My son does great nursing throughout the day, but come night time and around the time before bed he won't seem to nurse unless I pay full attention to him. If I look away or move my hands away from him, he immediately pulls off and then turns right around searching for my breast. This happens continuously until the feeding is over. Which leaves me to stare at him and talk until the feeding is over. How can I break this habit and why does he do it? He's 8 weeks old today.
2007-08-23 15:47:06 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Please don't think I don't WANT to pay attention to him. But, when he feeds for 30 minutes at a time staring at him becomes monotinous and I like to read a book or close my eyes and relax. I love my son with all my heart and wouldn't stop this...I just want to know why.
2007-08-23 18:24:40 · update #1
Yeah, well, that's what he wants. I remember 2 friends having that occur as well. It's not a habit. It is how babies are programmed. What they did is just listen to music while nursing. Your baby WANTS to look in your eyes. That is how they operate.
2007-08-23 15:52:23 · answer #1 · answered by CarbonDated 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have a 7 month old boy, and he has gone through numerous stages of nursing. I think you'll just have to wait this one out - it probably won't last long - and then deal with the next one. You'll notice the same happen for sleep habits. What seems impossible to deal with one month, somehow disappears the next month and is replaced with some new habit that also seems tough to deal with!
My boy's current habit is if there is ANY noise (lawnmower, daddy comes home, A/C clicks on, you get the idea), he stops nursing and won't latch back on even if he hasn't finished what would normally be his meal. So an hour later we're back in the glider again. And forget feeding at a mall or in the car - WAY too many distractions there! Early on, his habit was to nurse 24 hours a day (I'm thankful that only lasted a couple weeks)!
2007-08-23 22:57:01 · answer #2 · answered by Heather 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are stuck giving him your undivided attention I'm afraid! In my experience (nursed 3 babies) once they start to realize that there is something to look at besides mom's boob, they get so nosy! Once my babies reached a certain age, I couldn't read, talk, move my hands (like you said), or tend to my other children. They would pull off to see what the commotion was, then go right back to nursing. So at night I just sat and relaxed, and tried to enjoy the moment (as my mind raced thinking about all the things I could be doing!)
2007-08-23 23:12:14 · answer #3 · answered by casper 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Distracted baby while nursing is a hurdle. My daughter has gotten worse as she's gotten older. She digs her nails into my skin. Try looking at some articles on the Kelly Mom Breastfeeding and Parenting Website. There's several different methods you'll just have to see what works for you and your baby.
2007-08-23 22:59:40 · answer #4 · answered by jmw 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My 2nd daughter did something similar to this for awhile. Like another answer said they enjoy looking into your eyes! Try to find the quite time to just give him your attention and enjoy these moments as they fade so quickly!
Also I use to put colorful toys or clothes in my babies line of sight while they were nursing to give them something to look at of intrest and keep them latched on with out distraction. Best of luck!
2007-08-23 23:36:55 · answer #5 · answered by Rosie 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry that I don't have any solutions. We went through a phase when my daughter did that too, but she was several months old at the time. It passed without us doing anything, so maybe the same will happen with your little one.
2007-08-23 22:53:15 · answer #6 · answered by Ann W 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
why does it bother you? he's ONLY 8 wks old. you are the most important person in his life, without you he will perish. this is only the barest beginning of the attention children need. YOU'VE got to find a way to adapt.
2007-08-23 22:55:54 · answer #7 · answered by goodcook 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The little stinker wants you wrapped around his finger. They'll do that.
2007-08-23 22:53:26 · answer #8 · answered by lillilou 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋