Frustrated! Help!

LuckyBride06 · May 2010

I don't know what to do about my son anymore. He will not eat. When I feed him, he latches on sucks for 1 min and then pulls off and smiles at me, sometimes he grunts and screams, and he is very squirmy. He does not have reflux b/c the pedi said he'd be crying and arching his back. I'm assuming that he's just at the age where he is easily distracted. I'm getting so frustrated though b/c I'm trying all I can and it's just hard fighting with him to eat. I try feeding him in a quiet room where there aren't any distractions, but he still does it.

Since he doesn't eat enough during the day, he is now waking up 4 times a night b/c he's hungry. I'm seriously considering giving up EBFing and EPing. I don't want to at all...I HATE pumping, but at least I'll know how much he's getting. He eats on the breast for lease than 10 mins before I just give up the fight. I can't take fighting with him all day, then being up with him all night.

Any suggestions? Is this just a "phase" that he'll grow out of. It's been like a month now!!

My LC hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Osgirl · May 2010

This is very typical of 4 month old behavior. My DD is going through the same thing and she is 4 months old. I have a friend who said the same thing. You may want to try nursing in a quieter dark room if possible with little distraction. I sometimes nurse my DD in her bedroom where it's quieter rather than in the living room where my 3 year old DS is running around and playing.

hopefully it's a short phase that will soon end!

PAmiler82 · May 2010

Drew did this around 4 months too - although not quite as difficult as what you described. He would nurse for a little longer and wasn't waking up at night so much.

I tried to pay close attention to when he was fussiest and when he was relatively more calm. Then I'd try to replicate the conditions of those calm feedings. Sometimes the only thing that would calm Drew was standing and swaying while I nursed in that dark-ish, quiet room. Not sure if that would help your LO!

I do think it's a phase, and it will pass. However, how long you can put up with it is an important question. You have to take into account your sanity. Can you wait it out until LO settles down? Or do you need to supplement with something for a little while?

AMYfromKY · May 2010

Total phase, but here are a few things to try.

Replace one nursing session with a dream feed (nursing him while he's asleep). I get DS out of his crib at 10pm, he eats, and I put him right back down. I do this to prevent a night nursing.

Nurse in a dark room.

Try different positions. DS wouldn't nurse a week ago and I started pumping and giving him bottles. He would only eats the bottles sitting straight up. I tried nursing him sitting up and he has been a nursing champ ever since. Maybe your LO just isn't comfortable in the position you are feeding him in anymore.

Don't respond to his smiles. Yes, nursing should be a bonding experience, but him getting enough milk is the #1 priority right now.

Keep trying! If you have to pump a bottle or 2 a day to feed him and keep your supply don't worry about it! Just do what works right now.

mandeline21 · June 2010

DD seems to be going through this phase right now, too. I noticed that it's not as bad when NIP, so I tried covering her with a blanket at home when she gets distracted, and that seems to be helping a bit.

StephE623 · June 2010

I EP and DD has been giving me the hardest time with her feedings lately. I really do believe this is a phase because she never gave me any trouble before.

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