Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

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

Can't get baby to settle after bf.

5 replies

Reiltin · 24/06/2013 17:03

My baby is 3 weeks old today. It's taken a while to get the hang of bf but we're on the right track at last! The biggest problem now is that she is a very inefficient eater. I am trying to train her to only eat when she is at my breast, instead of suckling. However, even if she's eaten properly on both sides, she won't settle for more than five minutes before crying, rooting & chewing her fists. I've tried all the advice I've found online, without success. Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas what I can do? Thanks!

OP posts:
tiktok · 24/06/2013 17:13

This is normal behaviour, reiltin - just put her on the breast again. Many young babies will go from breast to breast and back again. I don't understand when you say you are training her to eat when she is at your breast - the comfort sucking she will do is normal and desirable and important....why would you think you should not support her doing this?

ExBrightonBell · 24/06/2013 19:15

Please let her suckle if she wants to. Bf is a supply and demand thing, and the suckling is the baby's way of stimulating your breasts to produce more milk. If you try and interfere with this process you could risk disrupting your breastfeeding. Also, it's one of your baby's main comfort mechanisms at this age - I don't understand why you would want to prevent her from being comforted by you.

Reiltin · 24/06/2013 20:15

Partially because I've been told it by three health professionals at this point! Also for my sanity - being stuck bfing all day is frustrating - I can't even go to the bathroom or take her for a walk without her screaming. If this is normal, I can do it. However, all the information I've gotten so far tells me that she needs to be sleeping more than she currently is.

OP posts:
ExBrightonBell · 24/06/2013 22:03

Did the hcps explain why they were giving you that advice? I'm interested as I have not come across this before.

At the same age my ds could not be put down hardly at all. He slept on one of us, or at night he would sleep in a sidecar cot as long as I was in constant contact. Will he sleep on your DP?

Have you tried using a sling? I couldn't due to issues with my c section wound, but I know some people swear by them.

Sorry not to be of more help Hmm

ExBrightonBell · 24/06/2013 22:24

*she not he, apologies.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread