Stopping comfort pinching?

[weeblueberry]

Well I think it's comfort pinching?

DD 8mo has taken to pinching the skin on my upper arm and chest as she falls asleep or feeds. Just little ones but as she repeatedly does it it's becoming really painful. It seems as though she's doing it as a self soothing type strategy but I'm not sure how to stop it. Last night I was doing bedtime and every time I removed her hand she got upset and began to cry. To the point that DP had to come and take over as we were both getting so upset.

Any suggestions?

I got a wooden nursing necklace, removing didn't work well for us either! At night I changed to a nightie with frilly bits on the shoulders, and I can move his hands to them for distraction purposes at the moment.

We started using a soft toy at around that age, as dd was pulling on my face, nose, boobs, hair etc. It's now her 'lovey' that she sleeps with every night.

We had this. I know it makes you feel absolutely horrible! I cried a few times too.

Unconnectedly I started resting my top arm (i.e. the free one) on DD's shoulder and stroking her hair (forward) with my hand. This stopped my DD pinching/scratching so much! It's almost like the extra contact/pressure/safe feeling stopped her flailing and scratching -- a bit like swaddling does, iykwim

What I mean is try cradling her more closely, stroking the pinky arm at shoulder level quite assertively, resting your arm on her (not too heavily obv.). She will feel a bit more cuddled/squished and maybe stop.

pinchy arm that should say! haha

Thanks all.

She's not interested in a comfort toy sadly as we have tried that. DP tried to encourage her to stroke his arm this evening instead of pinching which seemed to work. Just as binding but not quite as sore!!

Well done him!

Just wait til she's 1 and her hands reach up to your hair/face: nightmare!