Distracted baby when feeding.. HELP!

[Happymum1985]

Subject says it all really... DS EBF and is now 4months old. Up until this point, he was a great little feeder, but the last couple of days feeding has been a real challenge! He latches on, feeds for a few seconds, then takes his head off the nipple and has a good look around before diving back on. Sometimes he stops and smiles up at me, but if I take it that he has finished, he starts screaming until I let him feed again!! What the hell is going on here!!

Be thankful he takes his head off your nipple before looking about. My DS used to clamp down tight and then look all around the room stretching my nip to lengths that should never be allowed. Then he would laugh as I squealed in pain...

I think this is quite typical around 4 months. I used to have to feed dc3 in a darkened room with all TV /radio off. I couldn't even read a book.

He's just pleased with life, taking it all in, and communicating with you (and possibly other people who are around/ walk past/ have a look at something that makes an interesting noise/ see something across the room that catches their attention etc etc). It's really common at this age. If you are stuck for time or have one that doesn't let go before looking behind them (also v common) then take to feeding in a v quiet darkened place for a bit. This is really v much hassle, but possibly the only known cure.

It's better to roll with it, be grateful that the baby is developing normally, interested, alert, and accept that passing strangers are going to get an eyeful of your breast whilst the baby has his attention elsewhere, but inherently there's Nowt wrong with it.

It is a pita, though, however life-affirming.

Haha ok so totally normal!!! Thanks all! I was worried he was getting bored with milk!!!

He's just learning lots!

I used to feed my DD with a hand over her ear or in a dark, quiet room.

This too shall pass!

We use a nursing necklace to keep the focus. It also helped when my ds started fiddling and pinching while feeding.

Nursing necklace, or feeding them in a sling or a quiet room for some feeds but it's totally normal and a phase that will pass :)