How to stop comfort sucking

[Cariad007]

DS has taken to comfort sucking for the last couple of weeks and it is starting to get both sore and exhausting. Any idea how I can stop it? He refuses to take a dummy. Or is it just a stage he's going through?

Are you sure its just comfort sucking? Is baby actively swallowing? Can you give us a bit more information like how old is your baby and how kong this has being going on for?

He's 12 weeks and has been doing this for the past couple of weeks. He will be on the breast for an hour so I figure he can't be feeding for all that time as he falls asleep with my nipple in his mouth. If I try to detach him he starts sucking in his sleep again. If he detatches by himself then he still makes little sucking actions with his mouth in his sleep.

Sounds pretty normal but have you tried taking him off and putting him in a sling?

Often when they are sucking infrequently in their sleep like that, that is when they are getting the really rich milk and is arguably the most important part of the feed. They aren't sucking frantically like they do at the beginning because it's hard work. 12 weeks is also a classic growth spurt time though so it will feel draining at times, but you're doing well! Keep it up. :-) All 3 of my DC did this, DD is 13 weeks and still does it. Make sure you get enough fluids and food yourself to keep your energy levels up.

Juggle him whilst feeding to try and keep him awake? Dd was a sleep snacker for ages and it really made me sore and even more exhausted than I was already

My dd did this around 12 weeks and the big growth spurt. As well as extra milk, they need a lot of comfort as it can be quite a scary time for them (check wonder weeks week 12). I recall a night or two where my dd stayed on the boob all night and wa frantic if I tried to remove her! Cosleeping made it easier.
If it's sore perhaps you could try re latching her?

I just hoike them off when it becomes uncomfortable. if bf is established then that should be fine.

when I say uncomfortable I don't mean sore, I mean tingly and annoying.

My LG is 16 weeks and did this from when my milk came in up until about 3 weeks ago. She also refuses a dummy - I would let her stay attatched until it became uncomfortable (not sore) then take her off. She recently stoped doing this, is easily distracted and has gone from 40/50 min feeds down to 20/30 mins. She's also dropped a percentile so I'm feeding her more frequently to make up for it. So its swings and roundabouts, at least when she fed like that she gained weight steadily