My toddler has a really bad habit and I don’t know how to make it stop!

jennnymelo

I have a 2 year old baby girl who I breastfed up until she was about 12 months. It was difficult but after a couple of days she was fine! Around 16 months she started getting this habit of pinching my nipple when she was going to sleep. The first time I didn’t think much of it then and would tell her to stop or simply remove her hand which worked the first couple of times then after that she would throw tantrums and pinch me even harder so I would allow her to do it. Which of course I caved into at night when I would want to go to sleep. However, now it’s getting very annoying and I feel like she’s become dependent to it. I don’t know what approach I should take on this. I’d prefer for her to stop sooner than later since I have another baby on the way that I will be breastfeeding as well. I was hoping to get some tips or if any if you have experienced this before? Thanks in advance

coldlife2

jennnymelo said:

I have a 2 year old baby girl who I breastfed up until she was about 12 months. It was difficult but after a couple of days she was fine! Around 16 months she started getting this habit of pinching my nipple when she was going to sleep. The first time I didn’t think much of it then and would tell her to stop or simply remove her hand which worked the first couple of times then after that she would throw tantrums and pinch me even harder so I would allow her to do it. Which of course I caved into at night when I would want to go to sleep. However, now it’s getting very annoying and I feel like she’s become dependent to it. I don’t know what approach I should take on this. I’d prefer for her to stop sooner than later since I have another baby on the way that I will be breastfeeding as well. I was hoping to get some tips or if any if you have experienced this before? Thanks in advance

No, but I have had my children pinch my arms or other areas. You tell them to stop and enforce the rules. You can't reason with a child that young, so she's not going to stop by asking politely. 

Other than that, I'm not really sure how she's able to do that since you said she's not nursing anymore? Are you co-sleeping? Or rocking her to sleep? I would remove her access to your nipples. She is old enough to go to sleep on her own. Just put her in her own bed straight away instead of cuddling or co-sleeping. Wear a thick coat or something. 

sfleiss

Omg my son does this! Even to my husband! We adamantly told him “no”, over and over, and over and over. Now, my son just rubs it with his palm while soothing himself to sleep. It doesn’t hurt as much, but super irritating. So, your little one isn’t the only one, it’s super annoying and painful, but “normal”. I don’t have any advice, but you’re not the only one!

knottie9fb5434166806cb1

So this is really normal. They do it for comfort especially around bedtime, napping , cuddling or just when they are need of comfort. My daughter still sometimes does it not often but she is 3 half years old. She stopped breastfeeding before 12 months due to me being pregnant. My son does this occasionally only when in neee of comfort and he'll be 2 years next week. Don't make it a bad thing in there eyes. As you said before gently remove and tell them it hurts... If it does or just gently move it.
Other than that I do not have any advice. Hopefully this helps.