Breastfeeding Around Daycare Kids?

[KEG123]

I bf'ed my son until he was 2. Obviously if I have more children I will breastfeed them too. Now my question is this, has anyoned Bf'ed around DCKs? I mean, I'm sure someone has because baby's gotta eat... But, how did the kids react? Did they stare or ask questions? Did you read books to them about bf'ing?? Did you tell the parents before the child was born that you planned to bf, that they should talk to their child about it?

It's sad to me that I should have to think about this. I'm of the mindset that bf'ing is natural and children should know that it's just a way to feed a baby, but so many kids do NOT see it and therefor see it as "weird" or "different."

[laundrymom]

I just used a light recieving blanket to cover mine and when they said what is the baby doing I just said eating. or I fed her in the sling, (ring) not one issue in 3 kids worth of bfing

[DancingQueen]

It was stated in my handbook and discussed heavily during the interview to make sure they realized that this was a breastfeeding home - if they had a problem with it in the least they should look elsewhere and I did not cover up with a blanket.
When done properly you can see anything anyways.

[KEG123]

I was never a fan of blankets over the head... plus they get squirmy and it normally doesn't stay anyways... good point to add to policies...

[SilverSabre25]

While I try to avoid it for the most part, my still-nursing three year old will occasionally get bf'd out in the playroom. Everyone is younger than her and they don't really notice. I try to limit it but there are times when it happens anyway.

When this new baby is born at the end of May, he/she will most certainly be fed in front of the kids. I think all the parents know that we bf and even that DD is still bfing, and if they have a problem with me nursing either child, then they can find a different daycare.

if asked by a dck about why DD is nursing, I would say that she's snuggling. If asked about the baby, I'll tell them that the baby is eating. Mostly though, my group is too young to notice/care much.

[daysofelijah]

Eh, I nursed all three of mine for 1-2 years each in front of lots of different daycare kids. I don't think any of them noticed much. If they did I said something about feeding the baby mommy milk or something to that effect and it was no big deal.

[Unregistered]

Nursing is normal

My daughter was only 3 months old when I started, and I even had to breastfeed at an interview. When they want to be fed, especially in the evening, , it's hard to hold them off! That family didn't care, and if someone did care, they could go somewhere else.

[VTMom]

When my kids were in daycare there was a mom that would bf her baby when she picked up. I think everyone was cool with it, and it wasn't discussed with me beforehand that my kids would view this (both of mine were bf so I wouldn't care either way). For a while the kids - boys and girls - would "bf" there babies by lifting their shirts for their baby dolls. I thought this was cool. Having more kids exposed to it and thinking it's completely normal can only be good in my opinion.

Now that I have a daycare, I think I would mention it to parents just as a courtesy. Just as an FYI.

Good luck!

[KEG123]

Thanks for the input. I just wasn't big on NIP my son (I'm shy, ) so was wondering what to be prepared for with dkc.... also I didn't even think the parents might see too if at dropoff/pickup/interviews/whatever.

[ninosqueridos]

I didn't even think about giving the dcp's a "warning" about bf'ing - I just did it. The parents of the dcg's learned quickly that I was bf'ing here when their dd's started pretending to nurse their dolls here and at home by lifting their shirts, slightly rocking, and humming a tune to them! :: The dcps all thought it was funny and cute, and the dcg's stopped doing that when I weaned my youngest.

[QualiTcare]

I bf'ed my son until he was 2. Obviously if I have more children I will breastfeed them too. Now my question is this, has anyoned Bf'ed around DCKs? I mean, I'm sure someone has because baby's gotta eat... But, how did the kids react? Did they stare or ask questions? Did you read books to them about bf'ing?? Did you tell the parents before the child was born that you planned to bf, that they should talk to their child about it?

It's sad to me that I should have to think about this. I'm of the mindset that bf'ing is natural and children should know that it's just a way to feed a baby, but so many kids do NOT see it and therefor see it as "weird" or "different."

i think it is sad that you have to worry about it, but i do think it's something worth mentioning. i would have no problems with it under certain circumtances.

"breastfeeding" doesn't mean the same thing to everyone although i think the majority of women are discreet. i've seen women just letting it all hang out which i find unnecessary bc i bf my kids without ever exposing anything. some people take "a beautiful thing" to a whole new extreme kwim? then there are some people who breastfeed way beyond the "normal" age which i have to admit i don't think i'd want my kid watching, and they were breastfed and know "boobies are for feeding babies." keyword being babies.

so, yeah, some people see it as "weird" depending on the details. of course, some people are just ignorant and think it's crazy to do it at ALL without hiding in a closet, but others have valid "concerns" IMO. if they don't agree with the choice you make whether it be doing it, how you do it, or how long you do it - they can find somewhere else to go, but they should have the knowledge to make that decision. plus, they won't be suspicious if their child comes home making references to your boobies!

[KEG123]

So many people think over 1 is too old. Not me though, so I guess I'd have to be up front about the fact I nursed my son until he was 2. Who knows if the next one would nurse that long, but maybe I should let them know I would extended nurse. Or I could whip out an article stating the BFing norms around the world as far as age goes.

Like, this... * The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child... Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother... There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer." (AAP 2005)

* The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life and that "As recommended by the WHO, breastfeeding should ideally continue beyond infancy, but this is not the cultural norm in the United States and requires ongoing support and encouragement. It has been estimated that a natural weaning age for humans is between two and seven years. Family physicians should be knowledgeable regarding the ongoing benefits to the child of extended breastfeeding, including continued immune protection, better social adjustment, and having a sustainable food source in times of emergency. The longer women breastfeed, the greater the decrease in their risk of breast cancer." They also note that "If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned." (AAFP 2008)

* A US Surgeon General has stated that it is a lucky baby who continues to nurse until age two. (Novello 1990)

* The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of nursing up to two years of age or beyond (WHO 1993, WHO 2002).

[QualiTcare]

i don't know if there's a magic number (for myself) that i'd say someone should stop breastfeeding. i do think there comes a point where it's not necessary. i've heard of 4 and 5 year olds (and older) doing it, and to ME, that's odd.

i think the world average is higher than the US average obviously because developing countries don't have access to food like we do. it's done longer out of necessity rather than health benefits.

but yes there are people who think over 1 year is too old, and whether they are right or not - it's not the norm and they may not be comfortable with it. i'm sure it doesn't HURT for a 4/5 year old to breastfeed, but does it help? why not pump and let them drink the milk if it's really about nutritional value? that can be said of a million things though. it probably wouldn't hurt to let a teenager sleep in the bed with their parent, but it's not the norm and people aren't comfortable with it.

same with how someone goes about breastfeeding. i personally would want someone doing it around my child to be discreet (not hiding, but not walking around shirtless either). if i covered up myself around my children, of course i would have that boundary with others.

either way, it's a personal choice, and it doesn't matter what anyone thinks in the end - but i do think it's something people should be aware of so they can choose.

[broncomom1973]

I bf ds until he was 13 mos. He was 6 mos old when I started my daycare, so I did this at daycare for 7 mos. I used a blanket and sat in the rocking chair while the kids were playing in front of me. It never was an issue. One of the dcb I took care of was 13 mos at the time that I started my daycare and his own mother bf him until he was 20 mos so I dont think he ever thought twice about what was going on. All of my parents knew and I had to bf at a few interviews too. If the parents had a problem with it then that was their problem and they didnt need to bring their child here.

[broncomom1973]

Oh and as for the breastfeeding too long discussion, I was appalled at my own doctor when she told me there was no need for me to be bfing at 8 mos with my 1st dd. She said she wasnt gaining a whole lot of weight and there really wasnt any reason to continue. It really made me mad. I continued until she was 12 mos and then I decided to stop so that I might get AF back so I could try to concieve number 2. With my second, I bf'd until she was 8 mos and only stopped because I became very unexpectedly pg with #3 when she was 6 mos old and I couldnt take my antinausea meds (I get EXTREMELY sick when pg). And with ds, I would have kept nursing but had to have an nuclear scan done on my thyroid (nodule found while I was pg with #2 but couldnt do the scan while pg or bfing) and since I had put it off for almost 19 mos because I was either pg or bfing, I reluctantly quit when he was 13 mos old to have the scan. I commend those who bf for the first couple of years, but it does get to a point for me that it does become wierd. I saw a special on tv once with a lady who was nursing her 5 and 7 years old and honestly that is gross to me.