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Sleep

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Original poster

Pinching to Sleep

13 replies

minicorrect · 25/07/2010 10:16

My DD, 16m, has never slept through the night - once slept until 5am but usually goes down around 7.30, wakes around 9.30, we give her some water and her dummy and she goes back to sleep then wakes again around 10.30-11.00 which is our cue to go to bed and she comes to bed with us - there is no way on earth she will stay asleep if we settle her in her cot at this time (she'll go back to sleep and wake again and again at 2 minute intervals).

We don't mind co-sleeping as she wakes 4 or 5 times a night for water (and we love being able to cuddle with her), but she insists on pinching our arms as she's falling asleep. It's quite painful and doesn't seem to be normal behaviour. We've tried encouraging an attachment to a toy but no interest.

Any advice?

OP posts:

Original poster

minicorrect · 28/07/2010 20:37

Wondering if the lack of replies means it is completely weird or just no-one spotted this. Bumping just in case...

OP posts:

TaurielTest · 28/07/2010 20:40

Not weird IMO, my two year old insists on "checking" i.e. tugging my ears as he settles himself to sleep. Don't know the answer though...

Haliborange · 28/07/2010 20:41

Have you tried giving her a blanket with a silky edge? My DDs both go to sleep rubbing the satin bit between finger and thumb which sounds similar.

Adair · 28/07/2010 20:44

I think it's normal for co-sleeping babies to go through phases of annoying little habits (I recall poking in eyes/arms round neck/fingers up nose etc). I used to hold their hands firmly so they couldn't do the painful stuff but not really mention it.

I guess with a 16mth old, you could try holding hands - 'no pinching. stroke me' tactic. Ds is 2 and has started a fun hitting game to which I say 'if you hit me again, I will go.' And I do.

So pick which you think is most appropriate for now (and remember, tis just a phase)

TulipsInTheSunshine · 28/07/2010 20:44

ds2 has always done this, he's 17 months now. If I stop him pinching he gets absolutely hysterical and won't go down. So i'm no help but no, you're not alone!

thisisyesterday · 28/07/2010 20:49

i would just keep removing her hand tbh. it will take a while but she'll stop eventually

logrrl · 28/07/2010 20:54

DS (16 months) likes holding onto my nipples and kinda pinching when he comes in for his morning feed about 7am. Drives me bananas but if I let him he goes back to sleep. The boy has me quite literally wrapped around his finger .

logrrl · 28/07/2010 20:55

realised I was no use to you whatsoever but just wanted to reassure you that there is nothing abnormal!

loopyloops · 28/07/2010 20:56

Mine pinches every time she breastfeeds. Let me know if you find a solution!

Original poster

minicorrect · 30/07/2010 08:19

I do think this is something that started when we were breastfeeding so may well be a habit hard to change.

We've tried every single cuddly we can think of - clothes I've been wearing, blankies, cuddly toys. She just isn't interested - in fact she gets annoyed if we try to give her something else!

Let's hope she grows out of it soon - if it didn't hurt so much it would be cute

Thanks for the reassurance!

OP posts:

rachb14 · 30/07/2010 09:39

My 2 1/2 year old insists on holding our hands as she falls asleep (see cry for help further down list!!!), but as she does so picks at any loose skin or scratches - which actually seems to keep her awake and causes whoever is holding her hand immense pain - inevitably leading to arguments and lots of tears!!!!

We don't co-sleep and I'd managed to stop the hand-holding some time back, but have somehow regressed, i think when she was ill and needed comfort to get back to sleep. Unfortunately, I don't really have an answer and am desparate for any suggestions. Earlier this week I'd managed to convince her not to hold my hand in bed and eventually after lots of tears and tantrums she fell asleep without it and I felt I'd achieved! Since I didn't leave her to cry alone, it felt more gentle than cc, but was very hard to sit with her while she was crying, knowing I could easily stop it with a hand.
Unfortunately, I've not been able to follow up as my husband has done the last couple of nights putting to bed as we have a 3 month old too - part of the reason I want to stop the handholding as I don't have enough hands to go round!!!

Good luck, you're certainly not alone and please know if you find an answer...

dycey · 30/07/2010 11:46

my nephew does this to his mother / father / nanny's necks..... !

mummamango · 02/08/2010 15:36

My 9mthold DS pinches me whilst BFeeding to sleep but if he wakes in the night seems more of a stroking action. When he pinches really hard I just remove his hands. Sometimes there is protest but I guess they just need to learn.

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