Hi moms! I'm guessing this is normal but my 13 month old likes to pinch and tweak my nipples while she is breastfeeding. Any suggestions on how to get her to stop in a gentle manner? Do they grow out of this on their own? It hurts and I tell my daughter that but she just smiles, keeps nursing, and twists away! :) Thanks moms!
Thanks for all of the responses! Things have improved a tad. I am just trying to her those busy little fingers involved in other things instead of nipple tweaking. Some days it works, some days not. Oh well! Just another joy of motherhood and breastfeeding. :)
I would try holding her hand. I had to do this with my daughter, because she pinched until I was bleeding.
You could also wear a necklace for her to play with.
An Australian friend had me laughing so hard about this I couldn't breathe. She called it "dialing in a better radio station."
It's so common, I believe it is a reflex -- very often you'll see an infant just wave that free hand around in the air. The additional nipple stimulation should help with overall milk production. But when you are trying to breastfeed in public, it's hard to keep a straight face when that little hand grabs you and pinches!
See if you can't hold her hand? It's probably very, very hard for her to stop, especially if it is some sort of reflex. I don't know for sure that it is, but it is just so common.
Check into a nursing necklace. It's an interesting necklace that baby can look at, tug, hold & twiddle. You can make your own or purchase one.
LMAO! Sorry I had to laugh cuz my 21 month does this ALL the time! Its quite annoying and I am always pulling my shirt own over the other nipple to try to discourage her but she protests and tries to yank it back up. Some days she gives up and finds other things to do and other days she finds her nursing session cut short since she won't stop and I get annoyed with it. Do you have a nursing necklace? They have big chunky beads on them especially for baby to chew on and check out while nursing. Some babies enjoy them alot and it gets them to stop the annoying side of nursing. I had one but my other children took it somewhere and lost it. I just don't see a reason to buy another one this far into it. I am just hoping she quits it. Good luck! I will be reading others posts as I am dealing with this same thing!
Hi J.,
I'm sure you've tried but I have my son something else to squeeze. What worked for him was the random chicken with the egg that squeezes out of it's bum. Boys like gross stuff so early on!! :)
Good luck!!
T.
Ok, so my little boy started putting his fingers in my mouth while he was nursing. And although he has long been weaned (over 3 years), he still wants to put his fingers in my mouth for comfort (at age 4!)
LOL
Oh I only laugh because I know what you mean! :)
It's normal, it hurts, but I think its a way they feel more connected to us? Maybe instead of letting her play with the other nipple, hold her hand or give her a set of toy keys to play with.
Way to be a breastfeeding momma!!!!! :) And that little smile you talk of, they're so adorable. Even when they're causing us pain, how could you not smile back? :)
My daughter started pinching and rubbing when she turned about six months. Someone suggested I buy a TAGGIE and I did not realizing how exspensive and unnecessary but it did work. She became attached and I made some of my own instead of buying them. As I started to wean her off the breast her attachment to the Taggies left as well. Of course she still has some habits that just remind me and others that she was a breast fed baby. She is three now and she still loves to rub and pinch while she is laying next to me or sitting in my lap.
Put a band aid on it! That and give baby something else to play with.
