My Toddler Dialling Down

This is my toddler dialling down.

It’s 7pm. We are in a busy restaurant. It’s loud. Bright. And he is starting to feel his cortisol levels rise.

Instead of melting down, he stands up out of his high chair and lunges towards me, desperate to breastfeed.

As soon as he does, his body relaxes and I can feel him dialling back down to zero.

Breastfeeding isn’t just about food. Babies and toddlers will use it as a tool to calm themselves and emotionally regulate.

This is a *good* thing.

This is a *useful* thing.

In order for them to eventually learn the skills to dial down and emotionally regulate on their own, we need to help them practice.

Georgina Dowden is a mother, midwife and lactation consultant (IBCLC).