Many mothers’ favourite aspect of breastfeeding is the close physical contact with their child. Of course, breastfeeding isn’t the only way to promote a nurturing bond. Many families bond through reading together: child in your lap or cuddled up close; your voice soothing; sharing delight together.
March 01 is World Book Day. One way you can both nurture your child and fulfill their curiousity about the world is to read breastfeeding books together. No, I’m not talking about your latest edition of the Womanly Art or Essential Guide. There are children’s books too that are about breastfeeding or feature breastfeeding-positive imagery.
Most imagery your child will see in popular culture centers around bottle-feeding. Finding books about people – or animals – that treat nursing as the norm will help your child see that breastfeeding should be the norm. It will also provide your child with an opportunity to identify with the wider world.
The links above list some books that you might enjoy. Do you know of any others?
Besides reading with your child, other literacy activites such as nursery rhymes, finger plays, and singing are important. These can also promote a nurturing relationship. Do you know that if you spend just 30 minutes a day in literacy activities than by the time your child is school age he or she will have been exposed to over 900 hours of language and literacy learning?
Following are some fun nursing songs for your little nursling! If you enjoy these, subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more child-friendly, breastfeeding-friendly media.
Mommy Milk
My Mommy Makes the Best Milk
Hooked on Breastfeeding
Booby Snack
Funny, I’ve been planning to write about books that include images of breastfeeding. I generally avoid didactic books (even about things I believe in), so a lot of the books “about” breastfeeding don’t make it onto our shelves. But I also weed out everything that depicts bottle-feeding exclusively. That eliminates a lot of books about babies! Two books that have survived my censorship are The Baby’s Catalogue, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (a 100% fantastic book), and Mariana and the Merchild, by Caroline Pitcher, with stunning illustrations by Jackie Morris. Both highly recommended!