Help! Won't nurse from right breast!

[ItalianPrinses]

My baby just turned 5 months old...and all of a sudden she's become very fussy while nursing...she can't wait to chatter after she's done nursing, so she rushes through it lately. Distractions maybe? But NOW she won't take the right breast...just keeps kicking me until I change her to the left breast, which she'll nurse very quickly and then wants to look around the room and talk. I'm hoping this is just a phase...? She's also been very sleepy this week, taking sometimes 3 hour naps! I just want my good little nursing baby back again! Is this the age where distractions come into play? Or maybe it's growth spurt?

Has anyone else gone through this before and will she eventually take the right breast again?!?!

[sahmmie]

An ear infection? Maybe it hurts to lay on her right side?

Or, teething?

Distraction can definitely play a role as baby grows and becomes more interested in play and exploration, but the fact that she's refusing one side makes me think something may be bothering her.

[pleasantlyfurious]

My LO did this for a couple of days and I was able to get him to take the shunned breast again by tricking him into thinking it was the preferred breast by switching holds. Usually we feed in the cradle hold and so I'd offer him the breast in the football hold, so that he felt like he was on the "right" side. Sometimes I'd even start him out on the preferred breast and then scoot him over after a minute or two. Good luck!

[momto4plus4]

Sounds like this could be a couple of things. Like Sahmmie said, maybe teething or an ear infection.

My oldest was my most distractible baby (still is at 9 years old!) and I ended up having to take her into a dark quiet room to nurse her. It was a pain but I'm glad she was my first. She'd suckle in public but wouldn't do a full nursing unless we were home in a dark room with no distractions. She also took 4 hr naps and slept 14 hours at night until around age 5 or 6! At 9 she still sleeps a minimum of 10-12 hours at night.

Another thought, maybe it's physical. My newest one has struggled nursing on one side and chiropractic has cleared it up immediately both times I've taken him. I'm sure his is from his position in utero (cord around the neck, etc) but maybe your daughter slept wrong or kinked her neck somehow so it's uncomfortable to turn that direction.

Hope it gets worked out soon!