Breastfeeding in public - Nightmare

[kellieb7]

One of the things I love about Bf'ing my DD is how convenient going out is and have really made the most of it. However DD is becoming impossible to feed when out and about and is disturbed by absolutely everything and will just keep popping off to look at whatever is there, she will keep trying to relatch until the next thing disturbs her and so on . . . I end up looking as if I am trying to force feed her and we both end up very wet
I try to find quiet places to feed and also brought a cover but apparently that is the most exciting thing in the world to DD. She is 7.5 months. Does anyone have any advice/experieince of this?

TIA x x

[mumwithdice]

DD is 8 months old. She does this too. I usually give her a few chances and then if she is really distracted, I stop and wait til we get home. When we get there, I take her up to the bedroom where everything is familiar and feed her for as long as she needs.

I have also observed that if she is really hungry for milk when we are out, she is not distracted by anything, but concentrates entirely on eating. Don't know if yours is like this or not though.

Any of that help?

[kellieb7]

That's great, she eats well and will take water from a cup so I don't think she will starve or anything drastic. I think I will probably do the same as it gets silly with her popping on and off flashing my boob to random people.

[organiccarrotcake]

Oh this is sooo annoying. It is a phase many go through when they suddenly realise that there's a world out there! Often, though, as mumwithdice says, if they're not actually really hungry it's worse, so it's worth considering whether to not breastfeed, but maybe offer some finger snack or cup of water instead. If you find she's not getting enough milk I'm afraid it's a find-a-quiet-corner job. On the positive side, it does pass.

[AngelDog]

DS did this from about 8 months. It stopped the moment he hit 11 months.

[kellieb7]

organiccarrotcake even corners are extremely interesting at the moment, its mad what takes her eye. I tend to have plenty of finger food with me but I do start to panic when she hasn't had a BF for a while (PFB) but this is probably more about me than her

AngelDog glad to hear this does pass, I imagined it would only get worse so its good to hear.

[youmustbeyolking]

I can only repeat that it does pass! DS did this for a while butit passed. He is back doing it again but I remind myself that it is only a few weeks and it will pass again. It's a pesky stage though. :)

[kellieb7]

youmustbeyolking it sure is, and she pops off so abrubtly whilst I am desperately trying to cover up

[youmustbeyolking]

I will raise your pops off and see you a 'blurblurblur' licking whilst smiling at me and spraying milk.

Seriously though I found saying "No" and stopping worked. DS soon realised it is not a game. I am hoping he learns as quickly this time.

[AngelDog]

Yes, I used to panic too (also PFB). And I could tell when DS was grumpy and even crying because he needed bf, but wouldn't actually have any.

In fact, he'd scream rather than just be distracted, so I'd have my nipple out whilst wrestling with a writhing, shrieking baby - I never felt it was the best advertisement for bf.

[lagrandissima]

As others have said, IMHE, it's a phase that will pass. In the meantime, try to find a quiet spot for feeds, and keep a muslin handy.

[JetLi]

Oh I remember this. Ended up in feeding rooms or back in the car or other quiet places. It wasn't even so much the flashing, but that feeding her took ages because she popped off at every voice, noise, when the cat walked past, to look & smile at me. She could lift the muslin and peep out as well. The answer for us was very quiet, very dull places for feeds. It does pass, as others have said.

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

It ought to pass, and did with DS1, but DS2 clearly has things to do. He's been like this since about 5 months, is now 7.5 like your DD, and is terrible. He'll suckle until the let-down and then come off to grin at the room, spraying me and the floor with milk. I have to hold his head there, which of course looks like I'm trying to force him. I've taken to sitting on the stairs at friends' houses (and my own, if anything at all interesting is happening) and even that is distracting. He'll feed well if he's starving but otherwise, forget it!

[naturalbaby]

i avoid feeding out and about because of this. i'm lucky that we're not usually out for long or i can feed in the car in peace and quiet if we're out for longer.
if i lean back as far as i can and get him to lie down on his tummy right across me then he feeds a bit better.
any attempt to cover up just results in him waving and flapping whatever i'm trying to cover/shield with, drawing more attention to us! i use lift up tops so keep my hand over his head ready to pull it down the second he comes off.