suckle

Feed from mother

To suckle is to nurse—either to feed a baby or young animal from the breast or udder, or to take nourishment that way.

A mother suckles her infant; the infant suckles at her breast.

The word has a tender, biological quality that distinguishes it from the more clinical *breastfeed*: The doe suckled her fawn in the meadow.

nursing

breastfeed

Nurse an infant naturally

  • latchDoor-securing catch
  • nurseHealthcare provider, bedside
  • nippleMammary projection

teat · milk · letdown · engorgement · colostrum · lactation · mammary · pump · express · nursing bra

animal

mammal

Warm-blooded, milk-producing animal

foal · puppy · kitten · cub · joey · fawn · udder · teat · dam · litter

maternal

mother

Female parent

  • motherhoodState of being a female parent
  • nurtureSupport growth and development
  • bondBinding tie or connection

oxytocin · prolactin · postpartum · maternity · midwife · doula · motherly · nurturing · provide · sustain

infant

baby

Very young child

nursling · mouth · hunger · feeding · rooting · swallow · gulp · satiate · cradled · arms

comfort

soothe

Gently ease discomfort

warmth · contentment · reassure · nestle · snuggle · embrace · gentle · soft · peaceful · serene

Categories
Opposites
nourishment provision

sucklestarve

Perish from hunger

deprive · neglect · famish · malnourish · abandon

developmental feeding stage

sucklewean

Gradually withdraw dependence

feeding method

sucklebottle-feed

Nourish infant artificially

spoon-feed · hand-feed

Phrases
Family

suck, sucker, sucking, sucks, suckling, suckled, suckles, sucklings

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG