Hi,
I currently have a 2 1/2 year old little boy and I am pregnant- due 10/30/07. From the beginnning of my pregnancy my son has understood that there is a baby in mommy's tummy at that is why it keeps getting bigger. That was easy to explain. However, since my breasts have also been increasing quite noticeably he has recently taken great interest in them, and will point and say "baby?" or "what's that". I tell him, "no, not the baby" and tell him the baby is in my tummy. It has not curbed his interest in them. How should I respond to his questions? What is too much information for a two year old?
I would just tell him the truth... When my daughter was learning body parts we taught her everything which can be embarrassing at times but its better then nothing... and it will make it easier for school...
I would just make things simple and say that the new baby's food is being kept there. The new baby is in mommy's tummy and the baby's food is in mommy's chest. Maybe that would work.
While pregnant with our third our son, 2, would ask the same thing. I bought a book about babies that talked about breastfeeding and then took him to our hospitals Big Sibling class. He then would tell people "mommy got food for baby" while pointing at my breast. We finally got him just to understand that they are "mommy girl part"- which is A LOT less embarassing!
Good luck!! Not sure I was much help...
Honesty is the best policy. I would just say 'Nature (or God) made mommies very special! Not only do mommies get to grow babies in their belly, they get to make special milk that keeps babies healthy. Each baby gets their own special food, and breasts are where the milk is made and is kept until baby needs to eat; that's what breasts are for and lots of animals are special that way." Then I'd name some: dolphins, whales, cows, cats...you could make a game of it and teach him about mammals by each of you naming an animal and having him guess if that animals nurses its young. There are lots of books that explain it at his level too: http://www.amazon.com/Breastfeeding-Books-for-Babies-Kids... Good luck!
K. Wildner, HypnoBirthing Practitioner
____@____.com
www.kimwildner.com
Helo L.,
It would surely help to know two things from you to respond to this:
1. Is your son currently breastfeeding? (Did he ever? Would he remember?)
2. Are you planning to breastfeed your newborn?
Let me know! I have some ideas... :)
R.
You could explain that this is where the milk is being stored until baby is ready to come out.
I told my daughter that they were boobies and they make food for the baby to eat. She understood this right away and stopped asking. She did point at them and say "boobies" or "the baby eats boobies" a few times, but since it was basically accurate information I was ok with that. I wanted her to know before the baby was born s that when she saw me breast feeding she'd already have an idea about it.
