Just when I thought we'd turned the corner onto easy street . . . Miss A is so incredibly distracted by everything going on around her that feeds during the day are turning into a nightmare. She wriggles and squirms, pushes her little feet off anything they can reach, looks around (usually without releasing my nipple first) at any tiny noise or movement. I've tried taking her into a darkened, quiet room but that means she then just grabs for my face, my other breast, her hands, my hair - you get the idea! Feeding in public is just out of the question now. She's so distracted by the world around her that feeds last barely 2 minutes of on/off on/off.
Is this just another phase in the wonderful and challengiong world of breastfeeding that will pass, or is it what I can now expect until she weans at whatever age?
They go through these phases. But at this age they are more sufficient at feeding so probably get enough in that time. I am finding with DS at the moment that his feeds are shorter but he's feeding more often. But hen they get older like with DD I tell her to feed or boob goes away and she doesn't get it which usually gets her to latch back on rather quickly.
DS still does this at 10months lol - I express for work days so have given up! If I know I'll be out for a feed I express and give him the bottle. Otherwise we frequently missed feeds or my boob hung out for 45mins lol.
In the meantime, you can try a breastfeeding cover - or simply a light muslin over her and your shoulder to keep her focused, a large, chunky or colourful BF necklace, actively engaging her while she is feeding (so constant eye contact, maybe some singing, holding her hand, or drumming your fingers on your chest to keep her attention longer.
Maybe if you can, one or two feeds a day, go off into another room where it is quiet and dark and lay down together or sit comfortably and make sure he has a good feed.
lol. such inquisitive little creatures arent they!! just today i went and feed Spock in the little m x m cubicle in the parents room, just because all it has is a chair thinking she will have a good quick feed and not be distracted. ha! she was still distracted! i am lucky she doesnt take my nipple with her when she looks around but she pulls off and i still shoot across the room so everything gets covered by milk!
a necklace is a good idea. i have a purple heart teething one she can hold on to. or she goes for my glasses which means i hold her hand most of the time and talk to her.. works sometimes.
Yeah, it's very normal and very frustrating. One day we were out when DS1 was that age and he refused to drink all day because there were distractions. I was really worried at the time, but he ended up making up for it later and being fine. I agree with the suggestions of the cover and necklace, and also that they can drink a lot in a short time at that age.
Watch the signs of milk intake, too, it can be really reassuring to see that they are getting enough, even with the antics! 2 minutes may well be long enough for her to get what she needs, too
Good luck!
DD does it to me too - wriggling and squirming and looking at everything. I copped a foot in the face this morning. I'm not sure which is worse - twisting her head and staying attached or pulling off quickly. Fingers crossed it passes
Thanks everyone. I've ordered a necklace so hopefully when that arrives it will work its pretty little magic.
I tried using a muslin wrap while we were out last week. It was hilarious. Sitting in Dome with it first over my shoulder and Miss A, with me peering inside at her. That lasted maybe 3 seconds before she'd pulled it off and tried to strangle us both with it. I then tried over both of us - must have had people watching us thinking I was a nutter and had alfoil over my windows at home! - and she still pulled it off, wrapped it around, chewed it etc. So all in all using the muslin managed to only provide her with something way more interesting to play with than the goings on around us, and I think the extra attention her antics drew meant that maybe there was 1 person in the entire cafe that DIDN'T cop an eyeful of my entire boob on multiple occasions. Pretty funny really.
Will give the playing with her idea a go though - have been deliberately going as far the other way as I can to try to get her to concentrate on the job at hand and hadn't thought that could be counter productive.
She's an extremely happy baby most of the time so I'm assuming however its getting in there, whether mainly all at night or enough during her lightning raids during the day, its more than enough for her.
emmjayt - yeah, you're right. Both pulling off and not pulling off are equally painful at times. I hope your little miss stops soon too.
Gosh that made me laugh lulu! The local Dome sees a lot of nipples here too as its one if the only pram friendly places to get coffee and eat. Lol. Let me know how the necklace goes please as I'm thinking we need something here too for similar reasons that you do. They're just so darn busy!!
Gosh that made me laugh lulu! The local Dome sees a lot of nipples here too as its one if the only pram friendly places to get coffee and eat. Lol. Let me know how the necklace goes please as I'm thinking we need something here too for similar reasons that you do. They're just so darn busy!!
Ah that lovely stage!...... My older 3 did grow out of it, but I don't remember how long it took. I think I used to play games with them (tickle cheeks, smile, talk) to keep them looking at me. My DD was the worst for taking nipple with her. It surprised me just much a nipple can stretch!
If it makes you feel better my 11 week old is starting the distracted stage already (well I suppose he has 3 older siblings to watch.)
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