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.