When you have your first child, you don’t usually have someone always hanging out that you have to explain this natural process to. Sure, there are the gawkers at public breastfeeding. And the occasional MIL or distant relative who doesn’t think you should because they didn’t.
But by the time that second (or third or fourth) comes into the picture, you have an older sibling who just might not understand, “Why in the world is mama feeding baby under her shirt?”
If you’re not looking to pick up a breastfeeding doll, halter top and all, you’re probably looking for an engaging way to discuss breastfeeding with your tot.
That is where the book “Mommy Breastfeeds My Baby Brother” was born. Want a chance to win it?
In this children’s story, big sister Jenna meets her baby brother and is immediately confused.
Daddy, what is Mommy doing?
Mommy is feeding the baby.
With her booby?
This innocent exchange begins one of many questions Jenna has about breastfeeding. And the roots of her questions are deeper than, “What’s up with that?!”
Will Jenna lose her place with Mommy with this baby boy latched on to her? Where does she belong in this growing family?
This book seems very organic. Emotions are displayed in vibrant colors for the characters. It is a visually and intellectually stimulating way to address the questions about breastfeeding.
“Mommy Breastfeeds” was born out of the Repkin’s own family dynamic: their daughter navigating her own questions about breastfeeding.
As for my family, my 4-year-old son loved the book, giving me play-by-play on the story as he first checked it out.
Now your family can have one, too. Here is your chance to win!
How to? Simply comment here: how can we teach children about breastfeeding?
Hurry! Contest ends at midnight (EST) on Sunday, September 13.
Hum although my son only weaned a couple of months ago I plan to use the last 6 months of my pregnancy with baby #2 explaining how we will take care of the baby including breastfeeding. I also love to point it out when we see animals breastfeeding in books or fellow moms breastfeeding during playgroups. Of course, a book devoted to the topic is great too 🙂
I think teaching children about milk and where the different forms come from. It could be a great nutrition lesson (and teach them about animals) for your little one – teach them about cow’s milk, goat’s milk, sheep’s milk, breastmilk, etc., and teach them about what animals they all come from. If you have toys that are animals, or have them in a book, you can point to them and explain, and it’s just another way to expand the child’s knowledge. You could tell the child that each milk is made by nature to help that animal grow just the way he/she needs to.
Then the child will understand that milk comes from all sources, not just a few, and this makes it seem natural to me. Of course, you can teach about other mammals nursing, too, the choices above are just examples.
We have bought a few natural books on breastfeeding that our little 21-month old loves to read…she’s still nursing and doesn’t quite understand that animals can get milk from their mommies too…but we’re working on it :). I’d love to add this one to our library!
One of the best ways to introduce children to breastfeeding is to have the kids around other women breastfeeding. If you show children that it is normal, they will be less likely to think it strange or even to question it at all. I also think being open and honest about feeding is the way to go. I have yet to encounter this myself (since I’m still nursing my one and only 14+ month old girl).
My friend is getting ready to have her third child. She has a girl named “Jenna” too and I think this book would be a PERFECT gift!!
We should teach children about breastfeeding by nursing them into toddlerhood and letting them see breastfeeding as a natural, normal part of life. My son is almost 2 and is still nursing. When we have another baby, he’ll know all about nursing because he was allowed to self-wean.
My 4 1/2 year old daughter continues to have difficulty when I’m nursing my now 11 1/2 month old son. She is even verbalizing her “jealousy” by saying that she doesn’t like it when I’m busy nursing the baby.
I have taught her how important breastfeeding is. I try to include her in it by reading her a story or playing a game of eye spy while I nurse.
What has warmed my heart the most is to see her play with her dolls and breastfeed them and telling them that the milk that they drink from the bottle is pumped breast milk.
I LOVE the looks of that book and it looks perfect for our family right now. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
Nice to meet you 🙂
And the winner is…Amanda! Congrats, Amanda! I’ve e-mailed you for your particulars.
Thanks, all, for your interest. It’s a great book!