Why does my toddler always rub me?

Question

Whenever I hold him he will pull up my shirt and rub my belly, or try to put his hand down my top to rub my breast. He co-sleeps with me and at night if my back is too him, he'll pull up my top and rub my back or he'll rub my arm. It is getting to the point that it is becoming an obsession with him. He will stop all activities just to rub me.

He is 18 months and hasn't been breast fed since he was 13 months. Does anyone know the psychology to this?

Answer 1

 That is the softness and love a mother had for the children and babies are always looking for love around. 

In this age between 10 to 23 months the child is very much attached to mother and always want to have a body contact with mom. 

The rubbing give the toddler sense of motherly feeling and the toddler make it a habit and always love to rub mother's skin. 

It also depends on mother that how much love he is giving to the child. 

Answer 2

 My son (2) will lift his shirt and mine whenever we are hanging out around the house and will rub his belly against mine... or if I'm in the bathroom, he will come in and lay his cheek on my leg. He loves skin on skin contact. My husband thinks it's weird, but I think it's just a sense thing. He likes the feel of soft skin. He did try to do the shirt thing too, but I explained to him that that is part of "Mommy's body" and he isn't to touch that part of Mommy's body. It worked...

Answer 3

I have a 3yr old daughter and she does the same thing with my arms and hands.  She does this when she is sleepy and I always wanted to know why.  Its normal.  It is just comforting to them and sometimes annoying to us, depending on where you are and what they want to do at that time.  Its the same thing we seek COMFORT....but this is just their way.