Does baby rooting always mean "I'm hungry!"

[Janberryxx]

...or can it mean "I want snuggly comfort of the feed but not neccessaily the milk at th moment", or "I'm really tired and I know a feed will send me off to sleep, but I'm not neccessaily hungry" (sory for typos, twins crying at mo!). wondered what yr experiences aare and what advice yr getting around whethher baby reaaly always needs a breastfeed when rooting (think I'm being used as a dummy a lot but they always root, so confused!) many thanks in advance for replies, may not have chance to resp[ond- not being rude, honest- extremely grateful for all comments xxxx ps. my babies are 6 weeks old at this stage

At 6 weeks try food first. Even if they only want to suck to sleep, they'll go to sleep!

My DD is 5wks and I fed her earlier, she came off herself but had definitely had a full feed. I gave her to DH and she started to root again, offered her boob and she licked my nipple and fell asleep. So my DD definitely doesn't root just for food but I offer her the boob just the same as even if she doesn't want to feed, it calms her instantly. I then gave her back to DH and he rocked her off to sleep. HTH

In my experience, I'd say it can mean all those things you listed! But I'd also say that you should always still offer - even if it is "snuggly comfort" (good phrase!) that they want, that's also what the breast is for - and it works brilliantly.

I think it's sometimes just "aw, go on, giz a bit of comfort sucking"
DD is nearly 8w, and she does the same - every time I pick her up she starts rooting.
It sometimes does my head in.
If i don't put her to the breast, she stops after a while, but i have to distract her.
I started doing a mmmm-mwah and kissing her (bringing her to my face or me going to her face on the mmmm), and that seems to have stopped the automatic rooting (or maybe she thinks she's going to get lucky when I kiss her!)

actually, just thought, she also sometimes does it when she needs winding.
It's seriously bizarre - "i've eaten too much and i need to burp, so I feel uncomfortable. because i feel uncomfortable i need to suckle"
I think that's why some people advise trying to wind her partway through a feed (don't mean when she's still eating, but when she comes off or faffs around, wind her then see if she still roots or sleeps on your shoulder)

I definitely second winding and trying again. A baby can feel full with the wind there, and give misleading signals. Drives me mad, too, when I'm too tired to remember all the little tricks...

Does it really matter if they are hungry, tired or need comfort?

If a boob will fix all those things, just give them a boob.

simple exp of some feeding cues here

and what Rita said

My 3 week old will try to latch onto my nose if I try to distract her with kisses cuddles etc My older dds love snuggling with her cos they think she is kissing them when in reality it's licking their noses "give me boob now!" cracks me up every time! It can be so tiring to keep offering boob but ime it is the only thing that calms them so easier than trying anything else. Agree with winding lots tho.

DD does! it's sweet and so funny! but i get spit up my nostrils.

I think I would have found all the jiggling/distracting/winding more tiring than just feeding

This might be of interest too: www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2010/09/baby-is-using-you-as-dummy-its-just-for.html

At 6 weeks - a bf meets ALL those needs you listed, hence why baby roots x

Will try again to make it clickable! www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2010/09/baby-is-using-you-as-dummy-its-just-for.html

oh it is, Rita , it really is.