Distracted while breastfeeding

I remember that! JJ went through a couple of phases of distractedness, one about the same age as Ava is now, another when he hit about 5 or 6 months.

I had to take him to a quiet place to feed him the first time around, would go to his room and shut the door. Alternatively lots of noise seemed to be fine too - it was individual isolated noises that would make him pop off. So if the dog walked past, off JJ would come to have a nosy, but feeding in the middle of a noisy foodcourt was fine. When it was at it's worst I used to avoid eye contact too, and play music or white noise.

I also found giving him something to focus his attention while feeding really helped. Sometimes I would wear a (strong!) necklace but I'm not really a jewellery kind of girl so usually it was my hair (which is normally in a plait). And now he can't feed without playing with my hair, but I can handle a little hair pulling or twirling because it means he gets on with the job

If I didn't have long hair to offer him I would seriously consider getting a breastfeeding necklace - I know Bumbles have them (linky), not sure where else you can get them from.

I read somewhere about the breastfeeding necklaces, I might have to get one. Don't fancy getting my hair pulled 5 times a day. She always pulls off if there is any kind of sudden noise in the room, it's really annoying!

Jane, Eva must be going through the same phase. She often pulls off and has big smiles, or pulls off to look at the cat or if I talk to someone... she is just so nosy!

I find sometimes the constant pulling off and then latching herself back on makes my (.) a little sore (nothing compared to the first month of BF though).

I am not worried about her not eating enough though, she has put on loads of weight from this whole 3 month growth spurt.

I usually relatch twice and then give up, on the basis that they will come back when they are hungry enough to not get so distracted lol

Good to know it's a common problem! My little one does this, but instead of pulling off to look around, she does it while still latched good idea about the feeding necklace! I actually do have a thick beaded one like that (that someone bought me once, I'm not a jewellery person either) so will dig that out and give it a go!

Campbell is doing this too! Mostly he'll pop off to smile and babble at me. I try to relatch him a few times, until I figure he must have had enough. I think he's getting full feeds when he does this, it doesn't seem to affect his routine like his reflux or sleeping patterns do.

lol Emma- that happened to me in the early days--he got it in the eye!

dr and LC both told me to take him into a quiet, dark room with little stimulation and it helps. and if you like you can play white noise or some music that will be considered the 'feeding time' music. DS is really distracted nowadays so you aren't the only one!