Please help stop toddler pinching torture

[muppet729]

Worse than water torture, I'm sure

My dd who is 15 months has always been very tactile, but lately it's been incessant and worse at 4am. She will pinch me with either hand and in some very painful places. I've tried grabbing her hand, I've tried saying , "don't pinch mama, that hurts," I've tried pinching her back until she lets go (please no flames on that one ) She doesn't seem to be deterred by anythign. I know that she realizes it hurts because during the day she'll casually pinch her hand and then do her sign for "hurts." I think she just feels like she needs somethign to do with her hands and I think she's teething more.

Unfortunately, all the understanding in the world doesn't help me get any more sleep. Last night it went on for 2 HOURS! I'm pregnant so my nipples hurt already otherwise I"d unlatch her each time but latching on and relatching is excruciating. Also, she screams then and we sleep share so I don't want to wake up my 4yo and DH.

I'm really close to just telling dh that we have to nightwean her so that I can get some sleep. If she didn't pinch, I could just barely sleep through most of the pregnancy nipple pain, but with the pinching, I can't stand it.

HELP!

[intorainbowz]

I don't have any ideas for you, but this is why my DD is being weaned. I can no longer tolerate the twiddling.

[DWAXSMOM]

A few hings I used when I had a pincher:

Make sure other nipple is covered somehow(clothes, blanket, bra, etc.)

Take away nursing for specific amount of time (in hours) when done

Nursing necklace


This was sooooo hard for me and at 28 months was a big reason for weaning. Hugs to you.

[stacyann21]

My son went through a stage where he was very grabby/pinchy. At 17 months, he really doesn't do it anymore. So hopefully, she'll let up soon. I used to gently push DS's hand away and say "no hurting!".

[twogreencars]

Originally Posted by DWAXSMOM

Make sure other nipple is covered somehow(clothes, blanket, bra, etc.)


Nursing necklace

This is what I do and recommend, too

Good luck, mama

[muppet729]

Well, I usually keep my hand on my other nipple because if she touches that it's excruciating from the pregnancy hormones. The problem is, she doesn't just pinch my breast, it's my stomach, and my hand, and my arm, and my underarm and pretty much anything that she can reach really. *sigh*

I think this weekend I'm going to have to give her over to my dh if she keeps it up. This is seriously causing me to lose lots of sleep. I have found that unlatching her helps, but only temporarily and only if I also get her up and out of bed and take her into the living room and refuse to nurse her for a while. I wouldn't mind if she night weaned before the baby comes, but I wasn't planning on deliberately pursuing the issue, but with all this pinching, it's gotten to be too much. I literally have scars and little knicks and cuts all over my belly and my arms from her. (and yes, we have tried cutting her nails).

[cuttiebearmom]

Hugs mama!

A pregnant mama needs her sleep. I would take her off as soon as she starts pinching, holding her hands gently together, say "stop, no pinching" and never make an exception. DD2 actually wound up holding onto a small soft brown bear that I would offer instead as a result; despite my initial feelings on loveys and such anything is better than pinching at that point! This is just what worked for us. I would always latch on again afterwards but it only took a couple of weeks to get the idea through!

[~Boudicca~]

I would give a nursing necklace a try, and if that doesn't work I would do what PP said and remove her when she starts pinching.

I have one of these. http://www.laughingstarfish.com/gallery/details/1787