Pinching / scratching, how to stop?

[Tissy]

Back again with yet another b/f query!

For the last couple of weeks, dd has been using her fingernails on me whenever she feeds, and I've had enough! It starts as soon as she latches on, and only stops if/ when she falls asleep. Sometimes its a pinch, sometimes a handful, sometimes scratching. She goes for any available bare flesh- face, breast, shoulder, arm, neck, the other nipple.... I've tried calmly removing her hand, holding it, substituting a toy/ piece of clothing, but nothing seems to work- it has to be a good tight handful of flesh! I'm covered in bruises and scratches, and b/f is now such an unpleasant experience, I'm seriously considering giving up, if it doesn't stop soon. Any ideas?

BTW dd is 8 mos old.

Yes, I'd like an answer to this too! Ds is 7.5 months!

Tissy, I can't help but my non/bf dd is doing this at sleep-time too so I don't think giving up would make a lot of difference.

When she does it take her off the breast. She will soon associate that behaviour with breast removal and will stop doing it. Also keep her nails short if that doesn't work

M & S do some bigger sized scratch mitts, so you could try those when feeding?

I asked my mum about it last night and she said - 'hold his hand' - I let him hold onto and squeeze my finger while he was feeding and he didnt go for the breast at all except near the end when he kneads it rather than pinching, to try and get more milk out I think.

Tissy, I hold dd's hand when I can and it does help although she pulls it away sometimes. I think that the scratching etc has become a sleep association!

Hand-holding just annoys her and makes her wriggle a lot! I'll maybe try the scratch mitts, although I'm reluctant as she had to wear them for months when her eczema was bad- I felt that they were stunting her development!

Last night I tried the breast removal trick, and she just got VERY annoyed, the feed took over an hour with all the interruptions, and she only stopped pinching as she was eventually so tired that she fell asleep before she got a chance to stick the claws in!

My youngest did this as well and it's blimming annoying! I used to hold her hand but I didn't prevent it 100% as, at the age of 6, she still occasionally 'necks' (as she calls it!!) me, stroking and tugging at the delicate skin on my throat. I shall look like a scraggy old rooster before much longer.

Scratchmitts -- why didn't I think of that? Or just sox on little hands. I was about ready to rename DD "Claws", too.