DS is now IMPOSSIBLE to BF

[kittypower]

DS is nearly 6 months and has started on solids which he loves but this has made him totally impossible to breast feed. He is very active and always squirming etc. It has got to the point now where I just can't bf him as he gets distracted by anything, he will start feeding and all is good and then as soon as he sees something out of the corner of his eye he has to pull off to look at it and squeal in delight when he sees it, he will then go back to feeding for about 30 seconds and it start all over again - if he see's anyone eating near by, he just stares at them and this morning was watching dh eat toast and just opening his mouth and trying to get to the toast - all this means i'm really struggling to feed him and end up expressing after battling with him to bf for the last 30 mins or so. I have tried feeding in a quiet room, I have tried a muslin over my shoulder and his head so he can't see any distractions (he just finds this funny and laughs!)...has anyone got any suggestions?

Have you tried a nursing necklace?

thanks for the idea but if I am wearing any necklace he has to stop every few seconds to have a look at it and a play so distracts him further

Just had another 35 min battle to try to make him bf - anyone have any advice pllllllllease!

I can only offer the suggestions that helped a little with ds who is also a wriggly distractable feeder.

Take him upstairs, feed him lying down with the curtains closed.

Catch him when he's asleep - wait until he's in a lighter stage of sleep (twitching, wriggling, but not waking iyswim) and feed him then.

Catch him just after he's woken from a nap.

Feed him when he's tired.

Go back to work and only be able to express about two ounces then - although obviously he'll have fluids & solids while you're away, he'll still be desparate for milk by the time you get back and feed even if the telly is on full blast and exciting pets are walking past and lots of things are going on. Oh, and let him feed all night too.

Ignore that last one....

DD is/was exactly the same. I figured if she was hungry, she'd eat - but it took me a while to work this out, as DS had been such a voracious feeder at the same age, and wasn't distracted by anything.

I like the idea of the nursing necklace, although haven't got one yet, and she is 11 months now, so I'm obviously quite good at not getting around to things. She now fiddles with my hair whilst feeding.

She would ONLY feed in her room, in her feeding chair and only if she was ready. So I gave up fighting to feed her when I was ready, and just did it when she was ready. It took me a while to realise her feeding pattern was changing as solid food was increased. Der

Just go with it, you can't force her to feed if she isn't interested imho.