BF manners in a 6 month old?

[JoinTheDots]

Hi all.

Recently my DD (6mths) has started to really insist on pinching, kneading and digging her nails into my flesh when feeding.

It really hurts. I keep her nails short and even file them to make them as un-claw-like as possible, but she still sometimes manages to break the skin.

Things I have tried:
Wearing a necklace which she can fiddle with instead. Its not as good apparently, she quickly ignores it
Keeping her hands gently trapped, she wriggles out of any hold I get her in, or cries if I swaddle her arms
Saying "no, that hurts mummy" and unlatching her - this seems to be a little to complex for her and she just gets frustrated that I keep interrupting the feed.

It is not every feed, so I am just putting up with it, but its getting worse as she gets stronger. I have yelped a few times and scared her, and once I had to put her down for 5 minutes as I was getting quite frustrated myself, with the pain and the octopus arms I needed to fend her off.

Any ideas?

I was going to suggest gloves

Ooh tricky. DD did the kneading and pinching when she was little (2-4mish) and I think that was definitely about supply. But it would be a bit odd at 6m (unless this has only just started and she is having a growth spurt) so it sounds more like she is playing.

DD prefers playing with my face which is also annoying but doesn't hurt so long as I have cut her nails. Popping a small soft toy into her free hand sometimes distracts her from exploring my nose.

How close is he to sitting up? From about 7-8m DD has also enjoyed sitting up in my lap to feed rather than lying down, this gives her a better view of what is going on around her and means she is less likely to fidget and pull my hair.

it isn't fun is it but it doesn't last. Gloves may work but i think a firm no and remove is a good plan She'll get the message that if she wants milk she can't pinch Good luck

the dts (nearly 5mo) have been pinching more lately, bloody hurts, and dt1 tonight discovered that if she bites really hard then pulls off she can make me scream which sent her into fits of giggles .

re the pinching, I try and keep my finger under their free hand, and this seems to make then grip/ungrip my finger instead of pinch. also it seems better if they're really hungry instead of snacking. not that I want to discourage snacking, but until this phase passes... (it will pass, right?)

as janitor says - this behaviour can stimulate let-down so it makes the milk come faster! It doesn't necessarily mean supply is low, usually it's just a case of the baby discovering this cool new trick she can do with her hands.

I think if you keep placing gentle obstacles in her way, and you are consistent, she will probably get the message albeit with some frustration along the way. Could you allow the kneading but discourage the painful stuff?