If there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write this has to be it: how can I stop my toddler from touching my boobies? (And yes, if I could insert the monkey hiding behind their hands emoji here I would!)
And I say toddler, but she’s nearly three.
It might sound like a tongue-in-cheek dilemma but it’s actually a serious question: how do you stop a boobie obsessed baby (or in this case toddler) from rummaging around in places you’d rather they wouldn’t?
How can I stop my toddler from touching my boobies?
Having breastfed three babies I realise the instinct is completely normal – a breastfed baby will naturally massage the breast they’re not feeding from in order to encourage milk production – but when that baby is no longer a baby, and what’s more they’ve been weaned, there comes a point it’s got to stop.
The question is, how? I can’t be the only one with a boobie obsessed toddler – can I?
With my patience waning I did what any right minded parent would do first: I Dr Googled it. Interestingly, all manner of conundrums come up, from the inevitable hitting and biting to the more bizarre knee walking (such a term does indeed exist!) But alas, there’s no sign of boobie touching.
Undeterred – because everything is on Google, right? – I delved a bit further and discovered there is, in fact, a bit of advice. Although none of it is very helpful. Pearls of wisdom include ‘position yourself so that your breasts are out of reach’ and ‘hold firm about physically preventing him from touching your breast. Getting him to stop is that easy’.
I’m sorry, but where exactly am I supposed to position myself so that my breasts are out of reach? Hide them behind my ears? And if getting her to stop was that easy, I’d have done it months ago.
Of course I probably only have myself to blame: having breastfed her until the recommended two-years-old the instinct is a well-established one, and old habits die hard. But even so, what now? With baby number four due in a few months time is running out to cure the boobie touching before it starts all over again.
So, if anyone has any useful pearls of wisdom or advice, I’d love to hear it!
oh this is a tough one. Most of mine I stopped breastfeeding after about six or seven months, but Boo (now 12) was reluctant to give up and we got to 18 months. Then we went on holiday and while we were away she showed absolutely no interest in my boobies at all. When we got home she wanted to start again but I had to tell her she was a big girl now, Mummy had no milk left (true) and we had to give up. She wasn’t happy but soon got over it. I guess it’s just a case of waiting it out, telling her that she can’t anymore? With you being pregnant again, there may be some jealousy when the baby arrives.I wish I had some easy answers for you, but I’m thinking that being gentle but firm is the way to go and hopefully she’ll get the message soon. x
Oh this is such a difficult one. Getting them to give up any habits is hard, be it dummy or milk or anything. Maybe cold turkey can be the only way. Gentle yet firm, like Anne says. #DreamTeam
I totally relate to this dilemma as my 3 year old still remains a twiddler. I have resorted to earring an extra clingy bra underneath extra tight vest tops underneath my clothes! It’s helping but not that comfortable for me x #DreamTeam
tricky one! Mine all seemed to be done with breastfeeding around their first birthday and the twins were always anti the whole thing so I had to express – maybe they didn’t like sharing. So no pearls of wisdom to share except that knee walking is very much a thing one of my twins did it until she was about 18mths old! #DreamTeam