I have been successfully breastfeeding my daughter for over 4 months, but over the last few days, after latching on, she has been pulling and turning her head away to the side- but with her strong suction, she tries to take my nipple with her! She has started doing it at almost every feeding, and my nipples are starting to get sore. I take a break from feeding her and try to burp her but it doesn't seem to help. Has this happened to anyone else? Why is she doing this and how do I teach her to stop? Sometimes she smiles while she is doing it- almost like a game... Any theories/tips are appreciated!
My little one does this too, he's 4 1/2 months. It's because everything distracts him and he forgets that he's still latched on. Although sometimes I can tell he's playing just to see what he can do.
Pacing the room for 10 minutes or so helps settle him down if going to a boring corner does not.
I have 6 children and brestfed them all. I noticed at about 4 months of age they start to realize that their evnironment responds to their actions, when my baby would pull while latched on I would unlatch them, set them down and walk a way or ignore them. They would quickly realize that that is not the desired response. no more pain and no anger just simple consequence of being ignored. After a moment I would pick them up and love on them.
I hope that is helpful
Hi!
I bet she is teething. I know this sounds crazy but pop her off right away. Tell her that it hurts you. Wait a few minutes then put her back on. Sometimes they just are reacting to the pressure they are feeling in their little mouths. I have a 2.5 year old dude who did it and a three month little girl who started also. A tooth broke through last week for her. It is early but it happens. Try Higlands teething tablets if you see any hard lumps along her gumline. It will pass. I promise.
Kindly,
R.
Yup! Four months is the time when that little personality starts to emerge. They become more aware of their surroundings and also their own effect on things. She is playing! And she may be starting to teethe, too. Yes, it does hurt. My fourth was a POWER sucker and when he did this - yikes! Just keep in mind that this is absolutely normal. I learned to anticipate it and deflect it most times. When it happens, just remember that it means your daughter is developing, she is bonding, she is growing.
Hello B.-
I am a mother and a feeding therapist, but not a lactation specialist, so be sure to also consult a lactation specialist. You may want to ask your pediatrician to check her for reflux. There is a reflex that some children do when they have reflux that sounds similar to what your daughter is doing.
Best Wishes,
H. Pyper, M.A., OTR/L
Great job BF, keep it up! ALOT of babies do this at that age. THey begin teething and sometimes the suction or position hurts their gums. Just reajust her, that should help. Find a lactation nurse through your hospital or local Le Leche League group they will be able to help more. Or, know that it should pass in a couple days.
My bet is she's teething...it probably hurts to suck.
-M
My 4 month old son has started to do the same thing. I thought it was so funny and cute at first, but now it is kind of annoying. Luckily he unlatches before he does it though. Sorry I have no advice but thought I'd share that your not the only one experiencing this.
K.
It sounds like she is teething. When my daughter has done something like this, she has gotten a tooth in the next few days and then she statyed latched on as before.
Hi B., you're so cute and I know how that feels OUCH!! I have 3 children. Big kids now. Anyways, maybe wait a little past her feeding time so she's extra hungry and won't think it's play time. I know that's hard to do, but just a thought. Take care and good luck.
My daughter did this at that age. She was so interested in everything else that was going on. This is the age where they really seem to notice everything in the world around them - it is so magical to watch their looks of wonder and awe.
The smiling isn't because she thinks it is funny to yank your nipple, but because she is just noticing all of the wonderful sights and sounds surrounding her.
The advice I was given was to try to nurse her in a darkened room, when possible.
Of course that isn't always possible when you're out and about, so I would use my sling or a blanket or sweater to cover myself slightly so when she did turn away I wouldn't be exposed.
It shouldn't last too long, so don't worry about it.
It's normal, as babies are undergoing a surge in cogntive development at this age and waking up to the world. I agree with the suggestions about nursing in a quiet place with few distractions. It will pass, but new joys and challenges will surface. Congrats for sticking with breastfeeding!
My son did this at about that same age (he's 8 months now). I also asked this same question on mamasource and overwhelmingly got the response that it is most likely she is very curious about looking around and gets easily distracted from eating. I made a point to close the curtain on the closet for less stimulation when feeding him in his room, or keep the lights off so there is less to see. Needless to say, he did get over it and does not do that anymore (Thank God because he's gettig teeth now!). I would just remain patient with her, let her explore her new world, and do whatever you need to to stop the soreness!
Hi
She is at the age where she is beginning to notice the world around her. Both my kids did this! Just keep a finger ready to stick in there and break the suction as she is pulling away. You can also put ice packs and lanoshin on yourself after each feeding
Good luck
My son did this too at about this age. I would just take him off. When he would get agitated and want to continue nursing, then I would put him back on. I would continue this until he caught on that if he wanted to keep eating that he needed to stop this behavior. It didn't take very long. Later, when he got older and nursed more efficiently, he would get agitated when the milk supply was done on one side. I'd just switch him over to the other side and he'd calmly nurse again. Hang in there...just wait until she gets teeth!
Dear B.,
I am grandmother now, but remember when I went through the same exact thing at 23 with my 4 month old son! 28 years ago we didn't have the decent doctors that will tell you the truth, but I had to figure it out on my own. I was not producing enough milk and it wasn't coming out fast enough for the little tike! I eventually got what you call, mastitus, which is an infection in the breast. I eventually had to give him the bottle with sadness after going through this. Are you drinking enough water? Sometimes a beer will stimulate milk. I just don't want you to have to risk yourself at getting this infection because it's not good. Please see if you can get a pump and try to pump yourself into a bottle. Sometimes they can get it out faster with the bottle. They will get used to this, but at least you will be giving her mother's milk. I wish you all the blessings my dear and don't give up. Lots of water to drink!
B.
Yes! This is the age when they start to become distracted by their environment...they want to see everything!!! It should settle down soon, try nursing in a quieter, darker room for the time being, maybe with less distraction she'll get down to business. :-)
Hi B.,
Could be she's starting to notice the things around her and wants to check it out. My son would do this some, too. I tried to nurse him only in the same spot every time (glider in his nursery) to limit anything "new" to look at. I'd dim the lights, play soft music, just trying to create a relaxing, boring atmosphere. I would also make sure Dad and the dogs would keep out while I was feeding; if they walked in, he'd want to check it out and take my nipple along, too. Best of luck and try to hang in there. As I'm sure you've been told, breastfeeding is great for her. Good job!
OMG! My little boy does the same thing! My mom told me he is just playing. What I have done is wait until he is REALLY hungry before I try to nurse (maybe 3.5 hours between feedings rather than 2.5). This has helped me.
That's exactly what I'm going through with my son. He is interested in EVERYTHING happening around us...
I've done this:
1. Always nurse in the same spot, alone (or with others being very quiet), in semi-darkness. Turn off all music or TV. I usually read while I nurse.
2. When he pulls my nipple with him, I angle his body a little further towards me and keep my hand behind his head to make a barrier should he choose to pull back.
Good luck with your little puller! :)
Sounds to me like she's just starting to play, my son (he's 11 mos old and still nursing) gets to doing some really annoying things while he's on the boob - and some of it hurts! He started all that at about 5 or 6 mos - but boys tend to do things a little later than girls (oh, ya - and he's a preemie). She'll find something else to "play" at soon, it's just a phase - as long as she's growing and not getting dehydrated she's ok. I've heard of a type of colorful beads that you can get to distract her, I think you wear them while nursing - maybe she needs something colorful to look at so that she doesn't get bored and want to play her new game? Anyway, I've nursed a few kids and there does come a time when they start distracting themselves like that, probably out of boredom.
How often are you feeding her? Maybe she's using you for teething or as a pacie. I had this problem with my son but not for very long. Once he did it I put the boob away. He wasn't really hungry. Sounds a bit rough but it really wasn't. He was feeding between every 3 hrs to every 4.5 hrs and gaining VERY well. He started to want to feed more but did this and I nipped it in the bud. I always gave him a chance at first, they could be increasing your supply ie growth spurt, but if he played around it showed that it wasn't necessary. Hope this helps! :) Good luck!
Btw, my first breastfed until 9 months. He weaned himself.
B.,
It is pretty normal. Around 4-5 months they become much more aware of their environment. I found it helpful to nurse in a quiet room (no TV) with few distractions. I also found it was helpful to nurse laying down (harder to whip their head around when they are laying down). It will pass. In the meantime, watch her while she's nursing. If she quits sucking and swallowing be ready to stick your finger in the corner of her mouth to break the suction if you need to do it.
:-)T.
Dear B.,
It isn't a game for your daughter - she isn't trying to frustrate or hurt you, really. A lot of times it is because of us that they change with breastfeeding. Did you introduce a pacifier recently or anything else new to her mouth??? She could be having some confusion in that. Also, she could just be feeling a tenseness within you, relax and let it go. My daughter had nipple confusion earlier on because a nurse in the hospital gave her a pacifier (without my knowledge) that wasn't anything like ME & so, she sucked on that thing, and then I wasn't like it! It was very frustrating, but I had to learn to not let it bother me & relax. She got back to normal & fed without issue. Good luck & God Bless.
