Inappropriate or Age Appropriate?

My 3 year old cousin likes to rest his hand or head on my "bosom" (specifically; not my chest and I know it's intentional). I try not to make too big of a deal about it (to avoid drawing attention to negative behaviors and tempting him to do them more) so i'll often simply redirect his hand to a more appropriate place (higher on the chest or my shoulder). A quick google search suggests that this is age appropriate and that toddlers begin to become more aware of things like that in this stage. However, i'm still not sure if I find the behavior inappropriate or age appropriate or how to deal with it.

He only watches cartoons and is only around his mother, father, me and his grandmother all day so I'm 99 (really 100%) sure that he's not being abused or anything and is a happy, healthy, veeeery active but also emotionally sensitive boy. I'm not sure if I am projecting my own issues onto him and am just hyperaware of it because it makes me feel weird when he does it because he and I are super close and I don't want to be sending the wrong signals to him unintentionally.

That is completely normal for a 3 year old. One of my sons used to nuzzle in on his babysitter's chest. It wasn't something he did with me though. She was a large, well-endowed woman. We laughed about it, deciding he found the unique experience of cuddling with a women with large boobs comfortable and cushy (large boobs were not something he experienced with me by any means).

If it bothers you, just gently move him off of you or to the side. That would be an appropriate correction.

Thanks, I do move him to the side, or move his hand but he puts it back there. I think the gently moving him off of me (likely through an excited distraction of some sorts) would be best since it does make me feel icky.

Lol, your son and the babysitter. *hugs*

Totally normal for this age... No worries!!

I think it is an age thing but I don't think it would hurt to tell him you do not want him to put it there (he has to learn that sometime, it isn't going to be "intuitive" :-) I think it is sort of like with my grandson biting his mother's breast and her anger/"No!" behavior and moving away, etc. If he puts his hand on your breast you have to tell him "No" and if he persists (at that time) then he cannot be in contact at all with you (at that time). It's a boundary issue; you are allowed to determine who touches you, how, no matter what their age!

Everything goes at 3. As long as you make sure it doesn't continue