Ds is using my breasts as an all you can eat buffet!

[PrincessDoll]

Ok, I am in need of bf encouragement. I truly enjoy bf and plan on extended bf also (ds is 11 months old). But the past week or so has been placing a toll on my tolerance - my ds seems to want to be suckling upwards to 5 times an hour this last week. He just wants to come over suckle a bit and crawl away then come back over and over. It's draining to me and today I felt like weaning him (not that I will just my frustration speaking). He threw a fit because I wouldn't let him suckle after the 6th time in less than an hour. His fit went on for at leas 1/2 hour although I held him and paid attention to him.

Have any of you experienced this?

[bri276]

I'm sorry but this title just made me laugh!!!!!

my baby is younger than yours so any advice I had would be second hand, I will leave it to the more experienced ladies. but I will say I often see threads about older babies nursing constantly so I know you're not alone. good luck.

[alegna]

My dd went through that stage around then too. It was like she realized HEY- I can get it whenever I want it! So she did. She got over the novelty of it and went back to only nursing 8-12 times a day

-Angela

[artgoddess]

Mine did it too, and many kids this age do this. I'm of the opinion it has to do with their growing independence. Once they get more mobile, crawling, pulling themselves up walking they start to realize mama and I are two different people. Up iuntil now the connection wasn't really there, it was like mama and baby were the same person. So he needs to check in with you more often to make sure you are still there cause he doesn't want to let go of the idea you and he are individuals. Add to that the excoitment of he can crawl away and explore his world, it's hard to concentrate on those longer nursing sessions.

My 2 year old will sometimes go through periods like this, nursing several times an hour. What makes it easier is now that he is two, he can lift my shirt himself, he's taller and he can just run up, nurse and run away without me having to pick him up or even bend forward too far.

[Linda in OZ]

I 've got one of those. My dd has just had her 1st birthday. Today has been a real challenge, and I am tired and cranky and she is tired and cranky. Nothing is getting done around the house because she wont sleep and wants to feed constantly *sigh* sorry to hijack just needed to whine

[Ruthla]

Lots of babies go through phases like that- and they usually decide after a little while to go back to their "normal" nursing patterns. Hang in there mamas!

[PrincessDoll]

Originally Posted by Linda in OZ

I 've got one of those. My dd has just had her 1st birthday. Today has been a real challenge, and I am tired and cranky and she is tired and cranky. Nothing is getting done around the house because she wont sleep and wants to feed constantly *sigh* sorry to hijack just needed to whine

By all means, whine away! We mamas need to release and what better place than here whereothers are going through it and others can offer encouragement?

Thank you for the responses - I liked reading through your experiences. Keep 'em coming!

So this will eventually subside?

[PrincessDoll]

Originally Posted by artgoddess

Mine did it too, and many kids this age do this. I'm of the opinion it has to do with their growing independence. Once they get more mobile, crawling, pulling themselves up walking they start to realize mama and I are two different people. Up iuntil now the connection wasn't really there, it was like mama and baby were the same person. So he needs to check in with you more often to make sure you are still there cause he doesn't want to let go of the idea you and he are individuals. Add to that the excoitment of he can crawl away and explore his world, it's hard to concentrate on those longer nursing sessions.

My 2 year old will sometimes go through periods like this, nursing several times an hour. What makes it easier is now that he is two, he can lift my shirt himself, he's taller and he can just run up, nurse and run away without me having to pick him up or even bend forward too far.

That really makes a lot of sense and it helps to look at the broader context of his budding independence. Do you reccomend that I appease him or limit it? I don't want to hinder his growth but I can't neglect my needs either:

[artgoddess]

Originally Posted by PrincessDoll

That really makes a lot of sense and it helps to look at the broader context of his budding independence. Do you reccomend that I appease him or limit it? I don't want to hinder his growth but I can't neglect my needs either:

I appeased mine, but I only remember one time where I was pulling my hair out like you are now. Everyone is different, I have little paitents with other things, but had more for the nursing. The one time I was losing it, and didn't think I could deal with him grabbing at me anymore, my DP said to me, "oh give the kid a break he needs you right now." he said it kind of streanly, and oddly enough that kind of undying support for my sons needs coming from his dad gave me the strength to go on.

It does get better and goes in phases, he'll get more used to the idea you two are not the same person, and even start to enjoy it soon enough. I also found that the more distractions I gave DS the less he nurses for comfort. If I take him for a long walk, or even just to the mall to run around when the weather isn't great, he has so much fun he doesn't think to grab at me. But I don't remember how that worked before he was walking (how soon we forget ) If anything it might make you feel good to get out of the house. Can you go do things like your grocery shopping when DP gets home from work? Give yourself an hour or two of solo errand running to feel like a human being again?

[cinnamonamon]

Aunt Flow showed up a few weeks after my ds' started doing that -- right around 1 year old... :0

[finn'smama]

Great title!

My ds is doing the same thing right now! He's 10 months. I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels like a "buffet"!! I thought they were supposed to nurse less as they got older, but, I swear, it's more than when he was a newborn . Oh well, they're only this little once, right? ( At least, that's what I tell myself when I think I'm gonna lose my mind if he latches on one more time! )