6.5 month old batters me while feeding - is this normal?

[peakaboo]

In the last month or so my 6.5mo DD has started hitting my face, scratching my mouth and chest when feeding-she can't seem to calm down although she enjoys the feed. It's worse when she's lying down to feed - she kicks incessantly too. I know it's not personal and she doesn't mean to hurt me but I'm starting to feel mauled and it's making not want to bf any more, especially when she does it at night when my energy reserves are lowest. Any advice or experience with this?

Have you tried different positions? DS got to the stage where he hated the cradle hold and was much happier feeding lying down (more freedom I suppose)

Yes and it doesn't seem to make much difference - the underarm hold is best but she still wiggles around to be close enough to kick and flail.

Have you tried lyning down with her? Also good excuse to have a snooze

I think they do grow out of it eventually

Mine does this (still very occasionally at 11 months and a half) - especially when he is tired - I think that half the time he is trying to do his rhythmic thing to get to sleep but on bits of me, and the other half he is just playing! Either way, ouch!

I've been combining the following things (which usually work depending on his mood):

1. Pinning the offending limb and/or saying "No" firmly and consistently - can be holding the limb completely still or hooking it over an arm to limit the damage as it were!
2. De-latching when it's happening and then holding the limb and saying "Mummy owie, no kicking/punching/jamming your toes into mummy's arm", though that often ended in him giggling...
3. Having a nursing necklace (I used a normal one with enough strength to withstand a bit of tugging), or a toy to play with while nursing
4. Nursing near something that he could kick to occupy his feet/hands

Course, now he's trying to crawl whilst feeding! Got to be some way to convince him he can't take it with him!

Hope some of these help though, it's frustrating at the best of times, let alone when you are exhausted with night time feeds!

Thanks very much for the suggestions, will try them. Lying down is actually the worst as she can kick me even more. I suspect, having read your post Dakiara, that it may be frustration at needing to stay in one place.