How Do You Teach Nursing Manners?
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To me nursing manners mean setting gentle limits to behaviors that make Mama nutty - like twiddling!
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Another Mama suggested I look on kellymom and there is actually a great piece about how to establish nursing manners. With KIera, I was always firm but gentle when she was, for example, popping on and off. I would say to her, "That hurts Mama. If you want na nas please be gentle." Then if that didn't work I woud tell her, "No playing - time to nurse." If that STILL didn't work then I'd end the session and we'd move on to something else. (Yes, she did cry sometimes but it was more becasue I wasn't giving in to her, not because she was truly hungry) I started this with her at about 13 months? 14months? Now she is a very polite nurser most of the time!!!
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I would post the link but my toddler is chasing the cat around with a highlighter so I've gotta go!
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We've actually had to begin nursing manners in terms of requesting to nurse. DS is 31 months old and about 2-3 months ago he started just coming over and pulling up my shirt!! So we had to work on requesting milk instead of just taking milk... kwim? Up until then, he DID request it. I don't really know what happened!
He likes to be an acrobat while nursing--twisting his body into all kinds of positions. I have to firmly tell him "No playing when we're having milk!" and if he doesn't stop, I end the session. But much like pp, mine will cry because he can't have what he wants--he's by NO means hungry (he eats regular food like it's his job).
I need to look at kellymom for help with twiddling--which is a new thing for him and VERY annoying!
He likes to be an acrobat while nursing--twisting his body into all kinds of positions. I have to firmly tell him "No playing when we're having milk!" and if he doesn't stop, I end the session. But much like pp, mine will cry because he can't have what he wants--he's by NO means hungry (he eats regular food like it's his job).
I need to look at kellymom for help with twiddling--which is a new thing for him and VERY annoying!
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I have had to work on nursing manners with both of my older nurslings. It involves being consistent every time and not letting them pull up the shirt or not letting them twiddle. I would never let my baby touch my other breast (always keep it covered) since it drives me out of my skin to have it touched. I would also just consistently push my shirt back down and say "do you want to nurse" (while doing the nursing sign) and then I would be in charge of pulling up my shirt. There have been a few tears and a few tantrums but I just keep calm and keep my hands holding down my shirt or move little hands away and say "do you want to nurse?" My 17 mo son mainly does the nursing sign and rarely pulls on my shirt anymore. He was doing it everytime he wanted to nurse a few months ago. Manners come and go and sometimes I have to remind that I will pull up my shirt. I also am consistent with not letting him push my shirt up in public. He loves to have my whole boob showing so that is our current issue. I don't mind NIP but don't want to be disrobed.
Wendi
Wendi
i have problems with shirt pulling and i'm starting to try to enforce no shirt-pulling at home as well as out because i'm not entirely sure he can understand why there's a difference to me.
our biggest problem is with mole-picking. there's a mole between my breasts and he picks it like crazy! i've tried distraction, diversion, i've tried unlatching him when he does it... but it just comes up again and again and my patience is worn quite thin on it. i will say he picks more when he's wide awake and squirmy, especially if he needs to go potty. if he's calm or sleepy it's not so big a problem. so sometimes i unlatch him, try to figure out if he needs something else (like potty) and then offer to nurse again once i've cured whatever is making him antsy.
our biggest problem is with mole-picking. there's a mole between my breasts and he picks it like crazy! i've tried distraction, diversion, i've tried unlatching him when he does it... but it just comes up again and again and my patience is worn quite thin on it. i will say he picks more when he's wide awake and squirmy, especially if he needs to go potty. if he's calm or sleepy it's not so big a problem. so sometimes i unlatch him, try to figure out if he needs something else (like potty) and then offer to nurse again once i've cured whatever is making him antsy.
LOL, Kelsey picked a mole OFF my chest. It came back though. It doesn't stick out anymore now so she leaves it alone.
And I'm so glad I'm not alone in the can't-STAND-to-have-my-other-boob-touched club! Man, that is like the most annoying thing EVER!
I think teaching nursing manners is just like anything else...consistancy. We've had a lot of set-backs especially with the acrobatics but I'm getting very good at saying if you're not going to nurse nice you'll have to wait until later and then just walking off.
And I'm so glad I'm not alone in the can't-STAND-to-have-my-other-boob-touched club! Man, that is like the most annoying thing EVER!
I think teaching nursing manners is just like anything else...consistancy. We've had a lot of set-backs especially with the acrobatics but I'm getting very good at saying if you're not going to nurse nice you'll have to wait until later and then just walking off.
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