Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I want my son to see breasts. I want him to see babies nursing. I want that image to be ingrained into his mind and be at the forefront of mental images when the conversation of boobs comes up with his friends. I want my son to be a vocal advocate of his future spouse and supporter of nursing. To do this he needs to see lots and lots of breasts as the baby is latching on and popping off for this to be ingrained as normal. As he ages I will talk with him about breast as sexual, but right now the developmentally appropriate view of breast is the way humans feed their young. FWIW DS's answer to a full busted women showing lots of cleavage is that she must have an impatient baby and wants to be ready to feed him/her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 My ds's saw me and maybe a couple close friends nursing babies. They didn't have to see lots and lots of breasts in order for them to be vocal about the benefits of nursing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 My dad piled pro-breastfeeding pamphlets on me when I was pregnant with #1 and I would be surprised if he'd seen anyone breastfeed since he was on the receiving end, and it wasn't even his mother who fed him. Lol about the cleavage and impatient babies though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 My ds's saw me and maybe a couple close friends nursing babies. They didn't have to see lots and lots of breasts in order for them to be vocal about the benefits of nursing. Ahh, but how often did he see nursing mothers in public? I do not want my DS to only see a few women nursing and only when together in the privacy of a home. I want him to see women nursing out in public, while they shop, while they are chasing toddlers, at the park, in the open. Not in a closet, not in a restroom and not covered. When I realized how few of my friends are still nursing babies-preschoolers I started paying attention to how many moms are nursing when we are out in public. 2 in 6 months. I see more women going to their car or somewhere private because of how our society views nursing babies. I have never seen a mom nursing an older baby or toddler in public and that makes me really sad that something so normal is hidden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeninok Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Ds (12) and I watched that Babies documentary on Netflix not too long ago, I asked him if he was uncomfortable by all the boobs....he clearly thought I was being an idiot and informed me that baby feeding was good and proper. He was however mortified (and so was I) about my serious wardrobe malfunction while sleeping on the couch a month or so ago. I apparently was really really asleep and did not respond easily to his trying to wake me up. He put another blanket over me and refused to turn around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I want my son to be a vocal advocate of his future spouse and supporter of nursing. To do this he needs to see lots and lots of breasts as the baby is latching on and popping off for this to be ingrained as normal. Why would he have to see lots and lots of breasts before and after latch-on in order to view breastfeeding as normal? Why not just seeing babies nursing in everyday life and in whatever method the mother feels comfortable using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I don't think dh ever saw a nursing woman growing up in our town in the 70s. I know he wasn't nursed as a baby. But he was a huge advocate of breast feeding when our kids were born, and doesn't think anything of women nursing their babies. He is an advocate due to nutrition and bonding. He didn't need to see that happening to be knowledgeable about it. Sorry, but a breast is a reproductive organ. They always have been, always will be. Just like a penis has another purpose, I don' think that if a girl grows up seeing many men discretely peeing, that it will be any less of a sexual organ when the time comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 Why would he have to see lots and lots of breasts before and after latch-on in order to view breastfeeding as normal? Why not just seeing babies nursing in everyday life and in whatever method the mother feels comfortable using? One of the common arguments for not wanting women to nurse in public (with or without a cover) is that the nipple and areola is sometimes visible for a split second while the baby latches on and unlatches. When I mean he sees the breast he sees the entire process start to finish and is not bothered by the brief exposure to the nipple and areola. Well except the one time where the baby fell asleep and no one noticed that the breast was completely exposed for several minutes after the baby fell asleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I have 6 boys. Today, I am walking around in my bra with my dress pulled down underneath it. They see me nursing constantly, all day long. They like to watch me pump milk, they think it's funny looking. They bring me my nursing pillow and sit with me while I nurse the baby. I still nurse my 3.5 year old on occasion. I feel the same way about this you do, OP. I want them to have a healthy, balanced view of the female body and as their mother, I feel I play a big part in that. I just don't want them to see women as sex objects, that is where the modesty argument comes in for our family. As their mother, I walk around nursing, etc, but our 11yo daughter doesn't walk around in daisy dukes or string bikinis. They see my breasts but I don't want them to see breasts in a porn magazine. I see these issues as night and day differences, and that's why I want to give them a good "dose" as they grow up of the female body being used for mothering and nurturing and not just being an object. I think that's one thing that went wrong as my dh and his brother grew up, their parents were very modest and never talked to them about sex or the female body so when he went through puberty it was so fascinating and new to him that he became obsessed with the female body. I am hoping that by the time my boys go through puberty they will have a more balanced view of the female form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeninok Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I do get what you are saying, I just don't think they need to see lots and lots of boobs to make it happen. Really just presenting it as normal is all it takes, I mean really even my very hormonal 12 year old sees the total non sexuality of a breastfeeding mother vs BooBies!!! I might point out feeding moms, but only because I love babies and notice the sweet tiny things when we are out. I don't know...it just doesn't seem that hard to present it as a very normal part of life. This is the same way we present all things to do with the body, whether beautiful or not. At the water park a couple weeks ago I made sure to remind him that I knew there were lots of pretty mostly naked people, and that looking was normal, but we have to make sure we look and then look away, and never stare or make the other person uncomfortable. And we never ever tug or pull on a girls bathing suit, even out of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 This conversation is so strange. I was never able to breastfeed. I could have had I opted for surgery, but dh and I both decided that was not what we wanted. Dh is not freaked out by nursing women, but he doesn't stare them down and watch the entire process. He looks away while they get settled, and then continues his conversation while facing them. I don't think anyone needs to watch the process closely to decide its normal and/or what's best. I also look elsewhere while my friends are getting settled. I think women should be able to nurse anywhere, but I also think they should be able to nurse anywhere without people watching their every move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 This conversation is so strange. I was never able to breastfeed. I could have had I opted for surgery, but dh and I both decided that was not what we wanted. Dh is not freaked out by nursing women, but he doesn't stare them down and watch the entire process. He looks away while they get settled, and then continues his conversation while facing them. I don't think anyone needs to watch the process closely to decide its normal and/or what's best. I also look elsewhere while my friends are getting settled. I think women should be able to nurse anywhere, but I also think they should be able to nurse anywhere without people watching their every move. yeah, I don't agree that they need to be stared at or watch every, little part of what is happening. I thought the OP meant it more in a general way, that nursing should be viewed and presented as normal and not something hidden away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I nursed in public and in private, sometimes with a cover and sometimes without. I never thought of it as helping teach anyone a lesson. I thought of it as feeding my kid. I don't know how it could get any more normal than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I want my son to see breasts. I want him to see babies nursing. I want that image to be ingrained into his mind and be at the forefront of mental images when the conversation of boobs comes up with his friends. I want my son to be a vocal advocate of his future spouse and supporter of nursing. To do this he needs to see lots and lots of breasts as the baby is latching on and popping off for this to be ingrained as normal. As he ages I will talk with him about breast as sexual, but right now the developmentally appropriate view of breast is the way humans feed their young. FWIW DS's answer to a full busted women showing lots of cleavage is that she must have an impatient baby and wants to be ready to feed him/her. :huh: Um, I don't how much "latching" and "popping" *I've* seen. Seriously, this has got to be one of the oddest things I've read here. Have you had issues with men that find breastfeeding abnormal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moxie Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Why do you want him to be so pro-breastfeeding? In the grand scheme of life, breastfeeding is a very small issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Um. First, no he doesn't need to see lots of that in order to advocate it. Second, what if, for whatever reason, the mother of his children does not want to breastfeed - or doesn't want to do so in public? Do her feelings matter slightly more than his? Third, I would not go anywhere with a man who wanted to run his big mouth about what other people may or may not think about the use to which I put my breasts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Yes, why is this so important to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyg Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 For the time that I was breastfeeding, breastfeeding was enormously important to me. My son, who was the recepient of all that mother love, has zero interest, opinions, or awareness of breastfeeding. When his time comes, I hope he and his wife make good decisions together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 some boys don't want to see 'it'. dudeling had issues latching and feeding the first few months. I often sat in the living room so I had a comfortable space to work with him as feeding time was a production. 2ds absolutely did NOT want to see any of it. He covered his eyes if he walked in not knowing I was there. He would also ask "are you done yet?". months later when dudeling was successfully nursing and I could be more discrete, 2ds was fine being in the same room. nothing much phased 1ds. I assume 2ds will support his wife in nursing their children - as that's all he knows about how babies are fed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Why do you want him to be so pro-breastfeeding? In the grand scheme of life, breastfeeding is a very small issue. this is making me think of 1ds's friend who like to look at wedding dress sites and tell what dress he likes and thinks his future wife should wear. needless to say, girls find him creepy. he's a nice and smart young man - but VERY clueless. he's also making a big deal out of an area that really isn't his decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I'm a HUGE breastfeeding advocate. But this is one of the strangest threads I've read. I'm picturing the OP randomly flashing her boys in order to desensitize them to the sight of boobs. It makes me laugh, but nervously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 My brothers saw my mom breastfeed each of her youngest for 2 years. Both of their wives formula-fed their babies. Why? The wives made the choice. One, because she didn't want to breastfeed. The other, because she encountered more discomfort than she was willing to deal with. I'm pretty sure my mom shed zero tears for the breastmilk her (highly gifted and healthy) grandbabies did not get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Um, I don't how much "latching" and "popping" *I've* seen. Seriously, this has got to be one of the oddest things I've read here. Have you had issues with men that find breastfeeding abnormal? Um yeah, :iagree: :leaving: . I breastfed 4 children and I am pro breastfeeding but I find this point of view very odd indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanitaL Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 :smilielol5: Sometimes there is just nothing better than a quiet morning alone with your cup of coffee and the WTM boards. I'm picturing the OP randomly flashing her boys in order to desensitize them to the sight of boobs. It makes me laugh, but nervously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma2three Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Out of curiosity, what are you doing to promote your goals? Do you walk up to women with newborns and demand that they start BFing so that your son can watch? Do you see women discretely breastfeeding, and march your son right up to them, pointing out what they are doing? Do you think that women who might be uncomfortable BFing in front of an adolescent male they've never met before are doing it wrong, and should be castigated for their prudery, and for not doing "their part" to make sure that young male strangers are not properly educated about the Proper Role of Breasts? I agree that more people BFing in public will create more of an environment where BFing in public is accepted, but the phrasing of this post was so weird... like you want them to do it just for YOUR son. FWIW, I would be very surprised if DH ever saw anyone BFing when he was a child, and he grew up to be very pro-BFing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I didn't nurse in public when my boys were toddlers, but it wasn't out of some sort of shame. They were past the point of nursing all the time and it wasn't necessary. They only nursed to sleep and wake up at that point. I also don't agree that boys (or anyone) needs to see it all the time, in every stage, for it to be normal or encouraged. I breastfed mine into toddlerhood and not only had I seen a grand total of one breast feeding session, but wasn't breastfed myself. And, as others said, what happens to my sons' children in that regard is really up to their wives anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carriede Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I didn't nurse in public when my boys were toddlers, but it wasn't out of some sort of shame. They were past the point of nursing all the time and it wasn't necessary. They only nursed to sleep and wake up at that point. Agreed. My 21 mo is way too into whatever it is that we're doing when outside the house to care about nursing. But she nurses all the time at home, and DS4 sees ALL of it. Lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Agreed. My 21 mo is way too into whatever it is that we're doing when outside the house to care about nursing. But she nurses all the time at home, and DS4 sees ALL of it. Lol! I forgot about that too. DS7 went through a phase around age one where we had to be in a dark room lying down for him to even latch because he was too busy looking around. Nursing in public would have been impossible for him at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 :huh: Um, I don't how much "latching" and "popping" *I've* seen. Seriously, this has got to be one of the oddest things I've read here. Have you had issues with men that find breastfeeding abnormal? Yes, and what if his future wife doesn't want to or isn't able to breast feed? I wouldn't make such a big deal out of it for this reason alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carriede Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I see more women going to their car or somewhere private because of how our society views nursing babies. I have never seen a mom nursing an older baby or toddler in public and that makes me really sad that something so normal is hidden. When my babies were more than about 4 mo, I took them to the car to nurse because they would otherwise be too distracted to get a good meal. Same thing with using a cover - it helped the "oh what's that shiny thing" baby to focus. The distractability also applies to my toddlers. They'd rather be going down the slide at the park than nursing at the park. I do understand your desire for breast feeding to be normalized RIGHT NOW, and starting with your own family is an appropriate place to start. But I also see the other commenters' POV that it's ultimately up to the mom and what she's capable of/comfortable with. I will bf in public without hesitating, but I do cover myself with my clothing because I tend to be on the modest side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashfern Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 One of the common arguments for not wanting women to nurse in public (with or without a cover) is that the nipple and areola is sometimes visible for a split second while the baby latches on and unlatches. I nursed all 4 of mine and plan to with #5. I NEVER flashed any nipple or areola when nursing in public. I also didn't use a cover-up because that was just a game for the baby to try to pull it off. Whenever my ILs were around I would have to go into another room to nurse. They would stare at me the entire time which was very unnerving. I was told by MIL that breastfeeding was gross & that "her pediatrician" said that formula was better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moxie Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 What if your plan backfires? Most of us know a Preacher's son who hates religion. Just live a normal life and let him make an informed decision with his future wife. ETA: You probably don't need to teach him the sexual function of breasts, either. Pretty sure he'll figure that out on his own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyP Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I didn't nurse in public when my boys were toddlers, but it wasn't out of some sort of shame. They were past the point of nursing all the time and it wasn't necessary. They only nursed to sleep and wake up at that point. Same here. OP I understand where you are coming from (I think). I am glad that my boys have seen me bf. That is what they think boobs are for at this point, and I think that is incredibly healthy. I hope they grow up to be men who support their wife in whatever way she chooses to feed their children. However, it is not my job to educate boys and/or men about bf-ing. It is just my job to feed my baby. Bf-ing is not some sort of service I provide for the public, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I don't know how old the OP's son is, but I will say that my son knows all about breastfeeding and knows it's the best way to feed a baby and has no problem preparing a bottle of breast milk for the infant we babysit, but he's ten ... He's embarrassed if he sees women's boobs. I wouldn't force the issue. He doesn't need to see lots and lots of boobs. He doesn't even need to see a few. If he never sees another woman's breasts while they are nursing, he can still be pro-breast feeding. You seem oddly concerned over this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 My brothers saw my mom breastfeed each of her youngest for 2 years. Both of their wives formula-fed their babies. Why? The wives made the choice. One, because she didn't want to breastfeed. The other, because she encountered more discomfort than she was willing to deal with. I'm pretty sure my mom shed zero tears for the breastmilk her (highly gifted and healthy) grandbabies did not get. One of the biggest gifts my MIL gave me was NOT giving me huge guilt trips about having to partially formula feed my first and entirely formula feed the second (except for 1 month pumping). I was giving myself enough guilt trips and getting them online. I didn't need my loved ones doing the same. But both my husband and my immediate relatives -- on both side -- supported me. Saying the important thing was that the baby was fed, not how he was fed. Oh and I discovered that although my mother breastfed both of us, my MIL had actually formula fed my husband. So far, all of that formula has not had any of the negative effects I was warned it would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanitaL Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 :huh: Um, I don't how much "latching" and "popping" *I've* seen. This makes me think of "The Clapper" commercial. LATCH-ON! (clap, clap) POP-OFF! (clap, clap) Now I need to go do something productive with my day .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 This makes me think of "The Clapper" commercial. LATCH-ON! (clap, clap) POP-OFF! (clap, clap) Which reminds me of this Laughing Squid story about a Clap-Off Bra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I think if you just live your life and breast feed your own babies, your kids will know that that is how babies eat. I don't understand making a Big Deal out of it, or being concerned that kids see "many breasts ". My kids know what breasts are for, and what formula is, and breast pumping. It's just part of life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 Sorry, but a breast is a reproductive organ. They always have been, always will be. Just like a penis has another purpose, I don' think that if a girl grows up seeing many men discretely peeing, that it will be any less of a sexual organ when the time comes. The penis is not vital to the care and wellbeing of the young. The creation of, yes, but beyond that the penis does not provide vital nourishment for the offspring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plath Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 It is very important to me that my children see the normal biological purpose for breasts. I nurse my children everywhere without a cover and want them to feel comfortable with seeing others do it as well, and they do. Sure, it's nothing to stare down and make a spectacle of, but it should be a normal thing to see. When children's books are full of baby bottles (and toy babies come with bottles), it's even more important to do so, IMHO, to counterbalance a lot of that. I do agree that some of the posts in this thread are worded a little strangely, but I do agree quite a bit with the sentiment. I was not breastfed, and many in my generation were not, as it simply wasn't the "thing to do" back then, but I think it's an important thing that needs to be brought back into the open and allowed to become a normal thing to see in society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 I don't know how old the OP's son is, but I will say that my son knows all about breastfeeding and knows it's the best way to feed a baby and has no problem preparing a bottle of breast milk for the infant we babysit, but he's ten ... He's embarrassed if he sees women's boobs. I wouldn't force the issue. He doesn't need to see lots and lots of boobs. He doesn't even need to see a few. If he never sees another woman's breasts while they are nursing, he can still be pro-breast feeding. You seem oddly concerned over this. My DS is 9 and knows there is nothing embarrassing about a women's breasts, he understands that they have a purpose and that the important things is the wellbeing of the baby. I want to raise him to not be embarrassed by seeing a women's breast doing what it is designed to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexigail Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Reading this made me pretty uncomfortable for a number of reasons. I'm mostly not cool with the idea that it is somehow a breastfeeding woman's job to nurse in public for the sake of educating others. I think that the idea that women go to the car to nurse because they are conditioned by their society to be asamed of themselves is pretty insulting. I'm sure that's true in some cases, but part of having control over one's own body involves deciding for yourself what you want to share with the world and what you don't. I'm sure that your heart is in the right place by wanting to normalize breastfeeding for your son. It is a normal and beautiful thing - one of the best things about having a newborn. But it is also awkward at first and if you have enormous books or too much/too little milk etc it can be very emotional and difficult. I'm not ashamed of my body and I'm particularly pleased that I had enough milk to feed my own and my friends babies. But I decide who sees my breasts and under what circumstances. Part of a healthy sexual attitude for boys is teaching them to give women the privacy they need to be comfortable. If my sons see a woman nursing (which they do- a natural consequence of having a midwife for a close friend :) ), they're cool with it and think it's sweet. But they sure as heck won't be paying close enough attention to see her nipple unless she's ok with it herself. Another thing to keep in mind is that the bonding that comes from nursing, especially early on, can also be a private thing that it totally separate from sexuality or shame. I loved nursing and I hope to do it again someday. Those moments were precious to me and to my babies and I don't think that I would have been able to experience that in public, especially with an adolescent boy around. I guess I'd rather be judged as being a prude or prisoner of the patriarchy or some such than miss out on those wonderful and private moments in my life. Again, I'm sure you are coming from a good place and I know the struggle that comes with helping boys find a healthy outlook on women's bodies. I just hope that you consider how far the other way your feelings can go - judging women for not being fully public with their nursing is still judging women's choices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 My DS is 9 and knows there is nothing embarrassing about a women's breasts, he understands that they have a purpose and that the important things is the wellbeing of the baby. I want to raise him to not be embarrassed by seeing a women's breast doing what it is designed to do. You do realize that women's breasts are used in other ways and no matter how many you flash at your son, he may be affected in a way that could embarrass him, right? I can see your current trajectory on this subject possibly causing shame to your son, at some point, and that doesn't seem right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 Out of curiosity, what are you doing to promote your goals? Do you walk up to women with newborns and demand that they start BFing so that your son can watch? Do you see women discretely breastfeeding, and march your son right up to them, pointing out what they are doing? Do you think that women who might be uncomfortable BFing in front of an adolescent male they've never met before are doing it wrong, and should be castigated for their prudery, and for not doing "their part" to make sure that young male strangers are not properly educated about the Proper Role of Breasts? I agree that more people BFing in public will create more of an environment where BFing in public is accepted, but the phrasing of this post was so weird... like you want them to do it just for YOUR son. FWIW, I would be very surprised if DH ever saw anyone BFing when he was a child, and he grew up to be very pro-BFing. I hang out with like-minded people. When DS was 6 and his friend was nursing DS sat next to him and continued to talk to him like his friend was just taking a break and getting a drink. Oh wait, that is what his friend was doing, just like any other normal 5 year old would take a break from playing and get a drink. Almost all my friends’ children are weaned and I worry that with many of DS mainstream friends who do not have a grasp on the original use of a women’s breast and who only know that they must be something desirable because they are always covered up or they hear how they should be covered up, he will get the idea that breasts are sexual objects designed only for a man’s pleasure and have no practical use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 My DS is 9 and knows there is nothing embarrassing about a women's breasts, he understands that they have a purpose and that the important things is the wellbeing of the baby. I want to raise him to not be embarrassed by seeing a women's breast doing what it is designed to do. Well, I want the same thing, but boys get to a point where women's unclothed bodies can make them uncomfortable as they are growing into sexual maturity. Not all boys, but it's also ok if it does happen. Breasts are breasts. They have a sexual function, as well, and boys know that, and I'm not at all concerned that my blossoming pre-adolescent is coming to grips with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 My dh as a child was only ever exposed to one nursing mother...his aunt...and he was mortified. He was about 12-13, old enough that it made him REALLY uncomfortable. However, now he is very pro-breastfeeding and understands that this is the natural food for babies. The fact really hit home when we had a pair of twin calves born on the farm. One was bottle fed store bought replacer and one was nursed. There was a HUGE difference in the sizes of these calves and the bottle fed one died not long after weaning...it was never as healthy as the mother fed calf. People are mammals. They ffeed themselves milk. But I don't think that your son has to see lots of nursing to feel that way. He probably will need to have his mom and dad talk about how natural and good that is, and how it's best for babies. By the way, keep in mind that as he reaches puberty, the idea that breasts are for babies to eat may be a bit awkward as he develops, but it's okay if he decided that he's suddenly embarrassed by the fact. I pretty much guarantee that by the time he is an adult he will have figured out how to manage that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 Question for those who were unable to produce enough milk to feed their young or who were otherwise unable to nurse. Did you use a lact aid supplemental nursing system? Did you husband attempt to produce milk to nourish his young? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 I dont think there is anything odd about the idea that exposure to breastfeeding and the sight of bare breasts will sort of desensitize kids to the over sexualized idea of breasts which is prevalent in our society and reinforce what breasts are for- to feed babies. In fact I think anthropology and psychology would agree with the idea. This needed to be said again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 I dont think there is anything odd about the idea that exposure to breastfeeding and the sight of bare breasts will sort of desensitize kids to the over sexualized idea of breasts which is prevalent in our society and reinforce what breasts are for- to feed babies. In fact I think anthropology and psychology would agree with the idea. This needed to be said again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 I dont think there is anything odd about the idea that exposure to breastfeeding and the sight of bare breasts will sort of desensitize kids to the over sexualized idea of breasts which is prevalent in our society and reinforce what breasts are for- to feed babies. In fact I think anthropology and psychology would agree with the idea. This needed to be said again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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