Pinching, Spinning, and Snot, oh my!!

[physmom]

DD's picked up 3 nursing habits that are really driving me NUTS. Any ideas on how to help would be great!!!

1. Pinching - I really thought she'd be done with this by now. I always try and redirect her but it's like she can't stop and NEEDS to do it to fall asleep at night. I seriously have so many scares on my breasts it's ridiculous! I try and give her something to hold and she just throws it away, I try and cover my breast and she either stops nursing or throws a fit. I try and at least redirect her to my hand or stomach to pinch but she starts pinching/scratching my breast again. Is there anything else I can do??

2. Spinning- the most common nursing position we use in me laying on my back or side and DD nursing. When I lay on my back she thinks it's HILARIOUS to spin around my breast and then sit on my face. I hate this and keep trying to move her off but it just encourages her and she starts giggling hilarious.

3. Snot- DD blows her nose on my breast. She somewhat knows how to do it with a tissue but seems to like doing it best while breastfeeding. Needless to say I'm not a fan of boogers on my breast so any way to get her to stop?

Thanks in advance!!!

[PGTlatte]

The only thing that ever helped me with undesirable behavior while nursing was to calmly say no, detach, and get up a walk away for a few minutes. When I consistently did this every time a behavior surfaced, it did eventually stop the behavior.

[lifeguard]

I can commisserate on the pinching. It is so aggravating but ds seems to compulsively do it as his little fingers will reach over to pinch even when is almost completely sleep. The only thing that sometimes works is if I hold his hand - sometimes it just aggravates him though.

As for the spinning, when ds won't settle into an acceptable position I put him down & resume a few minutes later if he wishes. I figure if he isn't ready to settle than he doesn't want to nurse that badly. I've been pretty consistent about this so it is rarely a problem now.

As for the snot can you just keep a tissue or receiving blanket handy? Maybe when she is nursing it makes the snot irritating to her & she feels she needs to get rid of it. I know I find it gross when ds is all snotty too.

[justKate]

Ha ha. Do we have the same child?!

1. Pinching: I seriously considered weaning over this. DD is addicted to pinching and loses her mind if I try to make her stop. Cutting the fingernails doesn't help. Here's what I do: When sidelying (assuming you're both sidelying, that's the only way I can think to do it), hold her top upper arm down on her body with your top hand. Let her forearm/hand go over the top of your arm to pinch your forearm. Much less painful. Tuck her bottom arm flat against your belly. If she pops off and screams, let her. If she really wants to nurse she'll comply with your restrictions; if not, then it's time for bed or play or something different. Over and over--"Stop pinching. That shows me that you don't want to be gentle and are all done with boobies."

Oddly, when I say "stop pinching," she knows i don't mean stop nursing, which was a big relief to me. She knows she's pinching, she just can't resist it. And my boobs, btw, are incredibly pinch-able! Anyway.

2. Spinning on mama shows me that you want to play, not nurse. Let's put the boobies away and play.

3. Snot--are you sure she can help it? DD huffs and puffs when she's snotty because it's hard to breathe when your mouth is full and your nose is congested. I think you've just got to deal with that!

Good luck!