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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

DD keeps switching breasts every 20 seconds

26 replies

tb73 · 09/07/2008 22:00

My DD (11 months)is constantly switching between breasts - every 20 seconds! It's driving me mad. Has anyone else had this problem? What can I do to keep her 'routed'! Also, why do you think she is doing this?

All advice greatly apreciated.

OP posts:
Bumperlicious · 09/07/2008 22:10

DD is doing this too, been meaning to post for a while. She is nearly 13 months and gets v upset if I don't have both boobs out. Makes feeding v awkward atm! No advice though, just going to watch your replies

Twiglett · 09/07/2008 22:11

what happens if you just uncover one breast?

Bumperlicious · 09/07/2008 22:14

Full on crying and yanking at top.

Original poster
tb73 · 09/07/2008 22:15

I'm not alone then?!

If I only uncover one breast, DD is obsessed with getting to the other one and won't rest until she does! I can never feed her in public, can you imagine the exposure?

OP posts:
AngeG · 09/07/2008 22:18

No advice I'm afraid but my DD does the same. She's 15 months.

mawbroon · 09/07/2008 22:19

My ds did this, but I think he was a bit older.

Hmm, he was probably around 2 I think. We had been feeding on demand, and he was driving me demented with his hopping on and off from one side to the other, especially at night!

So, I decided to cut down to feeds at set times of day only (unless he was ill, or hurt or something) and that seemed to stop it and made him concentrate on each feed a lot more.

mawbroon · 09/07/2008 22:20

BTW, this is something I have heard a lot of people complain about, so I think it is fairly common.

I guess if you don't find something that works, then she will probably stop at some point anyway of her own accord.

Original poster
tb73 · 09/07/2008 22:23

I wonder why they do it?

OP posts:
gagarin · 09/07/2008 22:24

She's doing it because the "grass is always greener"!

This is the beginning of the toddler-ish yelling for whatever she hasn't got - along the lines of - you hand your dd a nice drink in a nice green cup. "I wanted the BLUE cup" scream/wail/sob. You swap cups with a sigh giving her the blue cup. "I want the GREEN cup" she screams in utter fury. You give her the green cup. "NO NO NO" she screams - I WANT THE BLUE CUP"

No solutions - but she should learn not to fuss if you stop feeding her and stand up everytime she does it! The penny will drop in the end - if you can stand the yelling.

FairyMum · 09/07/2008 22:26

DS2 did this and it was the beginning of the end for breastfeeding for us. He was around 2. He lost interest really and started to play, cuddle more with my breasts than really feed. Might not be the case for your little one of course.

mawbroon · 09/07/2008 22:26

I think it might be to do with trying to stimulate lots of let downs and therefore get more milk. Same with nipple twiddling I think. Aaaaaargh, nipple twiddling!

Original poster
tb73 · 09/07/2008 22:26

I think you might be right gagarin juding by her behaviour in other areas. Can I stand the yelling though?!

OP posts:
Original poster
tb73 · 09/07/2008 22:27

Oh yes, I have the nipple twiddling, the belly button poking, the loudly slapped chest and the eye pokes!

OP posts:
mawbroon · 09/07/2008 22:29

There's a section on Kellymom about nursing manners here

I guess it depends how much you are prepared to put up with!

Bumperlicious · 09/07/2008 22:31

Everytime she does it I think "I'm going to stand my ground today, so we can feed when out and about" but then the crying starts and it is just easier to give in

The thing is we have had a lot of biting recently so at the moment I am willing to do anything for a pain free life! But maybe I need to be a bit more strict with her. It's not terribly discreet and quite frankly it is a PITA.

Original poster
tb73 · 09/07/2008 22:36

The advice on Kellymom is really good - infact it's a really good site for breastfeeding mums.

OP posts:
Locksikas · 10/07/2008 00:16

Message withdrawn

Locksikas · 10/07/2008 00:21

Message withdrawn

thumbwitch · 10/07/2008 00:21

Urk, mawbroon, I just got the shivers really badly when I read about the nipple twiddling - DS is 7mo and doesn't do this so far but is starting to fidget at his feeds and unlatch just after let down so milk sprays everywhere (often in his ears/up his nose ) so I might have this to look forward to ; but if he starts with the old Radio Caroline bit then that will be the beginning of the end for bfing!

MrsMacaroon · 10/07/2008 00:38

you can get 'nursing beads' apparently for this reason but have no idea how they differ from normal beads...

susiecutiebananas · 10/07/2008 00:43

SO pleased to read this thread, that its not only us who have this problem!!

Ah... the 'pepsi challenge' as my DH calls it!!

Afraid I can't offer any advice at all. I also read some great stuff on Kellymom about nursing manners. Unfortunately my DD has not responded to any of it!

My DD is 18months now. She twiddles the other nipple when feeding from the other side. She pats, strokes, pinches etc both breasts whilst feeding! sometimes its really nice as she is really gentle and strokes, and I feel really close to her. She also does bite at times. usually as she is pulling off the breast. it hurts SO much. She is finally getting the message that if she bites when she's finished on oneside, she doesn't get the other side!

I've tried keeping the other side inside, covered up, but she's pretty good at just pulling it out, or unclipping the bra that I've given up! Does mean we can't ever feed anywhere but at home.

I think personally, she just gets bored and wants to change position. Most evenings, after bathtime, we sit on the sofa ad she sits on my lap facing me, going from one side to the other, whilst I watch various Soaps..

At night/early morning, I just go back to sleep, boobs out and she does what she wants! DH watches us sometimes. He says its one of his fav times of the day. lying next to us, sunday morning, watching her standing up, kneeling like a goat, sitting on my chest, lying across me and so it goes on. He watches laughing quietly, as she manages to be latched on and turn her body completely upside down!

Shit, sorry i've gone on SO much. really nice to share it with someone else who doesn't think i'm;

a) mad for still feeding her at 18months
b) mad for 'letting' her be in such control of my body still after 18months!

Oh how I wish for the nipple twiddling to stop....

S1ur · 10/07/2008 00:50

ack Susie my lovely boy just looks all sweet and then pulls my top down on one side and lifts the other.

These very polite but firm children are monkeys

thumbwitch · 10/07/2008 00:58

Susie - PMSL at same time as shivering even more at possible things to come! DS has always done the soft stroking thing which is nice, but has just started the chest slapping thing, which isn't so nice, and his hand has veered towards the other nip a few times now (so far I've managed to keep him off it).
It is definitely the angelic look on the face that gets me, when he does his most cheeky manoeuvres!

Bumperlicious · 10/07/2008 07:34

LOL susie, it's bit like that for me. Sometimes I feel like a lioness on a nature show that just lies there while the cubs all clamber to suckle at her!

DD's favourite position is leaning over me standing on 1 leg!

LOL at the 'pepsi challenge'!

susiecutiebananas · 10/07/2008 22:34

Bumperlicious, Izzy does the standing on 1 leg too. She also manages to poke her finger right up my nostril when i'm fast asleep... something she has now learnt stops the mauling feeding immediately

I do like it really, or i'd not keep doing it i suppose. It makes me laugh when i open my eyes wearily, wondering how I am going to find her feeding. Invariable it really is goat/calf stylee, on all fours. She also stands up, with her legs completely straight, whilst leaning over, slapping patting my boob.

Always a cheaky little face, trying to smile with her mouth full. Ah... I will miss these times. Cannot bare the thought of them stopping really!