Expert: ruth kraft - 11/12/2009

Question
Hello,

I have a six week old baby who I am exclusively breastfeeding. He is gaining weight very well, and has the right mix of wet and dirty diapers.

The problem is that he can't seem to get enough of my breast. After he is finished eating he likes to stay on and pacify. When I take him off he will fuss, calm down, maybe sleep for a short time, and then fuss and cry until he gets on again, at which point he does not drink, but pacifies.  I have tried to give him his pacifier rather than my breast, but he won't take it.

Also, I think that his hunger cues are confused with his pacifying cues. He puts his hands to his mouth and moves his head - but he does this within an hour of drinking and I'm sure that he can't be hungry. I think that he just wants to be on the breast. When I do put him on, he drinks a little, but mostly pacifies.

My nipples are getting a little sore from all of this, and I would like to encourage him to only eat while on my breast.

Do you have any idea what is going on and how I can break this habit?

Thank you!  

Answer
Well, my first red flag is that he is 6 weeks old. Right around 6 weeks babies go through a growth spurt. it usually lasts less than a week and they let up some. They become much more social from here on out so distracting with a toy etc will be helpful. But for the next week or so, you want him to pacify. he is building your milk because he is about to grow. these growth spurts occour 6 weeks, 3.6.9 and 12 months. So you know ahead of time :) Just follow his lead so he can build enough to grow on . Literally :)   This should only be temporary,and in another 6 months he will want to play and you will want him to nurse :) He sounds right on target. Be patient, let him nurse often, and he will start going longer and longer in between :)