BF wriggly distracted 6mo - does this pass?

[Gill79]

My 6mo DS is still bf for most feeds although he's been having a meal of solids once a day for a couple of weeks and is now regularly having a bottle of formula a day too.

The problem is he's become so wriggly when I'm trying to bf him - he'll have a few sucks then throw his head back to look over his shoulder or suck on my arm instead, then come back. The arm on top is constantly hitting me, of hitting himself on the head, or he'll be grabbing my face or grabbing whatever I'm reading. Feeds are very unsatisfactory as I've got no idea if he's fed properly, and end up offering him feeds more frequently during the day to make up for it (and cause he's had tummy trouble for a few days I'm worried about dehydration)

Also I can't read, watch TV or talk to anyone as he's so distracted, he keeps hurting me and exposing me when I'm feeding in public - all in all a tiring experience and I'm beginning to lose patience with it although in theory I'd like to carry on for a while.

Is this normal? Does it mean it's time to bf him less or is it a stage that will pass? TIA for any opinions!

[zwiggy]

mine does exactly this, resulting in waking up many times in the night for serious feeding cos he's been pissing about all day. i can't even whisper to dh whilst he's feeding. I think its cos he has got to the age where he understands cause and effect. All normal, i find it quite amusing, but in denial about it turning in to a malcolm and mrs merton scenario

[MakemineaGandT]

totally normal. At around 6m my DS1 started this, and I ended up giving him a muslin cloth to cuddle/fiddle with during feeding as a distraction. It worked a treat and I ended up feeding him until he was over 1. The side effect was that he became very attached to his muslin, which he still has 2 years later.........

I stopped feeding DS2 MUCh younger - just couldn't keep it up second time around (so don't worry if you decide to give up bf....you have done the important part....don't be a martyr about it!)

[Gill79]

Zwiggy - MY DS IS CALLED MALCOLM!!!

[Gill79]

thanks for the muslin idea G&T - will give it a go. Now I remember that the "clean cloths" that I used to sleep with as a child were muslin cloths.... Really don't want to give up just yet as enjoy it when it's goinwg well and still waiting for the promised weight-loss to kick in! Also it's the only thing that will get him to sleep.

[zwiggy]

is your surname mrs merton? my weight loss has kicked in, I have lost a stone and a half, bf, sleepless nights, peanut butter and kitkat chunkys - latest fad diet!

[Gill79]

ha ha my surname is.... mer***. So close! How old is your DS Zwiggy?

[Gill79]

although malcolm's not called malcolm mer*** - that would sound odd - he's got DP's surname.