Why does my baby pull her ears when she feeds?

8 replies

TravellingChipmunk · 01/04/2010 09:14

Just wanted to see if someone else had experience with this, and if it means anything at all!

My dd is now 4,5m, and we've had a lot of problems with bf, to the extent where I'd say it only started to feel as if we knew what we were doing when she was around 3m old.

The main annoyance now though, is that every time she feeds, she starts pulling her ears, so they go bright red and she also scratches herself. I always have to hold her hand to avoid this.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Is it just because she needs to fiddle with something? I've asked family & friends who've bf, some of them 4 kids each, and nobody's had this problem.

OP posts:

Kathyjelly · 01/04/2010 09:26

My ds pulled his ears when he was teething so maybe she's just starting her teeth and feeding makes her notice it more.

FioFio · 01/04/2010 09:27

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Original poster

TravellingChipmunk · 01/04/2010 09:48

Thanks for the replies guys. And hi btw, I'm new here

Kathyjelly, I've been thinking it might be teething too, but really hope they're some time away still! Will just be another challenge I guess.

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Poledra · 01/04/2010 09:51

Travelling, just to reassure you that I struggled to bfeed DD1 - I reckon she was about 10 weeks before we were really comfortable with it. Then she started teething at 5.5 months - I had always said I'd bfeed till she had teeth then quit. We kept going till she was nearly 12 months with no more problems.

She did bite me once but that was DH's fault. She was dropping off to sleep while still sucking, and he came in and shut the door loudly. Poor little thing nearly jumped out of her skin, and bit me at the same time!

chaya5738 · 01/04/2010 12:56

My DD pulls and plays with her ears when she feedings. I think it is just a comfort thing;

4pinkbabies · 01/04/2010 14:23

Agree it's probably a comfort thing. DD used to pull her eyelashes so hard that they sometimes came out while she was on the boob. Even now at 4 she pulls at them when going off to sleep, only more gently!

Original poster

TravellingChipmunk · 03/04/2010 11:46

Have also been thinking it's a sign of too much/too little milk and that she gets annoyed with this. Good to hear we're not the only ones with funny habits anyway, everyone I've told/has seen it before thought it was weird.

Poledra, good to hear the teeth didn't force you to stop! We've had so many issues anyway (started off great with severe tongue tie) so I'll be damned if I'm not gonna continue past some teeth! (knock on wood)

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luciemule · 03/04/2010 12:00

comfort or teething - pulling the ears induces sleep.

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