Hitting problems at 5 months

[Sunnie1976]

Hi all. I've been breastfeeding Alex for 22 weeks now, and strangely it is starting to get really difficult. He sleeps through the night and feeds really well at his first feed as he is obviously hungry. Then as the day goes on he is getting more and more distracted when he feeds. If he's in a good mood, he keeps stopping to have a look around. If he's not in a good mood he keeps stopping to cry. He has started falling asleep at the breast which he hasn't done in months and he's also biting me which hurts! (no teeth yet luckily)

I wondered if it was a growth spurt and have been trying to give him extra feeds but that's not doing much good. It's been like this for a few days now and I'm starting to get quite upset. Has anyone else experienced this?

I've not started weaning him yet as I was hoping to wait until 6 months. I was planning to do BLW. Does this behaviour have anything to do with needing solids?

Sunnie x

 

[Mervs Mum]

How long has he been like it? Could be a spurt.

 

[Poppeteer]

My Hallie has been doing exactly the same thing, she will literally feed for maybe a minute and then stop to look around, if she's in a bad mood she will cry and start hitting the boob.... I literally have to put her down to give us both time out.

Makes feeding takes ages and it also means that she's feeding really often as she's only taking in a bit at a time.
She weighs just over 18 lbs and I'm wondering if this is a sign she needs more than just milk??

 

[Sunnie1976]

It's been going on for nearly a week and getting progressively worse. I'm torn between offering him solids, or maybe introducing a daytime bottle. Think I'll give it a couple more days and see what happens.

 

[Logiebear]

My lo has started this behaviour too. She is 5 months next week. I have been told previously that it is typical behaviour for 4-5 months and nothing to worry about. It takes ages and I had thought it was a sign that I had run out of milk but it is not. She is so awkward with it and it is infuriating too!!

I am not weaning until 6 months as I plan to do BLW too!

 

[Mervs Mum]

A week could still be a growth spurt so I'd just hand fire for now if you are wanting to do BLW.

 

[mari72]

Ellis has been a nightmare since she turned about 18 weeks, her lack of concentration when she's feeding is infuriating and embarrassing depending on where we are! Embarrassing if we're out and about as i can do very little to prevent overexposure of my breast because she's on off on off. She's also started tugging hard at clothing and banging my chest/arms. I've been told its all perfectly normal at the bf support group and my cousin went through the same with her little boy at exactly the same stage.
At least you're little one is sleeping through the night, Ellis's nights have regressed somewhat. We'll be weaning soon so all the baby experts (mum,mil,aunts etc) tell me she'll magically sleep through when she's not starving anymore!!(to be fair my mum hasn't said this but my mil definitely implied it), personally i think ellis and i have gotten into some sloppy night time habits...watch this space

 

[Samantha675]

Its an age thing. Brenn was the same way. I found that going into my room, and sitting in the glider, no one else, no tv and such helped him focus.