Help! My baby wants to nurse all the time.

J - posted on 10/19/2009

My son is 8 months now. He would not take a bottle as well. Since he has been taking solid food. I just introduced the sippy cup with water and gave up on the bottle. He gets that with his meals and you could offer it anytime you can't nurse. I discovered a sippy with a softer nipple like tip. I use that one for when I have to leave him with a sitter. He will take breast milk out of that easier.

You don't have to give her formula or breast milk in it. Just try water.

Getting her on a feeding schedule would probably help you as well. Nurse her every 4-6 hours and slip water in when it's not time. If she can take solids...work that in the schedule too. You'll find what works for her and you.

Jessica - posted on 10/18/2009

I can empathize with you a little. My 8 month old daughter was the same way, but she will take a bottle now. Maybe start working with her to eat baby food and she might start to wean herself slowly. Or try a sippy cup. Don't get too frustrated if she doesn't get the hang of eating baby food right away. My daughter didn't catch on as fast as I would have liked. Just keep trying. I am sorry for the situation though. I know exactly how it feels to not get anything done because you can't put down the baby. The same thing brought me to tears of frustration a couple of months ago! This too shall pass, right?

Aideen - posted on 10/15/2009

1) Be patient..it could be a growth spurt which would ease off in a week or two...she could just be increasing your supply to match an increased demand. I have a similar prob every few months when baby puts on a lot of weight over 2 weeks which then explains the constant nursing that I though was just intended to drive me crazy.

2) Try putting her down when not actively sucking: with us there was an element of comfort feeding at one point and i was indulging this (I was on the lap top/watching TV or comfortable and happy to sit tight for another 10mins when baby was 99% asleep).

3) I invested in a sling and was able to feed and do most jobs about the house at the same time....help with homework etc. with 2 free hands. Might be worth looking into. At the moment I get less use out of it at home but find it great in the shops and for a private feed in public...and we still use it for those cranky days when teeth are coming through. I'd recommend an unpadded ring-sling as they are easy to adjust to fit baby at different ages.

Hope this helps....relax and enjoy ur baby...I'm sure u know well that they grow up too fast and before long will be too busy playing to spend 20mins with you! :)

Jennifer - posted on 10/15/2009

you should try to have someone else in the family give her the bottle until she is used to it because coming from you will be confusing and she'll refuse because she wants boob

Colleen - posted on 10/14/2009

As weird as it may be, you can pump by hand without a pump and then try using the breast milk in a bottle. My third preferred to take a bottle from me or another woman and gave my hubby fits unless he was REALLY hungry. We only rarely use one since I nursed exclusively until we started solids. He won't take a pacifier, either. You probably know this since she's your third, but after you feel she's had a full nursing, do what you can so she doesn't eat again for 3 hours (stretch it out in 15 min. spells if you need to until you reach that mark) so she's not "snacking" all day and night. As she eats more each feeding, she'll stretch out her feeding times and will sleep longer, too. I think someone already asked about solids. Sometimes (I have 3, too with the youngest at 8 mo.) it's just "easier" to feed the baby, keep the peace, and make it through, but don't be afraid to take a couple days to take charge so to speak and establish a better routine you can all live with--and sleep with.

Albena - posted on 10/14/2009

How old is your baby? Maybe the teat of the bottle you give her does not feel comfortable. Use the round old fashioned teat with a wider base, that resembles a breast. My son refuses to eat form a bottle with a flat teat. You have to impiment it slowly, she will get used to it. Oh i see she is 8 months old.

In my opinion you have to slowly start to take away the night feeds too. My son stoped eating at night at 3 months. He sleeps straight through. Good Luck!

Kristin - posted on 10/13/2009

I understand how you feel, but we only have to do it for a short while and it is so good for them! Don't give up! Is she on any solids yet?