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Dinner Theatre
Breastfeeding the Distracted Baby
By Shel Franco
- Gently stroke baby's cheek throughout the nursing session. If she needs more vigorous stimulation, enlist the help of a spouse of other family member to massage arms and legs or even to tickle the bottoms of feet.
- Nurse on one breast until the baby falls asleep, then stop and do a diaper change. This should wake baby long enough to stimulate nursing on the other breast.
- Remove the baby's clothing and your shirt and bra. If the room is cold, wrap a blanket around both of you, so you maintain constant skin-to-skin contact.
- Bring your child into bed with you. Many distracted nursers make up for lost time during the night. Having your baby in bed with you can actually increase the amount of breastmilk your baby gets each day, and it might even increase the amount of rest you get each night.
Join In
Ultimately, the old saying is true: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That's right, many moms find that the best remedy is ending the breastfeeding session and trying again later. "When my kids are distracted," Hoover says, "I usually let them get involved in the distraction and watch until there is a quiet moment in which they will nurse."
Take solace in knowing that more often than not, these periods of distraction are merely phases in your child's development. And while it seems as if you'll never breastfeed in peace again, your patience and perseverance will win in the end.
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