My 7 month old little girl has all of a sudden changed the way she nurses. She will stretch my nipples while nursing by pulling her head back as far as she can. So, I tried holding her head close, and not letting her pull it passed a certain point, and this doesn't work either. She sucks so hard that it hurts. What is going on?? It's almost like she has forgotten how to nurse. We will probably start solids soon, maybe she's hungry, but she doesn't act like she's unsatisfied after nursing. Please help!
She's pulling her hear back to try and get more milk. My doctor started my daughter on cereal by 4 months and solids soon after. She is probably hungry. Try to start giving cereal. Actually at 7 months she is ready for veggies or fruits.
Sorry about the pain.
Is she teething? My son did that and would bite when he was through. I notice that my twins will pull away like that when they were done. If they weren't done, I was because it hurt like crazy. Then I would try again a little while later to make sure they were not still hungry.
I agree with you that she is probably not hungry. When my kids started to teeth they changed thier nursing habbits. They would do what your child is doing and also bite sometimes. They would also suck so hard that it hurt even with a proper latch. When she starts to pull back break the latch and start over. This too shall pass!
Blessings, K.
Hi there,
My doctor recommended that we start solids at 4 months for both of my two kiddos. Perhaps your little one is hungry? We started with Gerber's Rice cereal and breastmilk first, and made it so it was really thin. More milky, but you knew there was cereal in the bowl. Gradually thicken it up over a period of days. As they get used to it, you can add pureed fruit and veggies (we started with veggies first, so they wouldn't get "hooked" on sweet tastes first) later.
You might ask your pediatrician's office - just call and ask a nurse. They'll help you, I bet.
Good luck!
T.
It sound like she is ready now for something other than milk, try giving her some cereal and then nurse see if this helps.
I am so sorry this is happening. I know how hard it is. my daughter is 14 mo. and she went through a stage where she bit me a lot and I did what you did and it did not work either. what I found worked, but she is older so I wonder if your baby will not fully "understand", is when she bit me I did not say owww (hard so hard not too) bc they actually think that sound is "neat" and will do it again...so I did not say owww but I broke her latch (put a paci in her mouth to calm her) and then gently and firmly told her to be gentle, no biting, it hurts momma and I acted pretty upset. she then knew it was hurting me, that I did not like it, that I would stop nursing her when she did that and it did fix itself after a while. If you have a lac consultant you can talk to them or go to a meeting. There is also a 24 hour help line: 1-877-452-5324). I called them once and they were okay. Good luck, oh and I am excited to hear that your baby is not on solids yet....I waited till my baby showed interest (6mo.) but most moms start too early breast milk is so important oh side note LOL if you want to make your own baby food I love http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/. good luck!
I have a 10 month old daughter whom I nurse she doesn't take a bottle or formula she simply refuses to do so.I don't even pump my milk it is all breast & baby.She started doing the same thing around this time frame she now has 4 teeth & is getting 2 more.Her teething has alot to do with it because once the teeth came out she stopped but now 2 more are coming in again & she has continued.She thinks my nipples are a rubberband my husband just looks like OH my how far are u going to let ther strecth them out doesn't that hurt well HELL YA it hurt's u wanna try it.I have to tell her no that hurt's mama if she does it again I will take her off my breast again tell her NO it hurt's & sit her down to play.Then will try again later.She is a very good eater she completly skipped baby food & went on to table food's.I will offer her other drink choices water,or orange juice,100% juice in a sippy cup she does really well.
My son did that when he was teething. Once the tooth came through he stopped pulling.
I'm so sorry! My son has done that but not to that extent. I asked my lactation consultant about it, and she said he was probably trying to stimulate milk flow. My son also started biting when I started having milk supply issues and stopped when it got better so just a thought (it might very well not be so don't worry, I just wanted to throw it out there). Could you call a lactation consultant in your area? Some will do a free phone consult.
The best thing I have found when they are doing something you do not like, is just say, "oh, that hurts" and set them down. She will probably cry because she is hungry. Then just say, "lets try again" pick her up and start again. Talk softly and sweetly and praisingly when she is nursing correctly. As soon as she does it again, start all over. Babies are very bright, she will catch on quickly.
I don't start solids until around 8 or 9 months either. Try not to start them until you have helped her remember how to nurse properly. Other wise she may just want to ditch the nursing all together.
Good luck
