My son is 8 months old. We nurse 4-6 times a day generally. He doesn't take a pacifier so sometimes he nurses just for comfort. Lately when he is nursing though he starts to pinch my breasts or any other skin he can reach. I've tried taking him off the breast, holding him away from my body then starting again, I've tried removing his pinching hand and firmly saying no before continuing. Nothing has worked. Any suggested? Today its bad enough (doesn't matter how short his nails are, he pinches hard and it hurts!) that I've considered weaning him.
Thanks to those who've responded!! I have tried holding his hand and he pinches my hand (which is better then arm/breast/etc) but he wont keep it, I've tried a beaded necklace and a blankie. We'll keep trying those things and being firm. Saying ouch definitely doesn't work, he thinks its funny! :-)
My son is 7 months old, and thankfully he hasn't pinched me yet! He does like to put his fingers in my mouth, or pull my hair. You could try a nursing necklace. I usually just wear a cheap necklace or bracelet, and he likes playing with that.
Good luck!
I think you are on the right track with removing him from the breast. This is similar to when a baby bites while nursing, you remove them, tell them no and don't let them nurse for a while. I think that if you remove him from your breast, tell him no pinching and then take him away from you, it might work. it might take a couple of times for him to catch on but just try that and see if it works..Hope this helps!!!
Kim
Hello! You need to try the new prodcut called a CuddleTug. It is a necklace made of ribbon that you wear and it has ribbon loops all around it for the baby to play with and tug on. It is stretchy too! cuddletug.com
The more you make a big deal out of it, the more pleasure he's going to get out of pinching you. It's hard not to react but try very hard not to react when he pinches you. Have you tried putting a sock on his hand when you are nursing him so he has a harder time gripping you? I don't know what other advice to give you.
My 17 month old just started doing the same thing. She likes a certain blanket so I place the blanket on my chest or grab her hand and hold it. I say owie that hurts and I too do say no. I tell her if she keeps hurting me she can't have bee bee's anymore. I try different things and she never seems to do it very long.
This will probably sound very strange to some but when he pinches you try "crying" to let him know that he is really hurting you. This has actually worked with both of my boys to get them to stop pinching/hitting us. Try this out and let me know how it goes!! KR
My daughter is nine months old and pinches while she nurses too!! I was actually going to ask everyone suggestions as well. She has actually left little bruises all around my chest. I have tried giving her a blanket, teething toy to play with, animal, doll with yarn hair and these work for a very short while with the one hand but then she pinches my other arm with her other free hand. I think that I am going to try putting a sock over her hands like suggested... will be interested to hear any other suggestions and if you find anything that works. Hopefully they will grow out of it? :)
I have the same problem with my 9 month old. She pinches me, grabs my mouth, puts her fingers up my nose, you name it - she does it! I just try to use my free hand to hold on to the "offending hand" and let her play with my fingers. I would just try getting him to hold onto something while he's nursing, whether it's your hand, a toy, or a burp rag. I think it's really common for babies to have busy hands while they're nursing.
