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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Is it wrong to put ear wax on your boobs?

48 replies

AlanasMum · 27/11/2006 13:10

I'm trying to think of ways to stop my little one wanting to breast feed as I'm fed up with it.(dd is 11.5m
Whats more she's biting and none of the biting tricks have worked.
Are there any other 'safe' magic potions that might put her off the boob.

OP posts:
Trinityrhino · 27/11/2006 13:12

wouldn't marmite be easier and less gross for you

TheSnowMammyM · 27/11/2006 13:14

stop offering her? and yes, earwax on the boobs is wrong, wrong, wrong!

Original poster
AlanasMum · 27/11/2006 13:16

She likes Marmite. I'm not so much offering as shes trying to take them out. I want her to stop wanting them

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 27/11/2006 13:17

Putting something unpleasant tasting on your breasts is a mean trick, IMO

breastfeeding has been a special time for your dd and now instead of being something lovely and comforting it has turned revolting.

There are many other ways of weaning without resorting to tricks like this. There is some information about weaning here

colditz · 27/11/2006 13:17

PMSL

It's not poisonous.

ISawTortoiseKissingSantaClaus · 27/11/2006 13:17

Ewwwww!
Offer an alternative and don't offer the boob if you really want to stop. It may take a while for her to accept it though.

hatwoman · 27/11/2006 13:22

i have to disagree with trinityrhino - I'd much rather smear earwax on them than marmite. marmite's stickier and stings and will stain your bra a particularly gross colour.

CantWaitForTheSnow · 27/11/2006 16:49

Does sound a bit mean . There must be better ways of doing it.

Ellaroo · 27/11/2006 16:53

Oh no! Just don't get them out...no need to go down the earwax route!....surely there are limits to your supply of earwax anyway...or were you planning to use other people's as well? Am now having visions of an earwax bank for those who want to stop, like the milkbank for those who want to carry on.

Original poster
AlanasMum · 27/11/2006 17:14

hmmm perhaps I hadn't fully thought out earwax idea.

She started pulling up my tops (or down depending on style) I keep saying no but that just send her to tears. I try to cuddle her lots as I think the breast feeding is more for comfort than milk. But the biting is v painful and I don't know what else to try saying no doesn't work nor has refusing she just cries till I give in (even if its after an hour which is v. painful for me as well)

OP posts:
3andnomore · 28/11/2006 09:14

yikes about the earwax...no idea how to wean an uncooperative Child, sorry, as mine weaned before I was ready for them to do so, sigh!
And pmsl at Hatwoman...does that mean you tried the marimite trick then, or how do you know???

sputnik · 28/11/2006 10:25

If you're really determined then don't give in no matter what. Otherwise you're teaching her that persistance works eventually and the whole process will be prolonged. Do anything you possibly can to distract her, take her out, make her laugh, whatever. HTH

Plibble · 28/11/2006 10:40

I only looked at this thread because of the bizarre heading...

I agree with Sputnik. An intermittently enforced message will only teach your child that persistance pays. Plus it is not really fair to make her cry for an hour or more and then to give in.
I think if you are going to say no, you have to be really sure and to stick to it.
Can you get someone else to look after her for a day or two? After a couple of days without your norks, they may begin to seem less important to her.

princessmel · 28/11/2006 10:49

Hi Alanasmum, I have no experience of this as I'm still bf my dd but I'd say if you are SURE you want to stop or cut down then I'd try some of these.
Go out lots- hopefully it will take her mind of of bf.
When in house use distraction techniques. Lots of playing rather than sitting cuddling/reading when she may feel like a bf.
Wear high necked tops. On Justine and Carries show, Mums the Word, for the channel Discovery Home and Health they even suggested wearing a swimsuit under a jumper to restrict access!
I really feel for you. HTH

Lio · 28/11/2006 10:51

Don't know, but it makes for a cracking thread title

FrannyandZooey · 28/11/2006 18:16

"An intermittently enforced message will only teach your child that persistance pays"

do we not want children to learn this? I think I am reading from a different hymn sheet to the rest of you

I don't think an 11.5 month old is manipulating her mother here, she is stating her needs. If you want to stop breastfeeding, then do so, but please do it in a way that is respectful to your dd and her very real need for comfort and nourishment. She isn't having a tantrum in the supermarket because you wouldn't buy her a plastic toy, she is asking for her milk, which kept her alive for months and is still very important to her. It isn't a discipline issue fgs. Give her some slack here.

mrsratty · 28/11/2006 18:22

I went through this when DD was 2 1/2. The only way I could stop was to stop completly. I tried cutting down on night feeds or day feeds but it only worked when I really had had enough and I had the will power to ensure that no meant no.

You have to be really sure of yourself if you want your baby to accept thast you really mean no. It will be tough for both of you for a few days but well worth the effort if you are serious.

hunkermunker · 28/11/2006 18:23

I agree with Franny.

Your DD has only ever known you as somebody who bfeeds her. She has gained a lot of comfort from this, and clearly enjoys doing it.

Do you have to stop - either for returning to work (although you can work and bfeed), or for other reasons?

Earwax or other nasty tasting thing is v unkind, IMO. Imagine you get comfort from something and all of a sudden it's taken away from you and replaced with something v unpleasant

mrsratty · 28/11/2006 18:29

I also told my daughter that she had drunk all of the milk and there was none left, She still points to my boobs and say 'i drink it all up' and sounds so proud of herself!
My DD was older so that may not work for yours.

Original poster
AlanasMum · 28/11/2006 21:20

I love the idea of her drinking it all up I just wish she was a little older.

Hunker - The main reason is that she keeps biting me, but also she has become very irritating when she feeds - pulling my hair, sticking her fingers in my mouth and up my nose, trying to push me away while shes still attached (Ouch!!!). At first I thought these were attention seeking things, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

I appreciate that sticking something on them is probably cruel. I will try more of the distraction tecniques and hope they work as the cuddles clearly aren't.

OP posts:
beansprout · 28/11/2006 21:25

I agree with Hunker and Franny. Ds is 2 and we are still b/f. I have spent hours and hours with him pulling, poking, scratching etc while feeding. It's rarely welcome but I just try to discourage him. I often read while I am feeding him and I suppose he needs something to do as well!

Please don't do the earwax/marmite thing though

FrannyandZooey · 28/11/2006 21:32

Alanas there's lots of info about biting here . Older babies fiddling around while breastfeeding can be really irritating but she is just experimenting. Some mothers successfully use a nursing necklace, a pretty and strong necklace around their neck to distract their baby while feeding. There are lots of other techniques to try here - what you describe is really normal and doesn't mean you have to stop breastfeeding.

By all means wean if you have decided it is time for you to stop, but there are ways around the problems you describe, and many many advantages to carrying on.

welliemum · 28/11/2006 21:33

What F&Z said.

KristinaM · 28/11/2006 21:35

I have an 11.5 mo too and he bites ( sometimes), pulls hair, pokes my mouth and nose, tries to stand on his head while BF etc ect. I think its just a stage

what about trying to restrict her feeds to when she is tired and less likely to do this? and giving a bottle / cup the rest of the time?

welliemum · 28/11/2006 21:35

Er, both of what F&Z said!

(Not keeping up here!)