Need a hug - difficult weaning :-(

[Hannispan]

My almost 1 year old DD2 is still barely eating solids and has recently started feeding all day and all night presumably as she needs more calories. This combined with her incessant biting/clawing/scratching while feeding means that I have thrown in the towel and as of today am only letting her feed twice a day. My theory is if the little horror darling gets hungry enough she will eat the food. However, I have not accounted for the stubborn nature of babies. She has not eaten since she woke up, has screamed and spent most of the morning trying to get my boobs out (apparntly she can unclip my bra herself - now why can't I find that it her firsts book?) Please tell me this get easier? My DD1 self weaned at 18 months but was on solids from 11 months and dropped feeds slowly and steadily between a year and 18 months - she also never bit me.

Hannispan how would you feel if you got the biting/clawing/scratching sorted out? Would it help to get this sorted first and then work on reducing feeds and upping the her food intake?

Have you tried talking to a Bfing Counsellor?

hug hug hug

echo julie, if she stopped biting would you want to keep feeding?

yes it would but i'm a trained breastfeeding peer supporter and i have tried everything and nothing work. I guess the satisfaction of biting is just too nice! Thanks for the hugs though

It's a tricky time - there's a big developmental spurt around 55 weeks, and in the weeks beforehand babies often get clingy, cry and are grumpy and often sleep less too. I know of a number of babies who have wanted to feed constantly when working on this developmental spurt.

Could you try swaddling for feeds to reduce the scratching at least?

Hannispan good to know that you are a trained Peer Supporter but do you think you would benefit from talking to a Bfing Counsellor, even if its just to offload?

Have you tried teething gel before a feed? Sorry if this is really obvious. I also used to take DS off and say "No, you must not bite people. Would you like something to bite? How about an apple?" which some people were disapproving off, saying he'd bite just to get the apple, but actually it worked quite well, possibly because biting an apple is much nicer than biting skin, or a teething ring. And he could ask or point to an apple at any time of day anyway so he didn't have to resort to biting me to get one.

Do you have a partner? Could you at weekend take your DD1 out of the house for a nice day out and leave DD2 with your partner so daytime boobs not an option for the weekend. You'd then be back at 6pm for a bedtime feed. Also invest in a poloneck, tucked in at the waist with a belt.

My SIL moans that her DS2 can get into her breasts, but she helps him by always wearing low cut tops. He is 18 months and it its NOT any easier - she works full time so now he spends all day at the weekend and all night feeding.