I have an almost 4 month old DD, who I breastfeed. She has some weird habits that she does when I'm feeding her. Her new one pinching my boob the whole time she is feeding, and she leaves claw marks too. She also thinks milk comes out of every part of my body. She will seriously try to latch on to my arm, shoulder, chest, you name it and there is probably a hickey there from her sucking on me. (She usually only does that while Im sleeping, since we co-sleep)She also thinks milk comes out of her hands and sucks on them all day and gets frustrated when nothing comes out. Last. but not least, she will be nursing and look at me, smile, then stop nursing and laugh like it's a game. Does your baby do this kind of thing? I don't remember my DS doing it while I nursed him.
Yes, my 6 month old sucks on my shoulders when we're showering together. I think she just likes the water beads haha
My son used to stop, look at me, then blow "farts" on my boob then we'd both crack up, rinse, and repeat. He also used to accidentally start sucking on my belly roll instead of my goods--really a self-esteem boost there! haha
She sounds darling, enjoy this time. it goes by way too fast!
LOL- yes... At different times my daughter did all of those things! Stop anything that hurts you though... so she doesn't get into a habit of it. You may be able to stop the scratching by handing her a small stuffed animal or toy.
The laughing is just because she REALLY loves you, and your milk! LOL... It is normal, and I always thought it was pretty darn cute! It is just an extra "bonus" reward for BF your baby...sigh! Not all babies do these things, but when they do it sure can be adorable!
Great Job Mama!
-M.
yes to all those.
When baby pinches/twiddles the nipple - it's usually their way of 'priming the pump' for when they switch over to the other side, or to encourage more let down in the one they are currently latched onto.
The suckling reflex is very strong - which lasts awhile. They will try to suckle anything, but will definitely prefer the breast LOL since that gives them something in return.
When baby looks into your eyes, smiles and laughs - it is because she is showing you how she feels her connection to you. Not a game, but a learning experience for her. She is connecting you to your breasts and the feelings of safety, comfort, love and soothing you offer them.
Oh, my DD does it all. She would pinch the one she is nursing from, pinch the other one... I wouldn't let her (I would take her off the breastand tell her no pinching, and she stopped as soon as she figured out that pinching=no milk.) She started holding onto my bra strap, then started snapping it. :P She never latched on me in weird places, but she used to try to latch onto Daddy a few times! LOL! The hand-sucking thing is just normal self-soothing... she might get frustrated about them because she can't get a good suction on them. You might introduce her to a binky if you aren't against it. She also does the smile thing. :)
Normal! My DD started the pinching though when her teacher went on maternity leave. She still does while nursing and when stressed! Especially when I'm trying to limit her nursing (she's 18 months). we cosleep too and there are still times in the middle of the night when she finds my tummy roll instead of what she really wants! LOL
I was told in the hospital that babies will scratch/touch your breasts to stimuate milk flow. Are you keeping babies nails trimmed? My 9 month old still pats and occasionally pinches and it is more painful when her nails aren't trimmed. Is she maybe asking to be switched to other breast? (is she getting milk when she is pinching?)
As stated below,sucking on hands is usually a sign of hunger.
My baby does that too,she'll stop nursing, smile at me and then go back to nursing.. so cute.
I laughed out loud when I read the part about baby latching elsewhere on body. My baby co-slept with me and on more than one occasion she tried to latch on my stomach! I guess she thought it was soft and cushy too!
Kudos for nursing,I wish more mothers would make the initial effort and reap all of the benefits for them and baby.
All that sounds normal. My kids wanted to latch everywhere until about 5 months. Sucking on her hands is an early hunger sign, get her nursing when you see that! Game playing while nursing is also normal. Keep at it momma, you're doing great!
My daughter pretty much does all of those things and my son did too. So sweet...
She sounds normal to me. The little smiles are the BEST!
Yes, babies do that, when nursing.
When sucking on other things, it is either they are HUNGRY, or teething.
But yes, they do that.
Mine did that too.
my babies did all of those things between them. shes so little :) if shes hurting you, make her stop, either look away or take her off altogether if you really have to, if she is hurting you. its their first lesson in "no" ..... oh man, that stopping cause they are smiling too hard - i miss it so bad i could cry...
Awww so cute! At 4 months they go through a growth spurt so she might be really HUNGRY! My daughter would sometimes knead like a cat, like press on my boobs, not so much pinching though. She also used to rub my back. Too cute!
My son used to do this to me all the time. He had a big appetite and did this. I thought it was kind of funny. Your baby just doesnt want to be too far from the snack bar! The pinching and clawing at your breast is just a comfort and security thing.
My daughter does it and i really like her doing that...but yes, at times her small nails do hurt, and her pinch leave marks on my boobs. One more thing which my daughter do is, she just try to look at the opposite side by keeping my nipple in her mouth, and OMG, it really hurts, i just stop nursing when she does it. There is lot more to come dear, once she start teething you can find her bitting your nipple, when she does it, just slide your finger to her mouth to stop her nursing.
Completely normal! My son was doing that kind of stuff for months. And if you breastfeed long term, look out for other strange behavior, they will start climbing on your while they nurse and changing spots, my son looked like he was doing yoga poses forever while nursing. It's all normal, nothing to worry about. If it bothers you, just gently, but firmly correct it and they stop. We've gotten through everything is a nipple, yoga nursing, biting, nursing on one an turning the other direction taking mama with him....and all sorts of other crazy behavior.
yes! that sounds like my son down to a T! i have so many claw marks!!
She is trying to latch anywhere because she is hungry and you smell like milk! So cute! :o) My son usually had his hands on me while nursing, and I enjoyed the closeness. You are doing GREAT!
