Why do babies sometimes seem to have a sort of strange 'ritual' when feeding?

[SurferRosa]

I've noticed with both my boys,( currently feeding DS2, 3 weeks) that there are times when you introduce them to your breast, and they don't seem to want to latch on immediately.

They seem to do a sort of 'dance' around your nipple, with their mouth...breathing really fast, rooting as if they can't locate it although they are right there and could latch on in a second if they wanted to.

It's like they are so excited or something, they have to sort of 'worship' the nipple for a few seconds! Does anyone know what I'm on about or is it just us?

Any explanations...I mean it's lovely, their eyes go all wild, but I can't figure out what it's all about!

[GreebosWhiskers]

Sounds cute I haven't noticed ds do this but I'll keep an eye out from now on.

His 'party trick' is to refuse the right breast completely resulting in it drying up & me going totally lop-sided as the left side is working over-time to produce what he needs

I take it you're a Pixies fan btw? I love that album.

[Squitch]

My DD used to do that - was very funny apart from when I was REALLY tired or REALLY full then I just wished she'd latch on and feed.

She's 16 months now and I still give a night and morning feed, but she stopped doing the 'dance' about 6 months i think. (We used to call it the 'rave' coz she looked wild eyed and mad!).

I also have no idea why she did it, but it was lovely and very cute!

I love that Pixies album to btw

[rainbow83]

dd2 did that once when she was a newborn- on the day she was born actually. i'll never forget it! the midwives were insisting on giving her a bottle coz she'd not fed in 8 hours (typical) but i just KNEW that she knew where to get milk from when she wanted it- from that wondrous look she'd had in her eyes! she never did it ever after that and shes now almost 6 months old.