DS is relentless in his attempts to twiddle my nips while nursing, or after he's done nursing and trying to fall asleep. Any ideas on how I can put a stop to this? I've tried playing with his hands, giving him a toy or a book, and keeping covered.
None of those things work as he just throws the objects, pushes my hands away and starts grabbing at my shirt looking for an entry point. It's gotten to the point that DH has to come in to finish the bedtime routine because he's so focused on trying to twiddle that he won't go to sleep.
Is this a sign he may start to wean (wanting to just play with them instead of nursing them to sleep) or a sign that he's more in love with them than ever?
Re: Anyone have a twiddler?
Todd was obsessed with my hair. Hold it, stroke it, pull it, twist it, etc, etc. I eventually taught him that he could hold it as long as he didn't pull or twist.
I tried lots of things to get him to hold onto something else, but never really found a replacement. Although I never tried something that felt like my hair - maybe if you could find a ball or toy with bumps on it? Or a necklace with a few big beads?
I don't think it has anything to do with weaning. Todd will still stroke my hair or hold onto it if I'm rocking him when he's tired.
Great point! Brinley was (and still is when she's tired) quite attached to a mole on my neck. There were a few times she picked it a little to hard and it bled.
This is super common (and super annoying). Since you've tried lots of distraction techniques, I would immediately stop nursing and move away from him when he does that (or put him down, if applicable) and tell him you don't like it. Try again in 30sec/a minute/whatever you want. Rinse and repeat. He'll get the picture that when he twiddles, nursing time is over. Treat it like any other bad behavior you want to nip at the bud.
Definitely no reason to wean!
Joseph Henry was born at home on March 9, 2009
Nora Mae was born at home on October 30, 2011