Baby fiddling with nipple, nursing aversion,.....Aaargh

[plimsolls]

I'm wondering if anyone has any wisdom. I'm struggling a little with nursing aversion particularly in the early mornings. Baby is nearly 1 year.

I can cope with the aversion mostly pretty well except for the fact that whilst she is nursing her other hand very determinedly finds my other nipple and twiddles, pulls, flicks and strokes it. I really can't bear it!

I've tried repeatedly moving that hand away, covering that breast, giving her a fingertip to hold, stroking her fingers, directing her to the button on my pyjamas but she's not having it and continues to seek out my actual nipple.

Any ideas why she's doing this and what else I can try? Tends to mostly be her early morning feed.

Really appreciate any advice. Thank you.

Extra info
I don't think I can stop breastfeeding at the moment due to issues with allergies and weaning. I'm reluctant to fully nightwean her for same reason (but will if necessary)

It tends to be around 4:30/5am. If she gets too distressed or active during this feed then she is up for the day. I'm trying to teach her "nighttime" lasts until at least 6am.

Can't express enough milk for a bottle. Allergy friendly formula is rank and she won't take it. Dairy allergy. I could try milk alternative in a bottle.

I'm taking a load of supplements that supposedly help with nursing aversion - magnesium, vit D, evening primrose, some kind of female multivit thing and B12.

No real wisdom to add, just wanted to say that my 9 month old does exactly the same! Like she's tuning the radio 🙈.

She doesn't do it if my other breast is covered though (under a bra / PJ top), or if I'm wearing a necklace as she's more interested in that.

A friend owns a 'breastfeeding necklace' . essentially some coloured plastic bits. She says it really helps give her baby a focus point / something to.fiddle with

Thank you.

I'm going to try sleeping in a soft bra tonight and see if that puts her off.

I'll look in to those teething necklaces, thanks. I feel like it's actually the nipple she wants, rather than just anything to fiddle with but it's definitely worth a try. Maybe if they do a squashy one!

I'm going to try a bottle teat tonight, in case that's nipple-a-like enough for her.

Argh I get nursing aversion and even reading this made my skin crawl

I'd go for some sort of tight sports bra that you can wrench your feeding boob our of and protect the non feeding boob. Uncomfy but better than the awful aversion.

Could you take a teat off a bottle and place in her fingers whilst she's feeding? Or even place over your nipple if it's the physical aspect of her touching your nipple? I've noticed my ten month old constantly playing with teats, dummy teats and nipples given the chance!

Thankfully my 5 month old doesn't do the nipple grab (yet), but she has recently discovered that sticking fingers in my eye and nose while feeding is great fun and produces interesting noises from mummy.

At least it's better than the 'bite the nipple and then twist the head' technique that she also likes to use...

Definitely try the teething/fiddle necklace. They are made of food grade silicone so pretty soft and tactile. Pebbles and Lace is a good company for these.

Is it because your nipple is more available in the early morning that she does it? Can you try wearing a sleep bra/breast pads etc so it's out of the way (so to speak!)

Thanks everyone.

I wore a bralet thing last night and she kept her hands away. I've got some bottle teats next to the chair for back up of and when they're needed.

scoobydoo aversion is so awful, isn't it. I was actually biting my knuckles the other morning just trying to get through it. Such a horrible aspect to something which had previously been so nice.