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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

comfort feeding

17 replies

jo999 · 20/03/2006 21:54

wondering if any one has any tips on how to reduce comfort feeding? (tryed every shape and size dummy on the market and he refuses them all!)

OP posts:

LucyJu · 20/03/2006 21:59

How old is ds? Are you bfing or ffing? And how long is he feeding for?

Original poster

jo999 · 20/03/2006 22:02

ds 9 months, bfing, (3 solids meals a day) bfing between 6 -8 times a day how long varies on his mood anything from a few mins to 20 mins

OP posts:

moondog · 20/03/2006 22:06

Ah,he's still very little.
There isn't a place that he would rather be in the world you know!

LucyJu · 20/03/2006 22:16

Not got any great ideas at the moment...

Maybe try to get him to find and use a comfort object like a teddy or something?

Or try to distract him with kisses and cuddles, making him laugh, showing him a book etc?

Original poster

jo999 · 20/03/2006 22:18

i know, bless him, honestly i rather enjoy it too, but I am starting to think ahead and worrying that it is going to be really difficult to wean him if i cant find another way ( its also the only way i can get him to sleep)

OP posts:

Tatties · 20/03/2006 22:19

Not much help I know, but it is ok for you to be his comfort object

moondog · 20/03/2006 22:21

I would make a rough plan if you want a little more space (and I know that feeling well,having b/fed my first for 30 mths.)
Plan say, to go out in a month,leaving your dh/dp to settle him perhaps.

Tatties · 20/03/2006 22:21

Me too, my ds is nearly 12mths, but I'm just not even thinking of weaning. They'll grow out of it when they're ready (I have been assured...)

LucyJu · 20/03/2006 22:28

And, yes, he is very little. So if you are trying to cut down, be prepared to do it gradually. I'm only suggesting you try to distract for a minute or so, to see whether his urge passes. I'm not advocating leaving him to cry it out.

Perhaps you could regularly offer a feed at certain times of the day. After a while, he should start to expect to be bfed at those times - e.g. first thing, after lunch, whatever. If he wants a feed outside of those times, try a little distraction to see if he changes his mind - but if he doesn't, then feed him without any fuss. I think if you try not to make a big deal of it, he's less likely to.

Original poster

jo999 · 20/03/2006 22:30

iam quite happy to have ds dictate pace as i really do enjoy bfing, but having pressure from dh to begin weaning

OP posts:

moondog · 20/03/2006 22:31

Why jo??

Original poster

jo999 · 20/03/2006 22:35

dh dosnet think its right to bf past a year

OP posts:

kiskidee · 20/03/2006 22:39

my lo has just come out of this stage (i think). try unlatching him when he's comfort feeding and you've had enough. if he (or both) of you are half asleep and he protests a bit, try shushing/patting to calm but if he still strops, put him back on - this way you can slowly over time get him used to settling himself. I think it took about a month to six weeks but now I am at the point where dd (now 11 mos) does not need to be bf to sleep. (i think it also helped by my dd showing signs that she was ready to find other ways of going off to sleep)

suzi2 · 20/03/2006 23:09

Jo999 - I may be in the same situation in a couple of months. my DS is 7.5 months and is much the same. Distraction is the only thing that helps - going for walks etc. But I'm trying to enjoy it that he needs me, because soon enough he won't need me. My DS has a dummy but much prefers me when available

hunkermunker · 20/03/2006 23:10

Jo, what's wrong about bfing past a year, for your DH? I mean this seriously - perhaps if you know why he minds, you can stop feeling pressure to stop.

chipmonkey · 20/03/2006 23:50

Jo, the World Health Organisation recommends bfing till at least 2. Does your dh know this?

LucyJu · 21/03/2006 10:41

I think it's sad if you are being pressurised into cutting down or stopping bfing if you don't want to.

Ask dh if he would be so keen to stop ds taking a bottle, if he were being bottle fed. Many people who dislike so-called extended bfing see nothing wrong with continuing to give bottles until the child is 2, 3 or even older in some cases. Bfing is undoubtably best for your son, so why should you stop before you are both ready?

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