Comfort feeding

[Neecee]

Does anyone else's LO do this? I think Kai has started comfort feeding. He starts revving up as if he's hungry (usually not long after he's had a full feed) so I put him back on the breast only for him to take one or two sucks and fall fast asleep. If I try and take him off, he starts sucking wildly again and gets really upset if I try and put him down. I'm not sure what to do about this and I'm starting to feel like I'm chained to the bed/sofa because he always want to be on me! Any suggestions?

 

[marley2580]

Kaya used to be a big comfort feeder, but I see he's 6 weeks old - they do tend to have a growth spurt around about now, when they just seem to spend all their time feeding. Have you tried a sling?

 

[Meels-Spot]

No ideas I'm afraid but just to say that Seth is doing this a bit too and he's the same age as Kai, in fact he's doing it right now! I'm bottle feeding, so it's a pain when he persuades me he really is starving even though he only had a full feed two hours ago, so I go through the palaver of getting another bottle all ready, then he only has a bit and starts dropping off! Today he has been awake since 12.10, it's now 6pm and he's not slept more than 10 mins or so even though he keeps dropping off, it's hard work!

Kai is really cute by the way!

 

[Meels-Spot]

ps just to say I tried a soother to see if that would help him drop off or ease the need to suck, I'm not a big fan of them but I thought I'd give it a try as people have recommended trying one.......so far it's worked one out of three times, but Seth doesn't seem that impressed with them and usually spits them straight out. The one time it did work he literally took 3 sucks on it and went straight off to sleep within seconds!

 

[Mrs_Nesbit]

Sam doesnt do this so much nowerdays, but he did earlier today when was otherwise inconsolable after the wind slammed the door shut and frightened the poor wee man stiff.
He literally was always on the boob though...And used to get mad at them for making more milk when he only wanted a cuddle and a suck.

 

[mshottyhotti]

Yea my LO is like this too he comfort feeds but then when he just wants to fall asleep and the milk is coming he gets really upset because he's getting a mouthful of milk. I don't know what to do because he fusses every time he wants to sleep so if anyone has any tips let us know. Although he is only 3 weeks old....

 

[Ema]

Jacob used to comfort feed, he went through a period of not going to sleep without a bottle. even tho he was full. I just persisted with a dummy and within about a week he didnt need a bottle to fall asleep XxxX

 

[vicwick]

ps just to say I tried a soother to see if that would help him drop off or ease the need to suck, I'm not a big fan of them but I thought I'd give it a try as people have recommended trying one.......so far it's worked one out of three times, but Seth doesn't seem that impressed with them and usually spits them straight out. The one time it did work he literally took 3 sucks on it and went straight off to sleep within seconds!

Alfie wouldn't take one either. He has nursed to sleep from a few weeks old which i don't mind. He will go to sleep if i shush him and walk around with him but he has a strong sucking need so i just let him nurse to sleep its comforting for him. He may be goin thru a growth spurt tho so he may stop after a few days xx

 

[caggimedicine]

Harry does this sometimes, particularly at the moment but I think it's because he's not feeling well and is on antibiotics which I think are upsetting his tummy. He has done it before then though. He'll seem hungry, and yet falls asleep sometimes even at the sight of boob! It's just a comfort thing I think. Sometimes what works for me is to cuddle him in, in the same sort of position as I would breastfeed him, but give him the dummy to suck on. Difficult when he's like that though, as when I put him down - the second the dummy comes out he's crying again. He's also woken up simply because he's been lying on the dummy that he spat out earlier on!

 

[Whisper]

Amelia still does that but when she gets to the sleepy stage i just take her off and quickly pop the dummy in!

 

[milkmachine]

i quite like comfort feeding its scrummy closeness remember that soon enough your baby will be up on its feet and wont be so interested in you. enjoy the closeness its beautiful


xxx

 

[CamoQueen]

David was always comfort nursing from about 3 weeks til maybe 11 or 12 weeks. He'll be 4 months in a few days, and still comfort nurses from time to time, and at nights to go to sleep. I got so frustrated over it, because I was stuck to that baby for hours at a time... but it got better. I hope it doesn't last as long for you as it did for me!

 

[Novbaby08]

Harley does this all the time, especially when she's tired, or during night feeds, its normal. I say let them do it. I've had doctors say not to, because their just using you as a pacifier. But breastfeeding is a natural as it gets, so actually their using the pacifier as a replacement for mom. So I let harley do it. Though after a while I'll break her off, you just stick your pinky into the side of their mouth and break the suction, if he's asleep he probably won't notice too much. Sometimes it might wake him up.

 

[Chel]

When Jasper decides he wants a comfort feed he cries just like a newborn baby if I dont give in IMMEDIATLY... its sooooo adorable... I'm awful, I love it so much I'll hold him and watch him cry for about 30 seconds (cos he does get quite loud and piercing if I leave it much longer!!!) because he's such a big boy already, so 'mature' for a 4 month old, I just think its lovely when he's a tiny little vulnerable baby again and ust wants mummy.

I always give him a comfort suck if he asks for it - boobie isn't just food, its love, its comfort, its warmth, its mummy! I wouldn't do it ALL the time, but for the times he asks for it, I dont see the harm in giving my baby boy all the love and comfort he needs!

THAT said, I think he may be using boobies as a paci at night, if he co-sleeps he wants the boobie in his mouth, or at least easily accessable for a suck here or there, all night! My 4 month old baby knows how to pop off and on the boobie as he pleases... I'm starting to think this mightn't be a great arrangement!

 

[Alenky]

My Anya does this - It's so hard to sleep when she does as she's awake all the time.

 

[kirstyloo82]

my lo usedtocomfort aswell. my hv recommended a dummy, but one of the old fashioned shaped ones (called cherry) so that she could get a good grip with it, he said that after a while we could then change to the orthodontic shaped one if she still needed it. i must say she uses it less and less now to comfort.

also i think someone else mentioned a sling. i have used a moby wrap with my baby since she was a few days old. its different to the solid sort of carriers in that it is simply a piece of fabric, you wrap it and tie it around you and then put the baby in. they settle well snuggled against you and its just like they are still in the womb. i was a bit scared at first as i didnt think it was very secure, but omg it has saved my life. having a 2 year old as well, i need to be on the go but didnt want to miss out on snuggles with my newbie. because of the way you wrap the fabric you can do skin to skin in it aswell and you are completely covered up (not that i go out the house but at least in doors we can!) within a few minutes of going in she is fast asleep.

hope you work it out

 

[emma_27]

Ellie does this when shes tired she wont take a dummy no matter how much ive persisted. Sorry no advice though. Ive had to start leaving her in the cot with the mobile on i hate doing it but if i try and cuddle her she gets more cross because i wont give her what she wants! I do on most occassions let her feed to sleep in the day im always being told not to do it but hey ho.