has anyone else that breastfeeds found a change in your babies behavior towards nursing around 8 months?

Jan - posted on 01/16/2012

i breast fed all my kids and i hav 6,one of which didnt have solids until 9 months old,but if your baby is eating food then cut back on booby feeding,just give her it in the morning and at night b4 bed,give her a beaker during the day and as for the separation anxiety,just go with it,cos theres nothing u can do about it and all babies go through it,if she wants to be with u then so be it

Bette - posted on 01/14/2012

Yes, my little one started getting separation anxiety around 8 months. He started wanting to nurse more and just be close to me all the time. It's hard, but wonderful. He also started teething and that made him kind of frantic and grumpy when he nursed. He also started getting super pissy when he gets tired, that makes him fussy and distracted when I am trying to help him sleep. He's 9 months now and is still a mama's boy, but some of the separation anxiety has tones down, but I know that it will probably come back at some point, it usually does. My oldest got it back at around 18 months or so. I think that it has to do with a cognitive shift and they are becoming more aware of their surroundings and know when they are alone, or in a new situation.



Just be patient, the phase will shift and you will have a calm before a new storm. LOL (((HUGS)))

Nicole - posted on 01/13/2012

I agree with Heather. Did your doc okay whole milk? It is too soon for her little tummy to handle. Also, she could be going through a little growth spurt, so you could give her a little more solids too. To get her to drink other stuff, you could try a few ounces of water. At this point it is okay for her to have some without it ruining her appetite for milk. Good luck!

Heather - posted on 01/12/2012

You shouldn't be giving her whole milk at 8 months old. They aren't supposed to have it until they are 12 months old. If you want to wean, try giving her pumped breast milk in a bottle with 1/8 to 1/4 formula mixed in for a few days, see how she does and do that for a few feedings. She might even like formula straight up? But she shouldn't be having whole milk yet. All 8 month olds are attached to their mommies, and this will go on until she is 12 months old, or even 2 1/2, like my daughter. She is super shy.



Everything you are saying is totally normal. Do you want to wean her? Try giving her something new to play with while she nurses. A new toy, play phone, your phone, something like that to keep her mind off of moving around. BUT, she sounds to me like she is really, really active, and she might be trying to wean herself. My son weaned himself from me when he was just shy of 11 months. He went straight to formula with no problems at all. Then a few months later we gave him whole milk, but he was 14 months old when we did that.

Lise - posted on 01/12/2012

I strapped my dd into a wrap and cleaned that way, or had her help (which she started around 8 months). She would take a rag and rub it all over the floor to help clean. Haha. Otherwise, my house just isn't as important as having fun with my kid.



"I hope my child looks back on today

And sees a mother who had time to play.

There will be years for cleaning and cooking,

But children grow up when you’re not looking.

Tomorrow I’ll do all the chores you can mention

But today, my baby needs time and attention.

So settle down cobwebs; dust go to sleep,

I’m cuddling my baby, and babies don’t keep."



and



"Cooking and cleaning can wait til tomorrow,

for children grow up, we've learned to our sorrow,

So wipe away cobwebs and dust go to sleep,

I'm cuddling my baby 'cause babies don't keep."

Celeste - posted on 01/12/2012

Yes! A nursing necklace! I had one for my twin boys and that really helped during that stage!



Cleaning house? When my boys were taking a nap, I'd try to clean the house but it wasn't my priority.



Another thing that I had was this play yard called the "Super gate". It was an enclosure that I had my twins in where they had their toys. Loved that thing. They were able to play safely for a few minutes so I could get a few things done.

Brooke - posted on 01/11/2012

maybe i will try a nursing necklace my poor boobs get to clawed up haha

Brooke - posted on 01/11/2012

thanks for the articles celeste..and it good to know that other peoples babies are that way.. Jessica Foley i find it really weird that our babies act like that only whens it just you and them too lol..i have another question tho how to do find time to clean up the house when your alone and if your baby does take long nap during the day if any

Lise - posted on 01/11/2012

Totally agree with Celeste! A nursing necklace may help.

Jessica - posted on 01/11/2012

My 8 month old has to be quite hungry, and sometimes tired helps too, before she'll settle and take the breast. Otherwise she tries to flip off my lap, or just plays with the nipple. And she wants to be held a lot too. I think it's the age, with all the developmental milestones going on, and the separation anxiety. I find it funny how if we're home alone she always wants to be with me, but if we are somewhere else, or everyone else is home and she's distracted, it doesn't matter where I am in relation to her. She eats her solids 2 to 3 times a day (with Cheerios in between) and I feel like she would just eat forever, so she has as much as I think she should. She nurses best first thing in the morning, and whenever she's tired. I would say it's totally normal. I nursed my first baby until she was 15 months, and truthfully I remember very little of the challenges I had with her...she's only 3 now! But she was rough for a long time with the nursing. There are so many changes going on with babies...I would suggest to just keep going strong, and enjoy the cuddly nursing time as best you can! :)

Celeste - posted on 01/11/2012

Around 8 months is about when they start going through separation anxiety; that happens no matter the feeding method.



Couple of things:

-Breastmilk is to be the main source of nutrition before 1. I would cut back on solids and nurse often

-This is also an age where babies get distracted. Many mothers mistaken this as weaning when it's usually a strike..

Some links about how to survive a nursing strike:

http://www.motherandchildhealth.com/Brea...



http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbnovdec...



http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby...



Distractible baby:

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/dis...