Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

5 month old constantly pulling on and off - how to feed??

19 replies

chandellina · 04/01/2009 19:59

My five month old DS has always had the odd "difficult" feed where he will pull on and off with a bit of screaming, usually while straining and passing wind. He has also had reflux on and off so maybe it is acid coming back up and burning his throat??

anyway it has reached the point for the past two days where he can't have a proper feed, and will just pull on and off every other suck (or not even make it to a suck - just start wailing). It is very painful for me, he is totally frustrated and angry, and I am already mildly concerned about his weight so this is not helping.

he clearly wants to feed and gets hysterical, yet it is also obviously hurting him a lot.

please help!!

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 04/01/2009 20:00

Sounds more like he's teething and has sore gums - try applying some teething gel before feeds when he gets like that and see if he suddenly feeds better.

The farting is, I'm afraid a permanent condition if he's anything like my DS

Original poster

chandellina · 04/01/2009 20:04

thanks, i will try that.

one more point - we gave him a bottle of formula last night (he has one from time to time and we are happy with that) because it was just such a debacle and he didn't have a problem taking that. He fussed a bit toward the end but seemed able to take the bottle, but not my milk.

i know the sucking motion is a bit different but would this still sound like sore gums then?? or something i ate in my milk?? (can't think of anything unusual i've had)

OP posts:

pleasechange · 04/01/2009 20:08

My DS has always done this. It was worst up to 3 months and then improved, but then got bad again from 5 months. He's now 6 months and hasn't got teeth yet, but still does the pulling off thing. I sypathise with you, as it's v frustrating. My DS also feeds fine from a bottle, so I've never understood what the problem is.

What I do is to let him have his dummy when he pulls off, and then let him go back to the breast when he's ready. It's probably a very bad habit, but he seems to appreciate the little breaks in between. Obviously this won't help you if your DS doesn't use a dummy

Hope things improve soon

whomovedmychocolate · 04/01/2009 20:10

It could be something you've eaten but it's very unlikely. Bottle feeding is easier and takes less effort so it doesn't use the mouth so much so would be easier if he's teething. You aren't downing six espressos a day or anything I assume? If it's in the evening, it's probably colic and will pass in a month or so (you've probably put up with it for four months or so already?)

You could also try feeding in the rugby hold which puts his mouth in a difference position.

You have my sympathy, DS is coming up to six months too and has six teeth coming through at once arrrggh. DD had six teeth by this age but teethed till she was two .

If none of this works, you could try not feeding him for half an hour when he's like this and rocking him so he is really hungry when you feed him (if he's really very hungry he'll feed regardless of discomfort). Or give him some neurofen for children which has an anti-inflammatory as well as painkilling effect so it soothes the swollen gums (and sore tummies too in case that is causing the problem).

whomovedmychocolate · 04/01/2009 20:12

Allnew - there is nothing wrong with dummies in fact they are recommended to help protect against cot death. DD had one, DS doesn't want one, every baby is different. You use whatever tools you have in your repertoire to get through the day and ignore the naysayers. So long as you aren't feeding your baby brandy and raw egg (don't ask - I have an very odd MiL) you are doing fine!

pleasechange · 04/01/2009 20:14

I agree - coincidence but I just posted on a thread advising someone with a crying baby to use a dummy. It's been a godsend for us

spendalittlelivealot · 04/01/2009 20:23

It could be that hes being nosy? my dd is on and off constantly to have a look around. Just something they do Im afraid x All the best

jocie · 04/01/2009 20:30

Chandillina, my 20 wk old is exactly the same and its driving me mad as i have a bad back and its getting to the point where feeeding when out and about is becoming nearly impossible unless i can find somewhere that has a ver supportive chair. He also has had a bottle and is better with that although sometimes does the same with that. Have tried teething gel and other pain relief but doesnt always help. I do the dummy thing too which again sometimes works!
Will try the rugby hold wmmcand see if that works for us. Have been thinking bout using ebm more as have a decent freezer full and expressing to keep supply up. Was planning to drop a few bf at 6 months anyway.

sweetkitty · 04/01/2009 20:39

DD3 is 5 1/2 months and the exact same I think they all do this at this age I read about it on kellymom as well. It's a developmental thing they suddenly realise that theres more going on than Mums boob and try to turn round to see this, my DD3 is the nosiest baby ever she latches sucks, unlatches has a look around and latches back on. Apparently bottle fed babies don't do the same as they can be fed looking outwards IYSWIM? It also explains why daytime feeds become shorter and night wakings can get more frequent as there are less distractions in a dark quiet room at night so time to top up on milk.

Also factor in teething and you have one fussy baby.

There's nothing really you can do about it maybe feed in a quiet darkened room during the day if you can, my DD3 is usually feeding with the other two creating chaos round about her.

Original poster

chandellina · 04/01/2009 20:42

allnew - that is exactly what i do with the dummy. it does calm him down a bit.

spendalittle - he does like to socialise during the day at feeds, but this is more than that, and even in the middle of the night when he is usually very calm.

jocie - yes i sympathise about feeding whilst out. He will kick and scream and we do get some concerned looks!

whomoved - i have tried the rugby hold since strangely the problem is even worse on the right side than the left, so i have tried to replicate how he is positioned on the left on the right IYSWIM.

some help, but getting awkward at his age now. (we did this lots when he was just a wee thing.)

OP posts:

NotanOtter · 04/01/2009 20:45

agree with whomovedmychocolate

ds is 5 months and a HORROR for this since we introduced a bottle and started weaning..

i think it is a combination of

bottle is easier
breast milk dwindles somewhat after giving something else ( food or milk) which excacerbates the problem even more!

hth

bubbleymummy · 04/01/2009 20:53

Have you checked his mouth for teeth/thrush? Changed anything in your diet? If he is actually wretching away from you and crying it's more likely to be something paining him than just nosiness. As others have suggested, try changing positions etc.

WRT dummies, more recent studies have shown that other factors, in addition to the dummy itself are more likely to be what reduces the risk of cot death e.g. the baby is more likely to be in the room with parents when given a dummy etc. They do however have many disadvantages such as a negative impact on breastfeeding, increased risk of ear infection and malformation of the palate. Obviously, it is everyone's own choice about whether or not to use a dummy but it's best to know the facts!

Original poster

chandellina · 06/01/2009 21:14

this is still going on, on and off, mostly on.

teething gel doesn't work, though he apparently likes the taste and nearly bit off my finger to get at it!

i haven't tried calpol - am a bit wary of overmedicating little ones.

don't see any sign of thrush, and no changes in my diet.

it's enough to send one to bottles, though we've made it since saturday without.

OP posts:

weMINKyouamerrychristmUS · 08/01/2009 14:57

I don't think giving calpol because a baby is in pain could be called overmedicating. I couldn't not give it if I thought my baby was hurting and I had the tool to stop him! But that's me.

FWIW, ds1 did the pulling on and off thing and I talked to a bf counsellor- she suggested that it could be he was trying to trigger a let down, and pulling about does encourage those hormones apparently. So I twiddled the other nipple like fury (think trying to start labour type twiddling!) for a minute or so and it worked a treat. Good luck. 6month old ds2 is doing this at the mo and I know how bloody annoying it is!

weMINKyouamerrychristmUS · 08/01/2009 14:58

I don't think giving calpol because a baby is in pain could be called overmedicating. I couldn't not give it if I thought my baby was hurting and I had the tool to stop him! But that's me.

weMINKyouamerrychristmUS · 08/01/2009 14:58

oops! sorry

Original poster

chandellina · 08/01/2009 22:34

thanks for that. it is definitely a possibility re letdown - though he usually seems to have a mouthful of milk.

i know i'm a bit funny on things like calpol - just me.

OP posts:

Original poster

chandellina · 08/01/2009 22:35

also just mentioning that DS only gained 300 grams in three weeks, so not the best.

OP posts:

Original poster

chandellina · 08/01/2009 22:35

i mean 200 grams, poor mite.

OP posts:

Flip