How to explain breastfeeding to a 3 yr old?

Question

I'm having a baby in Jan and I plan to breastfeed. I have a 3 yr old step daughter who lives with us full time. I was looking through a pregnancy magazine yesterday and she saw a picture of a baby breastfeeding. She asked why the baby was like that. I told her that's how some mommies feed their babies. I told her that when women have a baby their boobies fill with milk to feed the baby. She then lifted up her shirt and asked if her boobies were full of milk. I told her no and that doesn't happen until you have a baby. To make a long story short later that day she was walking around with her doll "breast feeding" it. Granted it's a natural thing but, did I tell her too much information? Pretty soon the baby will be here and I don't want her to mock what she sees while she's at daycare.

Answer 1

i wouldnt worry about it, if she does that at day care the day care will totally understand. i just had my daughter 10 weeks ago and i already have a son who is 3, and he was mimicking me!! lol.... a boy doing this is not as cute. but then i realized he really didnt know the difference between boys and girls yet, i never thought about telling him. but know he does and doesnt do that anymore. plus little girls love to play 'mommy' so i think it is totally ok for her to be doing this with her dolls. now my son will say "is sissy drinking mommy's milk" and i say yes, i dont let him watch, cause it is a girl thing, but my best friends daughter is 3 and for some reason i have no problem feeding my daughter in front of her. and she is expecting a brother in a few months and they call it 'magic milk'

so no worries just a phase.  

Answer 2

I wouldn't worry about it, but I would use the word "b*****s" instead of "boobies" when you are discussing it.

I think you explained it perfectly.

Answer 3

Sounds like a pretty smart girl.

And what's the big deal if she does mock breast feeding in daycare.  The other children won't know what she's doing and the teachers will realize she's just modeling what she's seen mommy doing.

Answer 4

Aw I think that's cute!  I've seen little girls around the same age mimic breast feeding with their dollies and I don't see anything wrong with it.  

When the baby comes, she is likely to understand that you are the mommy and the only one to breastfeed the baby.  It might help to let her help feed the new baby by bottle once you introduce it.  

Answer 5

I think you did fine. My son was 25 months old when our second son was born. I just tell him that Gabriel can only have special milk and that it comes from mommy. He doesn't ask a lot of questions though. I don't think there's anything wrong with her playing like she's BFing her baby.  

Answer 6

This is normal, it sounds like you told her a lot of honest information in a way that she can understand. She is role playing. If she put the doll to nap, changed it, or took it for a walk in a stroller you would see this as normal. For her there is no difference, she doesn't have the social stigma that adults have. I have seen boys of 2-3 'breastfeeding' dolls, it is quite normal.

Answer 7

Nope sounds like you did fine.  They act stuff like that out.   My oldest son is 6 years old and he seen me nurse his brother (who is 3 years old) but he doesn't really remember it much but he was looking at pictures of a woman breastfeeding and was very curious and now is amazed by it all.  He of course asked if all animals feed like that and flipped our dog on her back to see that she had nipples too and just finds life to be amazing I guess.  He has asked why some mommies feed from their "boobies" and why some don't.  Kids just love to ask questions and I don't think you gave to much information at all especially if you will be planning to nurse yourself. I  will be breastfeeding once my 3rd son comes in a few weeks so my boys are now prepared for that.  

Answer 8

I wouldn't worry I think you told her just the right thing and whether you want her to or not she will mimmick the things she see you do with the baby. Let her know that it's private and that she shouldn't do it when she's not home and that may help with her doing that at daycare.

Answer 9

i use the word boobies too. i have a3 year old and a 7 month old. she was breastfed herself and i think she remembered so she knows thats how babies eat. she stil wanted boobies herself! but i just told her its only for babies andher milk is in the fridge. anyway when she was 2 my sister had a baby and breastfed him and her 3year old daughter and mine were breastfeeding each other! and all the teddies and dollies in the house. i think its normal. i dont think you toldher too much. my daughter also wanted to breastfeed her brother when he was born-i just told her the same as you really-that  her boobies have no milk-just mummy's

Answer 10

no! You did just fine! I remember pretending to breastfeed my baby dolls when I was little, lol...its perfectly natural. I was worried on what to tell my six year old son but I just decided to be honest and lay it all out there and I think its for the best. You told her just the right thing!