[SagMom]

My oldest 2 children are now 12ds and 8dd. The 12 y/o nursed until he was 2 1/2 and the 8 yr old until she was 3y 10 mo.

Yesterday, dd tells me that she remembers what my milk tasted like. I was really surprised. Ds doesn't remember nursing

So--what I'm wondering is, does dd remember because she's younger or because she nursed longer? Or does she just have a better memory than ds?

What do your weaned children remember about nursing?

 

[k4kara]

no weanded children here ... but I have to say that I think it's really sweet that they have memories of that time

My mama nursed my sister into her "threes" and Hana says she has little snapshot snippets of nursing that she remembers.

 

[CuckooMamma]

I can't directly answer your question as my dd is still nursing at 2 y 2 months. I do have extremely early memories that begin shortly after I was a year old. Unfortunately, my memories aren't about weaning from the breast but from being weaned from the bottle. I think that some people can access earlier memories than others. My dh barely remembers anything from when he was 5! I'm not sure if it may be a male/female thing. I think it's great that your dd can remember nursing. I'm hoping mine won't wean for awhile and will be able to access her memories, as well, when she is older.

 

[Gagesmom]

I cannot talk intelligently about them as I don't know enough about it, but they have done studies showing that males have fewer memories of childhood and those memories tend to be less specific than females. Something to do with the way their brains are wired.
My DS self-weaned at 22 months.

He just turned 3 this month and he remembers nursing, he sometimes even pretends to nurse if we are cuddling, or if he is feeling silly he'll say he's a baby and pretend to nurse. He was also greatly dismayed when my DD weaned to a bottle (I have been in and out of the hospital and my DD had to start taking supplemental bottles, and she wound up preferring them.) I do continue to talk about it with him in the hopes that keeping the memory alive thru words will help him remember.
My sister made a comment, she said, "Isn't it a shame that we don't remember infancy? When we are being carried around and given so much love and affection...and we don't remember it, it seems to sad." An interesting thought, to say the least.

 

[SagMom]

Thanks for sharing your stories--CuckooMama, I have few memory of being little--actually, my memories of being younger than 5 are more like fuzzy snapshots and there are only 2 or 3 of those.

Gagesmom--I'll have to do some searching--sounds like those studies would be interesting.

Quote:

Originally posted by Gagesmom My sister made a comment, she said, "Isn't it a shame that we don't remember infancy? When we are being carried around and given so much love and affection...and we don't remember it, it seems to sad." An interesting thought, to say the least.

I think that, while we may not have memories from infancy that we can recall, we still retain memories of everything that has happened to us. I think those memories are probably there, and that they effect all that we do, who we are, how we act/feel/respond to others. It would be really nice to be able to recall them though.

 

[luv my 2 sweeties]

Seems like I read somewhere that children can't form permanent memories until they have the language to describe it to themselves. As if going over it in your mind verbally imprints the memory.

: It was a long time ago that I read this, so I don't know how true it is. But I have memories from as early as 2 years old, which is earlier than most other people I've heard talk about the subject. I was a very early talker, too. My dd was an early talker and is like me in other ways as well. Now that she's 3, I sometimes think about the fact that she may remember some of the things she's doing now for the rest of her life!

Unfortunately, we had major bf trouble and she weaned very early.

So she won't have any memories of that. But I hope she remembers her little brother being nursed (he's still going strong at 15 months). Perhaps it will influence her to nurse her own babies one day!

 

[maddysmommy]

I'm still nursing my 2yo, and I really hope she remembers it. One of the main reasons that I am still nursing her is that I was ebfed and have clear memories of it. I have lots of early memories (some preverbal), but nursing and co-sleeping are very near and dear to my heart and I want very much for her to have those feelings inside her. Cheers,

Leah

 

[Firemom]

My dd weaned last year in June and will be 7 this October. She remembers nursing and just a few days ago talked about how good it tasted.

My son weaned earlier but does know and remmeber his sister nursing.

So I think its a good thing they remember.

 

[SagMom]

oH, Firemom, absolutely! I agree that it's a good thing! The conversation I had with my dd just made me wonder about the difference between my kids' memories, yk?

 

[thyme]

I remember nursing. My mom tandem nursed me and my little brother. My little brother self-weaned before I did! I totally remember nursing at the same time as him, and on my own. I know I was weaned sometime before I was 3. I mostly remember it as warm and soft, and feeling utterly loved. Nursing wasn't a big topic of conversation in my family -- it's not like we talked about my memories often -- so I'm not sure why I remember it so well.

I have other clear memories from when I was two -- a trip to the circus with my grandfather, a seagull stealing food right out of my hand.

(Maybe all that breastmilk enhanced my ability to retain early memories, LOL!)

DS is turning 3 next month and I think he's going to wean any time. He hasn't nursed in about a week and when I asked if he wanted any milk, he laughed as if I was sooo silly. I would love it if he remembers nursing!