Did anyone else's BF baby turn into a nightmare when they hit 12 months?

[Writerwannabe83]

DS has just turned one and has a BF when he wakes up, before his afternoon nap and again at bedtime. I say to him, "Do you want some milk?" and he comes toddling over and off we go.

However, over the last week he's become a feeding nightmare.

He's constantly pulling at my clothes trying to get to my breasts. He will pull shirts apart or lift my top up or down (whichever makes me more accessible) and this happens anywhere and anytime.

When I'm feeding him he is CONSTANTLY wanting to switch from side to side and getting really frustrated if I don't swap sides quick enough. He will spend about 1-2 minutes on one breast and then want the other and this routine can go on for a good 10 minutes.

He keeps walking over to me in the middle of the day, pulling my top open and really crying until I put him to the breast but then all he will do is suck on my nipple instead of actually feed. I obviously take him off and put him back on the floor and then he starts crying again and tries to crawl back on my lap whilst pulling my clothes apart again.

I don't know what's got in to him.

I'm hoping it's just a phase because it's making BF'ing no longer a nice experience.

Just a thought but this might not be a specific bf issue and more a "being one" issue?? i wasn't bf at this point I should say!! At maybe 13-14 months ds had his first proper tantrums(in the library no less- I was mortified). Just checking out his level of free will by being a bit of a sod challenging. I think that they sort of get the idea that they can exert their choices on us a bit. Perhaps treat this as you would him grabbing at anything else he isn't allowed? I'm assured that it will stop any time in the next 3 years.

That's a really good point actually as lately he's been much more stroppy if he doesn't get his way. Stopping him from doing something results in him throwing his head back and wailing at full volume.

It certainly seems like his current mindset is "I want what I want and nobody is going to stop me".

Maybe the feeding issue is him displaying this "I rule the roost" behaviour.

I've stopped now but my 1 year old screams blue murder when he finishes his sippy cup of milk or his bowl of yoghurt or his banana and I'm sure if he could reach the fridge or fruit bowl he would be constantly trying to help himself...
He is definitely asserting his opinions more now though we have yet to have our first proper tantrum.

Oh yes, we can have full on theatrical tears about absolutely anything nowadays!

My DS is 15 months and has been like this for the last two! It's infuriating! He was night weaned and mostly sleeping through and now he wakes up and cries, pulls at my clothes and frantically demands milk (we do baby sign so he just repeatedly signs it). Throughout the day he is the same, he'll eat his food fine but wants milk pretty much hourly. I've just been having to refuse and put up with the fall out which is horrible.

I'm pregnant with number 2 which is making it even more exhausting!

I don't have any advice but lots of sympathy and wanted to let you know you aren't alone.

A tiny part of me is hoping his molars are on their way through and it's comfort for that but its been going on such a long time now!

Oh. Just to add he's been occasionally tantrumy since he hit 12 months but this is definitely another level of demanding!

I'm blaming the molars for ds's current grumpyness too Allstoppedup but I think that if it wasn't wanting milk it would be something else. DS isn't bf anymore and his shape sorter gets the brunt of his frustration. I'm 28 weeks pregnant at the moment and the tantrums are knackering.

I'm 25 weeks. So pregnant and knackered I don't know how preggers I am!!

Yep, I got one too...well, nearly 13 mo...almost cluster-style feeding at night at the mo...also dropping a nap, also not far off walking, also into every bloody thing (batteries, electrical items, wood working tools - not remotely interested in anything baby friendly), also really clingy velcro baby, also got molars coming, also building up a nice little tantrum repertoire (angry sqwaking/arched back/loud fake crying)...also utterly hates being changed and constantly threatens to fling herself off the changing table... also got a bit of a cold....sigh - good job she's so really bloody cute that writing all that still makes me smile fondly about her!!!
She was awake for 2.5 hrs last night between 12.30 and 3, prancing about, singing, 'bla-bla-ing', patting me enthusiastically when I vainly attempted shush-pat in between cluster-feeding and bouts of flinging herself about trying to get herself to sleep, nutting me on the jaw and bridge of my nose several times and finally conked out draped across my chest with her fist jammed in my throat...Ahh the joys...my 9 yo was ill too so was in with us...we both lay there and tried to ignore her jolly japes....

writer you could try not offering a bf during the day at all? Ds hasn't had milk during the day for a while now-just morning and bedtime.

My 12mo has been like this for a month or so now. She's fine if she's with her grandmothers or her dad, but if I'm around she goes through spells of wanting milk all the time. She'll whine and point at my chest until I feed her, or if she's within reach she'll grab my neckline with both hands, yank it out and stick her head down my top. Very dignified!

She started walking and talking around the same time so I think it's got something to do with that?