GainesvilleMoms.com

So....

a really good friend of mine who has asked to remain nameless (for good reason!) told me this babysitting story:

She had a baby and was sitting for a baby boy who was always very cranky. Now with a baby of your own it's hard enough every day but with one that's not even yours...I felt her pain. One day she had had it with his fussing...she lost it! Guess what she did? She whipped off her shirt and...you guessed it...she put that baby right on her breast and fed him. He went right to sleep and slept right on until his mom picked up her "sleeping angel." She never did it again but she had a great rest of the day!

I know people used to and still do have nurse maids but I think it's kind of gross!

I think it is better that he be happy. As a mother though, I would have preferred a call from the babysitter advising me of her plan. I would have rushed home and fed him myself (if my child). Of course, I am not sure where the Mom was, or even if this was possible. I think not telling the Mom is the biggest crime here though-not the act.

I absolutely agree, LEW. I'm guessing there was no backup bottle available, and her actions were a last resort. I would have felt like my trust was violated by her not calling me to see what I wanted her to do. It would be because of that, that I would not have her watch my child again. It's my rule that you call me before you do anything with my children that I have not previously said is OK.

I cannot get over this one. It makes me sad that a mom trusted her infant to a woman who did not respect her, or the baby, enough to call her, or even tell her afterwards. Her child had an experience she does not even know about. When I had a Nanny (who was not my mother as I have now) she would write down everything my son ate, drank, every BM, nap etc. I would be devastated if something like that were left out! Not good, not good!

I actually did a blog on this milk-sharing topic a while back. (You can click here to read it.)

I agree with you all in that I would have definitely wanted a call letting me know my baby needed more milk so I could come home. I'm sure the woman had good intentions as she didn't want the baby to be upset. But you never know if other moms are going to be OK with that. I don't think I would be comfortable with my baby nursing from another mommy.

Unless it was medically necessary I would not let someone nurse my baby. It was quite common in times passed though.

EEeww! That's a little weird. I would be a bit bothered, but then the mom who did it sounded desperate with seemingly had no other alternative. I know people who have nursed other babies, and like Mary said it used to be quite common. It's just not very common in our society today.