'I Breastfeed My Sister's Baby. Can We Normalise This?'

A mum, who breastfeeds her niece to help out her sister, says wet nursing should be normalised.

Emily Boazman, who has 115,000 followers on TikTok, shared a video of herself breastfeeding her niece, saying she was nursing her sister Kate’s baby while she eats and recovers. Emily’s sister adds: “I’ve already fed her. She just loves to nibble.”

“She wants to nurse 24/7, so I’ll just pop in and give her a little feed so Kate can get stuff done besides just nursing,” adds Emily.

While the concept of wet nursing, or breastfeeding someone else’s baby, isn’t new (we’ve previously featured another aunt breastfeeding her nephew), it’s not as common as it once was.

@emilyboazman Would you, or have you nursed for someone before? #nursingformysister #wetnursing ♬ original sound – Emily Boazman

And judging by the comments, there are plenty of people who are uncomfortable with wet nursing.

“My jealousy would never allow this. That type bond is really special,” one mum commented.

“Weird a f to me I would never let someone nurse my baby,” said another.

In a follow-up TikTok, Emily shares several different videos of herself breastfeeding her niece, and at times, also feeding her own child.

“This used to be such a normal part of culture, and now its considered weird,” she captioned the video. “It truly “takes a village” and I think it’s so special to be able to feed my niece.”

@emilyboazman The slap at the end.???????? But truly, this used to be such a normal part of culture, and now its considered weird. It truly “takes a village” and I think it’s so special to be able to feed my niece.???? #ittakesavillage ♬ Little Life – Cordelia

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

25 Comments

- - Ellen said
  - 24 Apr 2024
    7:30 am
I have no issues with this. Wet nursing has been a very common practice. The only thing I would consider that it can impoact the milk supply from the mum

- - mom101628 said
  - 07 Feb 2024
    1:14 am
The two sisters are happy, and the baby is getting breast milk which is so much better than formula, and that is all that is needed to be said.
- Ellen replied
  
  24 Apr 2024 , 7:26 am
  So true, I agree with you
- - mom239570 said
  - 04 Feb 2024
    3:17 pm
This is only weird if we make it weird. And if there’s no parental consent.

- - tessie said
  - 04 Feb 2024
    12:05 pm
I don’t think it’s something to be weird about. There’s nothing wrong with feeding your sister’s baby to help her out. In this day and age though, I’m not sure how I’d feel about non family members feeding my child.

- - mom265671 said
  - 01 Feb 2024
    9:22 pm
Whatever works for them! Fed is best. Why is it an issue for anyone

- - ChiWren said
  - 01 Feb 2024
    7:09 pm
If it works for them, all the power to the ladies.

- - cassy26 said
  - 01 Feb 2024
    5:50 pm
Honestly each to their own. I personally dont see a problem with this at all if everyone is happy.

- - Chelsea1905 said
  - 01 Feb 2024
    8:24 am
I think it should be considered more normal, I wouldn’t be super comfortable as I don’t have a sister but I think it was so valuable in the past and peoples ideals would shift.

- - Mum_Em said
  - 01 Feb 2024
    7:49 am
Fabulous! I think it’s wonderful. And if they are both ok with it then no one else shouldn’t be. Wet nursing used to be very common practice.

- - Three.girls.hubby.and.me said
  - 31 Jan 2024
    8:16 pm
Good on you!

- - mom93821 said
  - 31 Jan 2024
    4:24 am
The history of wet nursing is extremely interesting and well worth reading.

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 31 Jan 2024
    12:30 am
My only concern would be that it would change the milk supply for the baby’s mum and the wet nurse – if she is feeding her own children. The composition of breast milk is different at different baby ages too.
- mom93821 replied
  
  01 Feb 2024 , 5:36 am
  All very good points to consider.
- - mom57569 said
  - 30 Jan 2024
    9:31 pm
We really do have a very narrow minded approach to things. If your sister needs help isn’t that is all that matters?

- - BellaB said
  - 30 Jan 2024
    6:55 pm
I’m not sure I’d have wanted this, but if everyone involved is happy and consenting then I can’t really see a problem.

- - mom468034 said
  - 30 Jan 2024
    11:57 am
If they’re good with it, then that’s all good! Wet nursing many generations ago was much more common. It’s really no one else’s business ! Fed is best!

- - MoM418449 said
  - 30 Jan 2024
    9:56 am
How beautiful that her sister can help out! The baby and mum are both benefiting.

- - mom160270 said
  - 30 Jan 2024
    9:24 am
If everyone is okay with it, then no worries.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 30 Jan 2024
    8:55 am
So long as everyone is comfortable with it there’s no issue. As to people worrying over bonding- a child is not going to remember who fed them, once weaned they quickly forget all of that as they move towards more milestones. I think this is less weird than people feeding kids past the age of 2.

- - Ellen said
  - 30 Jan 2024
    8:26 am
No problem if they’re both happy with it.
However it would effect the milk supply from the biological mum when she lets someone else feed her baby on a consistent basis.

- - Gwen2620 said
  - 30 Jan 2024
    7:21 am
I was babysitting for a friend, we had babies the same age and she needed feeding – I fed her!