NIP with easily distracted baby

[SollysMom]

I've always been comfortable and confident nursing in public or in front of others and am able to do so discretely. DS is now getting to an age where he's easily distracted, though. It's okay in public if I'm sitting quietly and it's not a terribly noisy place, but I can't talk to people or else he'll pull off and look up at me. Even at home, my DH usually leaves the room while I nurse DS because he's very distracted by his daddy's presence. I don't mind going to a private location to nurse DS when we're with friends or family, but I worry about the message it is sending. I don't want people to think that I'm leaving because nursing in front of them would be bad or wrong or inappropriate. I believe it's perfectly fine to nurse whenever, wherever, in front of whomever, and the only reason I'd leave the room is for DS's sake and no one else's. Is there something clever I can say to get my message across?

[Mama Poot]

Learning how to nurse with baby in a sling really helped me with this. The sling covered up enough of me that no one would get totally flashed when Henri decided he wanted to pop off and look at something.

[St. Margaret]

I hear you! My Sophie's just like that. I hardly "get" to NIP. She's gradually getting more used to common places we go, and getting better at only nursing when really hungry so she's very focused when she finally eats. I'm also trying out a different sling I hope we can nurse in. Good luck!

[Mosaic]

Oops! Double post!

[Mosaic]

I think it's also partially his age... I remember DD being a ridiculously distracted nurser at that age, and a little while later she was a much more dedicated nurser, I think because she wanted to get down to business and then get back to running around.

Oh, and I always told people, "Excuse me... she's hungry and is so easily distracted! Be right back!" so that people knew I was leaving for DD, not because I felt uncomfortable or anything.

[SollysMom]

Originally Posted by heather8

Oh, and I always told people, "Excuse me... she's hungry and is so easily distracted! Be right back!" so that people knew I was leaving for DD, not because I felt uncomfortable or anything.

That's a great response - thank you!

I have tried nursing in a sling and sometimes do. It's not so much that I'm worried about him popping off and exposing my breast, but more that I'm concerned with him getting a full feeding.

[myfairbabies]

I don't have any advice, but the little one I nanny is like that. I obviously give him bottles, but I have to swaddle him (at 7 months) and take him to a dark, quiet room to feed him, otherwise he arches his back, moves his head back and forth and refuses to eat. It can be so frustrating, especially since I take care of a 13 month old also.

[Draupadi]

Usually I don't leave the room, but if DS is especially distracted and not eating, I usually just say, "Hey- William's distracted. I'll be right back."
That seems good enough!
Most people already know that I'll nurse him anywhere, but the bottom line is that if he's too distracted to eat, I'm not going to try to make a point, ya'know?

[NewMama2007]

This probably won't be a popular answer, but covering DD really helps center her and calm her enough to nurse. Otherwise, she is starving and making the sign to nurse and starting to get upset, but it's just too exciting to see other children, ceiling fans, waitresses, that glass of water, etc etc etc.