Why Does Baby Play With 1 Nipple While Breastfeeding

© 2005 P. Yount

Kneading, patting, twiddling, scratching, pinching, grabbing mom's nose, biting, pulling at mom's shirt, playing with or pulling mom'southward hair, bravado raspberries on mom'southward breast, breastfeeding standing up, breastfeeding upside down, acrobatic breastfeeding…

Does any of this sound familiar??

© 2005 P. Yount

All of these things are very normal breastfeeding behaviors for older babies and toddlers. Many things children do when they are breastfeeding are cute or downright funny – but what if it'due south a behavior that y'all don't similar? Still normal information technology may be, at that place is no reason mom has to put up with behaviors that are painful or annoying when breastfeeding.

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Tips for curbing unwanted breastfeeding behavior:

Start early on

© 2005 P. Yount

Encourage good breastfeeding manners and discourage unwanted behavior early on. For example, many mothers outset using a lawmaking give-and-take for breastfeeding long before baby is talking, and even a very immature infant can learn non to bite when nursing.

Be firm, clear and consequent with your expectations.

Exist patient

Beliefs changes take time.

Expect it out

© 2005 P. Yount

Many breastfeeding behaviors are a phase, where your child is experimenting with what he tin can do while breastfeeding. If a particular behavior is only mildly abrasive, and so one option is to await for a bit to come across if the novelty wears off on its own.

Distract and Redirect

• Find another way to occupy your kid'southward hands. Propose he touch his own trunk or clothes instead of yours. Testify him how he can rub your arm rather than pinch it. Try holding easily, tickling/kissing/bravado on his hand, playing finger games, counting fingers, having him indicate to different things, clapping, etc.
• Give your child something to agree and play with while nursing (a minor toy, blanket, etc.). If your child isn't interested in the get-go affair you attempt, try different sizes and textures (hard, soft, textured, silky). If your child wants to play with your hair, or your nose, or the other chest, so effort to find something of a similar texture or size that might serve as a reasonable substitute.
• Habiliment a nursing necklace or bright scarf to redirect your child's attending.
• Talk, read a book or tell a story to your child while you nurse. Songs or finger plays can also exist fun.

Gently discourage unwanted beliefs

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  © 2005 P. Yount

  If your kid plays with the opposite nipple/breast (oft called "twiddling"), attempt wearing a bra or other article of clothing that is not easily attainable, or roofing the opposite breast with your manus or arm. Combine this with distraction and redirection as discussed above.

• Consider a firm reprimand: "Be still" or "Go along Mommy covered" or "If yous keep doing that we will cease nursing." Use a firm voice but not so firm that it scares your kid. Yous might besides hug your child close to you or hold his hand to reiterate the point.
• Stop breastfeeding if your kid continues and explain in a few simple words why y'all stopped nursing. Say something like "I tin can't nurse y'all when you're squirmy. Let'southward get play and become the wiggles out and nosotros will nurse in a little while." Offer to nurse again in a few minutes, or wait until your child asks to nurse over again.

Avert the more hard situations

© 2005 P. Yount

Some children go through a stage where breastfeeding in public tin be a trouble. Mayhap your child is really distractible or wiggly, or insists on flapping your shirt up and down.

If your child needs to breastfeed but will non settle down for nursing, try offer a snack or a lilliputian water or other beverage from a cup. If you're uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, endeavor to nurse earlier leaving dwelling house and tell your kid that yous'll nurse equally shortly as you get to a more private spot (delaying breastfeeding like this works better when baby is over xviii months and is not overtired).

Earlier yous leave home, talk over with your kid what behavior you wait from him when you lot're out. For instance if he tends to pull your shirt upwards, ask his assist in keeping you covered while you're out.

Is it okay to have different "rules" for breastfeeding when you are at home than when y'all are in public?

© 2005 P. Yount

Admittedly! There are many situations where we have different expectations for public or private behavior, and breastfeeding is merely another of these. There is a fourth dimension and a place for acrobatic breastfeeding, but for the majority of moms, it'southward not when they are nursing in public. Many moms allow their nurslings to exist creative at home, but crave breastfeeding beliefs that is more minor and sedate when they are out in public. Most children adapt pretty easily to rules that are dissimilar in unlike situations. If your child is having issues with the double standard, however, try keeping the rules more consistent until he is a little older.

Practice yous have concerns about the mode your child asks to breastfeed, particularly in public?

© 2005 P. Yount

Does he pull on your shirt, stick his paw down your shirt, or ask loudly to breastfeed? Or are you afraid that he will in the future? Try incorporating a "code word" for breastfeeding and/or education your child a sign for breastfeeding–many mothers do this long earlier their kid becomes verbal. Depending on the child'south age and the state of affairs, many mothers will only breastfeed if their child asks in an adequate manner. Model to your child acceptable ways to enquire to breastfeed, and practice with him.

Read more:

Toddler nursing: What to expect (includes more on acrobatic nursing)

When Baby Bites

Toddler Words for Nursing

@ other websites

Is That OK? (nipple twiddling during breastfeeding) by Shel Franco

Toddler Tips: Incredible Acrobatic Nursing Feats from the LLLI website

rodrigueburs1967.blogspot.com

Source: https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/nursing-manners-2/

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