What are your views on cross-nursing?

Question

I was watching Good Morning America today and they were discussing cross-nursing. Cross-nursing is when you nurse someone else's baby and/or let them nurse yours. I wouldn't do this for my own personal reasons (I don't want to list them because I want to see what other have to say without influencing the answers). How do you feel about this? Would you do it? Why or why not?

Answer 1

I'm in America and there aren't many situations where multiple people co-habit or spend that much time together, whereas developing nations completely rely on their community to help w/everything (it's a team effort). With that in mind, there aren't very many situations where cross nursing would come up in my lifestyle but if it came down to me needing to get something done and I had no choice but to have someone else do it (rather than give a bottle), I'd be up for it and vice versa. The only thing I don't understand is that my children knew me by smell...i.e. they didn't try and nurse anyone that had b***s so I wonder how it's introduced?!

Answer 2

Unless it was an emergency situation no I would not nurse another baby nor allow someone else to nurse mine.

Answer 3

Unless my babies immoune system was very vulnerable and the other person could strenghten my baby i wouldnt do it... If i couldnyt nurse my child i would do formula...

Answer 4

If it was necessary as far as the person had no money to buy formula, and had no milk and their baby needed to eat, of course.  I would never let a child starve.  BUT I would not want to, nor would I want my child suckin on some other lady!  Sorry....just not for me.

Answer 5

In saw this too on GMA.  I thought it was kind of strange.  I don't think I would allow someone else to nurse my baby.  Heck, I don't even want other people touching my baby.  I'm a little germ crazy.

Answer 6

If I knew the other mother, then yes I would.  This is a very common practice in some cultures.

Answer 7

I'll be interested to see the responses to this question. I am a huge fan of breastfeeding! I breastfed my two boys, and it worked out great for all of us. When I think of "cross-nursing" (and this is only the second time I've heard of it) I'm kind of confused. I don't really understand when it would be considered. In extreme cases, I can see how it could be very beneficial. But personally, I can't imagine nursing a child who I hadn't given birth to.

The only case I can come up with where I personally would consider it would be if the mother was absolutely not able to breastfeed (double masectomy? disease?) and someone was willing to fill in. But even in that case, I would think that pumping and donating would be best. My SIL pumped and donated for needy children in another country and I had such admiration for that, considering how much time she needed to devote to pumping.

But, like I said, I'm just learning about it. I'm going to look up that GMA piece and see what they have to say. I'm sure it's very interesting and will shine some light on the whole issue.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/stor...

Answer 8

I actually know these ladies, so it's not weird for me at all. =)

I guess I'm what people call a lactivist. I have no problems with nursing babies on any level and I've actually been thinking about becoming a wet nurse. I also wouldn't object to somebody I know and have a close relationship with (as is the case with Morgan and Sarah in the video) nursing my sons.

If I weren't able to nurse, I'd look into getting a wet nurse any day before giving my kids badly adapted cow's milk. Ew.

Answer 9

I would nurse someone else's baby if there was an emergency I guess.  I would not do it regularly.

I would never want anyone else to nurse my baby unless there was an emergency, like they were stranded with no food or something.

If I was just late picking the baby up, and he was hungry, I would rather they give him a little formula (or water, if he was old enough) ~

Answer 10

If I had a situation like the ladies in the segment (best friend for many years, knew medical history, etc.) I would do it in a heartbeat! I would do it because my son is used to nursing. He finds not only nutrition, but also comfort in nursing. The bottle doesn't provide the same comfort as being skin to skin with someone who loves him.  I would also be very willing to nurse another woman's child. It would be much easier than giving a bottle!

Women all over the world have cross-nursed for centuries. (Wet nurse anyone?) Bottle feeding is new in comparison!

My son is nine months old and I will never allow him to be given formula. Nor will I allow any of my future children to be given formula.

Answer 11

My first instinct is to say ew!  I personally would not do it.  I see nursing as a very bonding experience between mother and child.  I don't think its something to be shared with others.

Never mind I'd be way too worried about diseases, drugs, etc. that someone else could be taking and passing on to my child.  Its just not for me.

Answer 12

I don't think this is something I would allow for my child, or allow my wife to do. Unless of course it was a life or death situation. I do not see any point really.