Does anyone know WHY they feel the need to Twiddle?

[Miss 1928]

There have been several conversations on how incredibly annoying it is when our nursing toddlers twiddle the free nipple, but does anyone know Why they do this? Is is just boredom, or something more?

I won't tolerate it. I can't tell you how many times I've repeated the phrase; "You are allowed to nurse as long as you want, but you are not allowed to twiddle!" Man! is she persistent some times. Ugh! :

[AlpineMama]

Doesn't it make the milk flow faster? That's what I've heard.

And I'm with you. Twiddling is awful.

[the_lissa]

To encourage letdown on the other breast. Thankfully, neither of my kids did it.

[HippieWannaBe]

Argh, my son does this too and it makes me crazy! I hated it when my husband thought it was okay to tweek my nip's, and now I have to take DS hand away, or lay my arm over my other breast. So annoying!

[love2bmom]

: Know that I laugh because I've been there. I just loved your post title.
There was a mom in my LLL group in CA who did let her son twiddle. Her son was maybe 3 yrs. at the time. During one meeting another, newer mom, brought up twiddling and her annoyance at it. The mom who did allow twiddling said she did so because she had read somewhere that it was a primal thing and it was good for the child. Although I admire her braveness, she was the only one in the room who was for twiddling.

[paquerette]

I wonder if it's a sensory thing, too. Are kids who just have to fidget, move, touch things, etc, more likely to twiddle?

[veganone]

It seems like DD does it because she loves nursing and finds my breasts (and nipples) comforting. I think she's also just interested in them since she's figured out that's where the milk comes from.

I don't allow it. I was lucky enough to have a friend who has a determined twiddler and I realized it's one thing I don't want to deal with. So, I try to keep the other breast covered by my bra or by my hand. No twiddling! She holds, rubs, squeezes, pinches, and smooshes my breasts while she nurses, but twiddling is off limits.

[Ofwait]

I think its comfort, my 17 month old, always wants to try, I can't stand it though... so she rubs my arms, or my upper chest and neck. When she rides in the ergo she sits and runs her hands up my sleaves so she can have access to skin. Freaked my DH out when she first did it to him, I thought it was rather funny, I guess I am used to the constant touching.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Ofwait

runs her hands up my sleeves so she can have access to skin.

I read this and immediately connected to all your twiddling toddlers! I have always done this to BFs and my DH. I had one BF who HATED it and said it would stretch his shirt out. It hurt me that he wouldn't let me do it!

[Miss 1928]

Thanks for all your replies!

Originally Posted by the_lissa

To encourage letdown on the other breast. Thankfully, neither of my kids did it.

Yeah, that makes sense. You're lucky your kids didn't feel this need.

Originally Posted by paquerette

I wonder if it's a sensory thing, too. Are kids who just have to fidget, move, touch things, etc, more likely to twiddle?

Eloisa is a very active nurser. She does fidget and often stands on one leg with the other leg and an arm flung up in the air as she nurses.

Originally Posted by love2bmom

: Know that I laugh because I've been there. I just loved your post title.
There was a mom in my LLL group in CA who did let her son twiddle. Her son was maybe 3 yrs. at the time. During one meeting another, newer mom, brought up twiddling and her annoyance at it. The mom who did allow twiddling said she did so because she had read somewhere that it was a primal thing and it was good for the child. Although I admire her braveness, she was the only one in the room who was for twiddling.

(I know you're not laughing at me, love2bmom. : Glad I could make you laugh and know that your laughing made me laugh too.)
Wow, someone who allowed twiddling! Yeeesh! Does anyone else out there allow twiddling?

Originally Posted by Ofwait

I think its comfort, my 17 month old, always wants to try, I can't stand it though... so she rubs my arms, or my upper chest and neck. When she rides in the ergo she sits and runs her hands up my sleaves so she can have access to skin. Freaked my DH out when she first did it to him, I thought it was rather funny, I guess I am used to the constant touching.

We do get used to the constant touching, don't we...
Even so, no twiddling allowed.

[Sheryl1678]

There is no way I could allow twiddling any more than I could allow biting!! It makes me want to crawl out of my own skin and scream! dd was VERY persistent in her efforts and will still try to cop a feel any chance she gets (at 3 1/2). I am going to try nursing/teething jewelery with dd2.

[veganone]

Originally Posted by Sheryl1678

I am going to try nursing/teething jewelery with dd2.

I tried it - didn't work for me at all, but some people have good luck with it.

[mouso]

I thought I had gotten away with a non-twiddler but DD started twiddling at about 15 months. The only thing I can think as to why she started was I always had oversupply and after a year I still had plenty of milk but it wasn't gushing out- which is what she was used to.

It drives me crazy. She usually does it when she's falling asleep so I think she does it for comfort and b/c she switches back and forth and is readying the other side.

There is a lot of "Sadie, please stop twiddling. Sadie, if you keep twiddling we are going to stop having boo-boo."

I don't mind her resting or squishing her hand on the other breast, but the nipple twiddling really hurts and just gets under my skin like crazy. If it's a primal thing for them we moms must have left that instinct behind, cause it makes me want to primal scream.

[Thalia]

Why do they feel the need to twiddle? Because boobs are awesome and probably one of the nicest, softest parts of our bodies. Really, who wouldn't want to touch them if they had access and not much else to do?

[lurve]

at first i hated the twiddling and then i just surrendered to it and now i don't mind at all. she enjoys it and as she has gotten older her touch as gotten lighter. i love being able to say "yes" to her

[srs]

Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl. It's one of the few things that is absolutely not allowed here. I agree that if it's a primal thing the mamas have left it behind.

[jazzybaby9]

I had no idea "twiddling" was a normal occurance! I can't stand it, it's constant! Especially at night before bed, she'll twiddle and be so persistant...I'll cover my other breast with the blanket, but she was try and rip and rip and rip at the blanket, sometimes she gets so frustrated from not being able to twiddle she yells or cries..............strange!

[CheapPearls]

I have to keep my other side well covered or he makes a grab for it. Mine now likes to kind of pinch my nipple that he's attached to (like his fingers are practically in his mouth) and roll the skin between his fingers. At first it was like "ack, don't!" but it doesn't hurt so I just leave him alone.

[Miss 1928]

Originally Posted by mouso

.... just gets under my skin like crazy. If it's a primal thing for them we moms must have left that instinct behind, cause it makes me want to primal scream.

:

Originally Posted by Thalia

Why do they feel the need to twiddle? Because boobs are awesome and probably one of the nicest, softest parts of our bodies. Really, who wouldn't want to touch them if they had access and not much else to do?

laughup

[Happiestever]

I thought it was just to make sure the other was still there and available to them just in case they change their mind and want the other side.