7 month old breastfeeding?

Question

My son has recently started pushing himself away from me with his hands while breastfeeding, but he's still latched on. He'll push on me and stop, push on me and stop, he'll do this for like 10 minutes quite fast, until he gets sleepy and then he stops. I thought maybe it was that he couldn't breathe very well so I pulled him away from me a little bit so there was nothing blocking his nose but he kept doing it. It's nothing I'm too worried about, I just thought it was funny and was wondering if anyone else's baby has done this?

Answer 1

My daughter started getting like that around that age. If it's something that hurts you let him know gently that he can't nurse while he's hurting you. Be sure not to scare him though or you might cause a nursing strike which is much tougher to deal with. He certainly does NOT need a bottle as one person said. My daughter is 17 months now and her new thing to do while nursing is push something with her feet constantly. Be it my face, my arm, the arm of the chair etc.. They move on from one thing to the next. As they get older they have to do something with their free hand all the time too. My daughter likes to check my teeth, nose and pull my hair!

Answer 2

My son did that when he was breastfeeding, I had no idea what it was. At first it was funny but then it quickly became annoying. Just because when I would nurse him, I would want to sit and bond nicely, not be pushed and pulled away. He never stopped doing it.

Answer 3

lol. Yeah my 7 month old does this. I don't mind at home, but it makes it REALLY difficult to nurse her in public. She also pushes with her feet too. It is like she is trying to see how far she can push herself away while still latched on.

Answer 4

Both of my children did somewhat similar things when I was breastfeeding. My Dr said it was very common. Babies are so curious and love to explore and see what is going on - even when you are breastfeeding them. Before I weaned my daughter (at 1yr) she would even try to stand up while breastfeeding! If it is really bothering you, you may want to consider weaning him. You want to keep breastfeeding a positive experience for both of you.

Answer 5

Yes my daughter did it.
I think they get full but they don't want to stop, also at this age they like to move around alot so keeping still whilst nursing is a challenge for them.
Every time she moved away I stopped her nursing to see if she wanted a burp sometimes she did sometimes she didn't. Although it wasn't my intention, this whole action-consequence thing taught her to stay still whilst nursing.

Answer 6

Our 7 month old is now on foods and a bottle. He does same thing sometimes with his bottle and just refuses to touch it so we give him his food and then try again with bottle.

It is indeed totally normal, I think sometimes he just doesn't want some milk he wants food instead that's all :)

Answer 7

My daughter did that too when she was around that age. She was not hungry, but needed to suckle to wind down and sleep. She's 14 months now and still does that sometimes.

Answer 8

Could be that the milk isn't flowing fast enough for him. Try doing breast compressions while nursing and see if that helps.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/15breast_compression.html

Answer 9

My oldest did this. I let him transition to the bottle. If your not careful, he might bite you. lol Its just his way of playing with his food! Dont worry, its normal, but sounds like he can have a bottle now, so as not to hurt you!

Answer 10

my 3 week old i breastfeed her only because she cant have formula but you breast milk is the best for her or him but goodluck on your baby