Nosy baby only feeds when sleepy!

[CoalCraft]

Anyone else have a baby like this?? She's 6 months, breast-fed (despite my best efforts - stubborn bottle refuser) and will only feed if sleepy, otherwise she'll latch on but then let go and look around the room. She'll still complain about being hungry though!!

If it's just the two of us in a quiet room she MIGHT feed properly but if there's a single noise from another room, or the cat walls past, or whatever, then nope, she wants to check that out instead. It's gotten to the point where I don't even try to feed her in public or when we have guests round, as she won't eat anyway and her antics draw attention to my exposed nipple. It's a shame as I've never hesitated to BF around others before. I know it isn't pain or discomfort because she doesn't seem upset (apart from being hungry) and when she wants to sleep she feeds perfectly. Ach! No one wants you about this aspect of breastfeeding lol

Am thinking maybe I should accelerate weaning a bit? We just started with this and she's taken to it really well, and obviously is fully awake at the time. We're just doing one meal a day but maybe I should go a bit faster so she'll actually get something in her tummy while awake. I'm also thinking of trying formula from a cup as she'll sip water quite nicely. Any other ideas?

Should say "no one warns" not "wants"

It's very normal, I wouldn't use it as a reason to accelerate weaning past the pace she's interested. Two meals is OK for six months, though you don't want food replacing BF as such yet. Just keep offering milk little and often or see if you can go somewhere a bit more quiet.

I know it's normal but it's annoying and I'm annoyed no one warned me 😅 Just having a bit of a rant really and looking for solidarity. My first was bottle fed and would get distracted if there was a LOT going on but nothing like this!

Going to a quiet room is what I have to do if we have people round but I find it quite lonely and isolating, to be honest, missing out on the conversation. It also makes it difficult to go out for longer than a couple of hours as she will inevitably start grizzling for food but be too interested in looking around to actually eat 🤦 Bit tricky to enjoy mosying round the shops or whatever while a baby grizzles and looks at you accusingly! 😂

We only just started weaning this Tuesday! I do think I'll pick up to two meals a day once it's been a full week. She doesn't eat much yet, obviously, but the bit she does have does seem to tide her over till she's next tired.

Can you try one of those breastfeeding necklaces that is meant to occupy baby while they’re feeding? Think they usually have hoops etc they can fiddle with while they are latched on.

Ah if you'd been on MN around 5 years ago you'd have read a very very similar post written by me about my first - down to the bottle refusing and feeling annoyed / lonely I had to spend so long in quiet rooms by myself! It is normal but it does pass. I'm now on my third and actually relish taking him to a quiet room by myself - it's a nice break from ds1 and the toddler

Yep I also had this. Can't remember how or if I resolved it, just remember having to be alone in the dark on my phone, and getting a sports massage due to constantly craning my neck down to readjust her. Would a light muslin draped over your shoulder and her head work? It's only been 3 years but I've forgotten how feasible/ naive that might sound sorry!

A muslin over her head might work! At the very least it might help preserve my dignity when she pops off to have a nose 😂 Will look into those breastfeeding necklaces too, though I suspect she'll just grab onto it then pop off the boob to try and put THAT in her mouth lol

@CoalCraft My 6 month is exactly like this right now. Even worried about him not having enough fluid in the day, as if there’s anything to look at, he will not take the bottle. The only thing I’ve found works is either a dark room or him in the pram while a little sleepy when we’re out.

His sleep is terrible atm so wondering whether he’s trying to make up the calories overnight 😵‍💫😵‍💫

Oh that brings me right back to DD, noseiest baba in the world! There were days DP was lucky not to be throttled when he just HAD to clatter round the kitchen for no good reason as id gotten her latched on. Im no good fir advice as i never found a solution but thankfully she did take to the bottle, but just wanted to empathise.

It's really annoying and was actually the beginning of the end of breastfeeding for me. I got so fed up of being sat in a room on my own, and even then she'd distract herself! No really advice I'm afraid, just solidarity!

Thanks for the solidarity all! I would happily wind down breastfeeding now if she'd let me. Am hoping that she'll take formula from a cup and that can be a starting point.

She was awful today for nosiness! Thankfully she does feed well when she's going down for a nap so she gets enough, it's just frustrating when she grizzles for food, sucks for just long enough to trigger a letdown, then turns away to watch something else, oblivious to the milk now spraying into her face 🤦

Lucky she's so bloody wonderful in other ways, innit?!

Could have written this about DS1 around the same age it was a pain!
I did find some things helped a fiddle breastfeeding necklace and when out I would try and find a proper feeding room either in a shopping centre, John Lewis etc as I could usually get a feed in. Would be a fine balance between the time of not so grizzly but hungry enough to have a decent feed

Could you feed her whilst walking about? This sometimes helps my 4.5 months old nosy baby feed...I think the motion and being able to have a look around whilst feeding helps.

If she likes her sippy cup, how about expressing and feeding her that way?

@MooMa83 I could try maybe! I can hobble around with her latched on but it's a bit of a faff, and neither of us ever really got on with a sling.

@Lordofthebutterfloofs Noooo I fed my first by exclusive pumping for four months and it nearly killed me. I only pump now I'd DC2 is ill and not feeding well to relieve engorgement, I don't want to do it regularly. I'm thinking the cup is the way we'll go during the day, but it'll be formula.

@Scottishskifun Yeah feeding rooms are a life saver - DD still likes to nose around the new surroundings but she will usually eat something at least. If I just want to sit down in a cafe or something though, nope!