how do you fix nipple confusion?

[missytequila]

my 3.5 month old has started to not latch on properly and my nipples are very sore! she doesn't seem to open her mouth wide anymore...she puts lips together as if she is using the bottle...she also has started wiggling around a bit more while feeding, which makes her come off a bit and again my nipples suffer. my husband gives her one expressed bottle a day so that I can get some extra sleep...do I have to give this bottle up to make her breastfeed better? I hope not.... any suggestions??

maybe it is teething related? she is chomping on absolutely everything all day and does have a significant amount of drool...?? can baby start teething at just 4 months?

Hi we have a 13 week old who has gone through a similar thing. He became lazy at latching and kind of expected it to just happen - my nipples weren't suffering quite like yours though as this is DC3 and i think they are hard core by now! that was a couple of weeks ago and i panicked and thought the expressed bottle will have to go! But as my other two have successfully BF with one expressed bottle I wanted to keep with it. I need my sleep so much and it gives me a chance to getto bed at 10! So i spent a couple of days really concentrating on getting him to open wide before letting him feed and he very quickly got back on track but not without quite a few stressful feedtimes for me. If you are giving one bottle at night and that tends to be a dreamfeed they are not really aware they are feeding. I would get DH to tickle his lips with the teat and wait for him to open for the feed and also use avent bottles and teats. It worked for us so its worth a try. Then 3 days ago he started fussing and crying at the boob and pretty much packed up feeding for the day- again panic stations. In hindsight he is becoming very aware of his surrounding at the moment and also looks like he is teething too so i have fed in the quiet and a dimmed room and also took my time winding him and making him smile and laugh in between latching attempts - also tried covering him with a blanket and feeding whilstwalking round the room shhhhing!! Pretty much all the tricks in the book. The darkened room and feeding whilst walking has worked every time even if not immediately. He has again now settled back into a normal feeding routine and my poor engorged boobs are back to normal! These are all worth a go to see if they work for you. Really sympathise with how you are feeling. But try a few of these tricks and if not drop the bottle for a week and then you could reintroduce it again later....as in when you are shattered and need that early night! Hope it all settles for you soon