Attachment issues with older toddlers

[Kmn]

Hi,
My son is 2yrs and 8 months, and has suddenly started attaching particularly badly. He's also taken to swapping boobs every few sucks - presumably because there's not much there. I am sore with toothmarks. Asking him to "suck like a baby" works briefly sometimes.
Has anyone succeeded in persuading a determined boobaholic to be gentler?
thanks
Kate

[Indadhanu]

I have no advice, sorry, but am having the same problem with my 2.3yo. Especially the teeth marks which, if she's on too long, REALLY HURT! Would love to know what others do about it!

[Jennifer13]

I had an issue at about 2 years too, first attachment issue we ever had. The long and short of it was despite all of my eforts (even trying to change holds, football hold with a long lanky toddler is challenging, to say the least!), the only thing that completely 'fixed' the problem was time. She grew back to a size that didn't cause damage. I used pawpaw to help healing, nothing else worked. I used advanced wound healing bandaids between feeds (only two a day at that stage) and they had some success, but unfortunately any re-opening set us back. I'm not gonna lie to you, in our case it was about three months before I healed and had no further issues. But I do think by carefully managing the cracks in the meantime it stopped it leading to worse problems.

I would also try to stop the constant swapping. Maybe offer him something else if he's not being satisfied. Explain to him that it hurts you and if he isn't getting enough, would he like a bit of a drink and he can have boobies again later. He is old enough to understand what you're doing.

[Kmn]

I've gone back to pillows for today - and that's a bit better. I generally don't hold him - he pretty much "does it himself", but I am going to have to for a little while!
When I tell him that it hurts he gives me a hug and a kiss and tells me that "it's all better now" and goes back to munching....Cute but not especially useful.

[kelebek]

I find when DS is swapping from side to side that I say to him ok you have already had that side and it is all gone to later, sometimes if he insists I will say ok one more time on that side and we might have to repeat that with the other side but that seems to work the best for us.

As for positioning, can't really help as we feed only at dawn now so are feeding laying down but hope you get it sorted soon