Post-weaning breast obsession.

I know that there are worse problems to have, but my son is a little preoccupied with my breasts (a.k.a 'the mi-mi's). 

He weaned quite a while ago with no protest, after some pretty darn extended nursing, but he still tries to cop a feel pretty regularly.  It's usually when we're snuggling, and he kind of tries to hold one breast between his hands.  Sometimes he smushes his face up against it.

Sometimes I joke around and say 'want to nurse?'  He'll say yes with a silly grin, and I'll pretend to lift up my shirt.  Then he'll say "THAT'S DISGUSTING!" and run away.

What have I done?

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Comments

[mary]

i think its kind of cute. he'll outgrow it i bet. my son is 8 momnths and i find extended bf stories inspiring

[Jennifer]

My son did the same thing. When we layed down together and nursed to sleep, he'd always hold my other breast, twiddling the nipple like a radio knob LOL, and he'd fall asleep. After he self-weaned, he'd still hold my breast to fall asleep, and even in public, his hand would go down my shirt for comfort whenever he was nervous or scared. I loved the fact that I could still comfort him with my breast even though he was no longer nursing. He self-weaned at 2yrs 8mos by the way.

[tanya@motherwearblog]

Jennifer,

I love it. I've seen lots of kids do that - putting their hands down their mothers' shirts. Probably a little embarrassing when in public, but still really cute.

I think that my son's 'that's disgusting' remark is about trying to separate. I'm trying not to take it too personally!

Tanya

[RCM]

I thought my daughter was the only one. We weaned 9 months ago and she still wants to touch my boobs. I figure it is a comfort thing for her. Very sweet.

[Beth]

My son is nearly 2 1/2 and still nurses, although infrequently. He also likes to cop a feel when he's sitting in my lap or when I'm holding him. He just rubs the side of my breast, not necessarily wanting to nurse. He also still likes to tweak the nipple opposite the one he's nursing from when he does nurse.

My daughter is 4 1/2 and weaned when she was almost 2. Every now & then she touches my breasts or nuzzles in close like she needs that special comfort. I haven't yet received a "that's disgusting" sort of comment, but we'll see. Lots of things are becoming "gross" to her these days...

[CA]

The son of a friend of mine, who was breastfed until around 3, thought that ALL breasts were for breastfeeding, which meant that whenever he spent any time with his mother's female friends, he would eventually crawl in to their lap and try to get under their shirts. It was slightly embarrassing for everyone, especially those who didn't know that it was because he was having trouble weaning.

[Heather]

My son weaned in July at 21 months and just tonight was comforting himself with his hand down my shirt. His usual lovey, lion, was at home and we were at grandmas (only across the street). When he decided it was time for bed the hand sought out what it needed. I think its cute and I love the fact that I can still comfort him.

[A. Brown]

Maybe the mother in the UK that still breastfeeds her 8 year old daughter or
the other blond mom that breastfeeds her 12 year old should be concerned with OBSESSION !!. Does those girls have teeth?

[Abby]

My daughter isn't so much obsessed with my breasts as she doesn't see any difference in them from my belly or other parts of my body. I think it's really healthy for children to learn that breasts aren't really "different" from the rest of your body (or theirs). If one baby/toddler plays with his mom's breasts, another is playing with her hair. I think it's sweet!