Thought you were going to see some boobs here, didn’t ya? Sorry to disappoint you, but this isn’t that type of blog… However, we are going to talk about breasts.
There comes a time when we need to have a name to refer to the breasts, other than what we as single guys used – a name that our children will call them, and a name that we could use in ‘polite’ company.
When we had our first child, we started calling the breasts ‘beeboos’ as a concession to me, because I wasn’t sure that ‘boobies’ would go over well with my parents, or the world in general. Since then, we’ve heard a number of different nicknames for the center of the newborn’s universe, and I’m curious what you call them at your house.
What name do your kids use when referring to mama’s breasts? What do you call them?
Image: chispita_666 at Flickr
When our youngest was still breast-feeding, we called them ‘mamas’. As the kids get older, ‘breasts’.
knockers
Why use a nickname? Is there shame in using correct names for body parts or are they simply too difficult for young children to pronounce?
Rs are a bit difficult for little ones – Bweasts would work, I guess. There’s no shame in any of it, whether people call them boobies or breasts – just depends what you consider a ‘correct’ name to be. We know a young child who simply says ‘suck’ when referring to them. That’s correct to them, I’m sure.
Parents tend to come up with nicknames or pet names for their kids, and we don’t have issues with that, so nicknames for body parts seems the same to me.
When I saw the title of this on Twitter this morning, I thought, ‘Geez, there has been a lot of boob/breast talk lately,’ and I was starting to take offense. I’m glad I bit my tongue, or rather, that I was too busy to respond, because I was gonna let you guys have it! lol
You know, I think we just called it titty with the kids. Among the adults, it was known as suckin’ tit. lol My older daughter tried to say ‘nurse,’ and it came out as nu-nu.
Boobies!!!
I was raised in a family where the adults were less than sensitive/appropriate about these things, so I’m all for making it so respectful/neutral that one almost doesn’t even realize the whole name thing is even happening. Otherwise, the whole future therapy bill is kind of spendy.
)
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I grew up with both extremes. I had my mother who was very liberal and even crude at times. Then there was my father who was very reserved and we never said any word to refer to breasts. I decided to make teach my son the closest to medical terms so we say breasts.
Nummies when they have milk in them. Breasts when they don’t. My boys (5YO and 3YO, but especially the 5YO) are intrigued with the whole thing.
Mine were Tatas. This word worked for us. Other friends called their breasts Mamas, but this word was confusing and overwhelming for me because I heard that name/word for every other need. Mamas are in great demand! Also, I did have to work, so I used a combination of breast milk and formula. Somehow, tata just worked for our situation.
CJStewart the word “nummie” when they have milk in them is excellent! Nan the word Nu-Nu sounds very natural and I can see how this term came about.
I’ve seen breast cancer awareness t-shirts that say “SAVE the TaTas” and this rings true for my family!
When my child wants to nurse, he says ‘Nonnies.’ That’s a word he came up with all on his own (he’s almost 2 now and has been saying it for probably 6-8 months). Of course when we are talking about them in conversation for my older children (who don’t nurse), they are, of course, breasts. (And we also use ‘penis’ and ‘vagina.’)
We simply use “milk” for nursing, along with the ASL sign for milk. My eight month old son has understood both the word/sign for a several months, so we’ll likely stick with that. As for my breasts themselves, I like “tatas” as a cute nickname and “bosom” as an old timey and charming one
And “breasts” are fine as a functional term, but I prefer that body parts also have adorable or humorous nicknames instead of purely functional ones. If the whole world went around only saying “breasts” and “penis” instead of enjoying the infinite variety of nicknames out there, it would be a pretty damned dull place!
My son used to say NUH for what was his version of nurse…but my husband & teenage niece also were around a lot & they called them boobies…so eventually he started calling it boo boos & still does at 2 1/2. He has been nursing up until recently when I think my milk has dried due to being 5 months pregnant…so now he asks for a boo boo pillow & just rests his cheek against my breast. I don’t mind him asking for boo boos – but people are really confused that my child insists on a boo boo pillow!
Oh – and OTHERS do seem to mind…breast feeding is not the norm in my area….but I have decided to let them have their issues & just parent how I think I should. I want my son to grow up doing what he feels is best regardless of what others around him do or what they like/accept…so I figure this just allows me the chance to start being a roll model of that early!
My 2 year old usually says, “I want milk,” or “I want to nurse.” He knows the words “breast” and “nipple.” He asks Grandma, “You don’t have milk? You just have nipples?” We always called it “milk” and for a long time, he referred to the whole thing as “milk.” He doesn’t drink cow’s milk, though, so milk only comes from mom to him.
Breasts. She calls nursing NurNur though.