I couldn't help comparing the action of a baby kneading the mother's breast
as quite similar (in action and possibly outcome?) to what I have observed
with puppies and kittens.

They knead either side of the mother dog/cat's teat on which they are
attached.

I have always considered that such behavior was a way of stimulating milk
letdown.  Do you suppose that babies experient and discover that they get
more milk (richer? milk) by doing so? Human infants are pretty darn smart
and things that affect them.  Though they may not be able to tell us
(verbally!) what they are doing or why, might this be what they really are
doing--besides feeling good because they are stroking, kneading, etc
mother's warm soft breast skin?

Just another inquiring mind in awe of the intellectual capacity of the
human infant....

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
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Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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