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Head shaking and trouble latching

binny10binny10 member
in Breastfeeding
DS is a little over a week old. Initially he latched great, but more recently it can be a struggle to get him latched on. He often will shake his head back and forth like a wild man, get frustrated and then start wailing. Sometimes I can manage to get him on before the crying if I really force his face into my nipple, but not always. We've tried different positions (he tends to latch easier with football hold). It is definitely more pronounced the longer he goes between feeds- which is never more then 3 hrs, we nurse on demand.

I had this problem with Ds1 as well, but chalked it up to MSPI, which he was diagnosed with a 6 weeks. This time around I already eliminated dairy before he was born, and other wise he is a happy baby.

Any ideas of what this could be or how to solve it? Just impatient/ frustrated eater? Fast letdown? I really am clueless! If its anything like ds1 I know it will get better as he gets older, but if I can make it better before then I would love to help the little (and myself) out!
DS Born 10/5/11 TTC #2 starting 8/2012 BFP! 11/12/12 EDD 7/26/12... natural m/c 12/1/12 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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Re: Head shaking and trouble latching

  • RootBeer29RootBeer29 member
    DD1 did this and I think it was reflux in her case.  She was hungry but associated eating with pain.
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  • vvvvvfeevvvvvfee member
    my DS did this when he was really little and i think he did it when he got overly hungry. he would get sort of frantic and shake his head back and forth like you described, trying to get the nipple (but he wasn't very good at it because he was tiny and had poor motor control!), then if i couldn't get him latched fast enough he would start crying. i think there is a growth spurt around 7-10 days, so maybe he's hungrier. it sounds pretty normal to me. (but i definitely sympathize, it was really frustrating!)
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  • TheDairyQueenx3TheDairyQueenx3 member
    All three of my kid did this the first 2.5 months of their lives. My twins still do it at 3.5 months. In our case it is their way of getting a let down. Basically the look like they are shaking their head no and screaming. A soon as milk starts flowing they latch and are ok. If they do it half way or even a few moments into a feed then they are refluxing. It eventually goes away.


    Together 6 wonderful years.
    TTC #1 18 months 1 loss DX unexplained IF-- BFP July 2009-- ITS A BOY
    TTC #2 3 years and 3 losses DX PCOS -- BFP April 2013-- TWIN BOYS!
    ~DS1-Feb 2010~ 
    ~DS2&3- Nov 2013  {7 weeks early}~ TTC #4~
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  • binny10binny10 member
    I feel better knowing we're not the only ones, thanks for the input! I know it will get better with time since it eventually improved with DS1, I just can't remember how long it took before it wasn't an issue anymore. I do try and feed him often and as soon as he exhibits any hunger cues so he doesn't get too hungry, it is definitely worse when he hasn't eaten in 3 hrs.

    I am probably mostly frustrated because I feel house bound until the latching/ bfing is less of a struggle. It makes NIPing really too stressful for me. I have a rambunctious toddler who needs to get more exercise than he is currently getting now that we have been home for several days on end. I guess I just need to be patient!
    DS Born 10/5/11 TTC #2 starting 8/2012 BFP! 11/12/12 EDD 7/26/12... natural m/c 12/1/12 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • southerngal07southerngal07 member
    I have very little experience (FTM, LO is 6 days old) but he started doing this when my milk came in. What's worked for us is a warm compress right before feeding and expressing a little bit if milk into a towel or burp cloth. Then I use the football hold, but with him in a more upright position and me leaning back more. This means that he's working against gravity, which slows the flow and makes it easier for him. Hope this helps!
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  • ktpaladinoktpaladino member
    DS did this for me and now at 2.5 weeks old, DD is starting to do it too. I never really figured out why DS did it, but it was something he just outgrew by 3 months. I agree with PP's that it seems worse when DD is really hungry. If I can get her to the breast before she is displaying hunger signs, it is not as bad.

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