VERY distracted baby.

Hey,

Since DD has been around 3-4 months old, we've had struggles feeding her when we are out and about. She's so distracted, she has a suck for 5-10 seconds, then pulls off and arches her back to see what's going on - and she isn't arching in pain, it's definitely to see what is going on - nosey little thing. Anyway, it got to a point where we just weren't going out very much, but since our trip to the UK - where we were out and about ALL the time, she got better. But since being back here, we're back to the same again. Even when I lie down with her in the bedroom, she is off and on loads pushing herself about the bed and rolling around making me laugh. LOL.

Anyway, for example, the other day we went to my ABA meeting and we were there for 3 hours, it was outside (and hot) and she sat and played with the other babies. Every time I lifted her for a feed, she'd grizzle at me until I put her back down to play. She didn't have a feed in 3 hours! She usually feeds 1.5 - 2 hourly. I have her water bottle on me at all times, so she did get some water.

I've been thinking of expressing so that I have some milk with me too. But I don't usually get a huge amount when I express these days. Maybe 100ml if I am lucky and that is on a good day.

I will say that she'll take boobie eventually but only if she is hungry.

What do you think? Should I express some?
Any other bright ideas for a very nosey baby?

I should add that we're doing BLS so she's not "properly" taking solids at the moment. Not sure that she's getting a huge amount, we're still at the playing with the food stage :)

Thanks guys
Sue xxx

Maybe she's not really wanting a feed that regularly anymore, i would follow her cues and if she seems interested then let her feed for as long as she likes but if not then let her do her own thing.
I find that if DD isn't really hungry she will fuss around and be silly.. i got myself into the trap of thinking ok she feeds every 4 hrs and if she cries around that time she's hungry, turned out that wasn't always the case and she just wanted attention or was getting tired etc.
I guess all you can do is try, she wotn let herself starve and as you said when she's hungry she will feed :
GL.

Did any of the other women at the ABA meeting have any ideas?

Is 100ml in one go of expressing? cos that is pretty good if you will only be giving her ebm sometimes. Maybe she is just getting more efficient and taking more at the times when she is less distracted? I have thought about introducing extra feeds (non breast) but worry about it then increasing the issue. You wrote that she will still feed if she is hungry, so maybe just follow her lead, the world might be just too exciting to feed right now and she knows you will be there later. It's great that she will drink water, my little one loves water.

Yeah, she loves water. Can't get enough of it! And likes to drink it out of a big glass too - so when we have a glass of water, she reaches her hands out to get some, it's so cute.

I guess I just worry about dehydration when we are out and about and it's hot. I don't think I'll introduce anything (except water) that isn't breast milk. Like you say Kate, don't want to increase the issue.

I guess I just need to live with this distracted and busy little baby! You're right ZF, she's maybe just telling me that she doesn't need to feed as often as she has been!

Thanks girls xxxx

It's bloody annoying isn't it? Often this 'phase' passes quickly, but not always. DS was probably 11 months before he could feed in public. We didn't go out much so it wasn't that much of a drama, but still. I just didn't bother trying unless he was about to drop - that was the only way he could stay on task when we were out and about.
Otherwise, yeah, just follow her lead - she seems like a pretty sensible girl :D

A few things....
Have you tried a breastfeeding cover? They aren't just for modesty, and can help keep her focussed by blocking out the distractions.

A breastfeeding necklace - they are made specially so they are baby safe when being tugged on lol but are basically visually and tactilely interesting necklaces you wear while feeding so they stay attached while enjoying other stimulation.

Bubs is at the age now where she is noting the excitement of the outside world - she can see and hear properly now and wants to be involved - a sponge. Feeding is boring when compared to all this other stimulation.
Try not to stress with regards to dehydration - she will not letherself starve or go thirsty, babies are physiologically designed to self preserve, meaning when she is really needing a feed she will let you know about it!

Also, demand feedi g is just that - demand. Her feeding patterns will be changing and this includes frequency. So if she is happy playing, don't force her to feed because "that is when she usually does". Again she will let you know when she is hungry.

Her feeding habits will start changing now even as often as every couple of months as she grows and hits different milestones and develops routines for herself.

HTH :)

Thanks guys!

Marcellus, yeah, she is a smart cookie and knows what she wants when she wants it. And playing is waaaaaay more fun than boobie right now. Even in the bedroom where there is no-one but us!

LS, thanks babe, I do sometimes just forget the demand feeding is just that - feeding when she is hungry. We don't have set times for anything at the moment, I usually just feed when she wants to. I might actually try the necklace idea! I have a few costume type necklaces that would be suitable! Great idea! She does love to get her mitts into things that she shouldn't - a little decoy necklace might do the trick!

Thanks again xxxx