Breastfeeding has become such a struggle. Our three-month-old seems to squirm, arch, and sometimes
fights nursing until I get her going. Then she settles down.
Help!
Some babies just have trouble settling down for a feed. This
nursing nuisance is particularly common at three months of age
when babies develop better visual acuity, so that they are
distracted by all the goings on around the room. Try these
settling suggestions:
- Nurse in a less distracting environment. Dubbed
"closet nursing," you may have to take her into a dark, quiet
room such as the bedroom, and sit in a rocking chair or propped
up on pillows on the bed and get down to the business of nursing.
Nap nurse. Pick a couple times during the day when you
are the most tired and lie down with her to enjoy some quiet
nursing time.
Sling nurse. Distractible babies often settle down
easily when they are contained in a sling, and the motion of your
walking will further relax baby.
Once you've discovered your own little private method and place
to nurse, you will find that baby will eventually mold willingly
into the nursing position and finish a feed without so much
distraction.