for comfort and rarely need to try anything else, (in fact, never yet.) Ds is 14 mo. If dh is the one to comfort him, he turns on the ceiling fan. (That's his "thing" right now.)