My 3 month daughter is breastfed, and lately has been pulling off to look around. She will start off really well, but once the edge is taken off (say, 3-4 minutes into feeding) she starts getting distracted. I KNOW she is hungry! If I put her down, she is crying to be fed again within the hour. So far I just get her attention again and have her re-latch, but it's getting to be a pain! It's hard to tell if she's done or if she's just distracted... Plus, 1/2 the time she does it while still latched...stretching me out (ouch!) What can I do to get her to focus more on eating? I have tried giving her toys or things to look at that would keep her in position, but she is only interested in random things... (She has been obsessed with the ceiling fan from birth. Lol) Even if I angle myself so she can see the stuff she usually looks for, she will just try looking for something else! Please help me and my poor boobies! :(
I would try nursing with a thin blanket or scarf over her as if you were in public, and talk to her to keep her focused on you.
When my DS was 4 months old, I had the same problem. He was so distracted with everything around him that it was impossible to feed him. I only breastfed for the first 3 months so by then he was on the bottle and he literally refused to let me hold him to feed.
What I have done is put him in the stroller and feed him the bottle there while holding up toys and stuff for him to look at. It worked for a while but eventually he did not want to stay put to eat at all. He has better things to do than to eat.
I don't think I can offer much help here as I didn't breastfeed when this happened to me. Maybe you can trying breastfeeding her in a dark boring room with very little distractions in the room? This might help. If there is nothing to distract her, she will probably concentrate better at feeding. Maybe you can try playing some classical music in the background so sooth her to feed? I am not sure if the music with be a form of distraction for her but it might help.
Hope this helps.
As Nancy mentioned, try to create a more distraction free envronement. Go to a room that is darker and quiet. Use a scarf or light blanket over your shoulder to reduce visual stimuli. Make a habit of it and you will create a routine and may be able to come back out into a regular environment.
She is naturally curious and doesn't want to miss out. :)
I know a lot of the literature says you should focus on your baby and not do anyting else while nursing, but that is not a natural state of being. Get a sling and let your baby nurse when you are moving around. That means you don't have to stop what you are doing to feed her and she gets to look around at all sorts of things as the world goes by. It will take practice, but in a week or two you will have it down! Good luck.
Your baby is so cute!
As babies get older and more alert, they can get distracted easily. Life is so exciting when everything is so new!
Definitely try covering her up. My babies loved to be hummed to.
I think you'll find what works.
Best wishes!
Use a thin blanket as a "blinder" to cover you both and keep her eyes on the prize so to speak. Or go into a dark room to feed her. If she can't see anything interesting she won't look around.
