New nursing behavior is driving me crazy!!

[myoo]

DS is turning one in a week! I have no intention of forcing him to wean yet, but . . .

For the past week and a half now, he has completely changed his nursing style and it is so annoying! Ever since we got out of those crazy newborn months, he has nursed very nicely, lying on his side on my lap supported by my arms and a pillow, nursing on just one side.

I had been a) sick with a cold (and so was he) and b) on my period when he started wanting to nurse on both sides during each feeding. I thought, "okay, no biggie, my supply has dropped a lot and he's trying to get more milk and ramp up my supply."

Then he started wanting to constantly switch from one side to the other . . . he'll nurse one one side for a few seconds, then pop off and switch to the other side for a few seconds, then back again. Even if he is staying on one side for awhile, he constantly unlatches and relatches. Only when the milk is flowing really well does he settle down for a minute or two and drink, but he's soon back to his back-and-forth behavior. In order to do this, he wants to sit up on my lap facing me instead of lying in my arms, so he can better move his head back and forth between the two sides. He will nurse some lying in my arms like I used to, but he quickly begins squirming and crying and wants to sit up. And sometimes he will sit back and cry a little after doing his switching-back-and-forth thing for awhile.

Anyway, it's annoying. And it doesn't feel too good either. Is this happening because he has just realized there are two nipples and he wants to take advantage of his new almost-one-year-old autonomy to exercise some choice in which side he wants? Is this a sign that my supply has dropped a lot and he needs something else? Is it a phase he's passing through that he will eventually get tired of, or is this what nursing a "toddler" is going to be like? Should I let him do what he wants, or try to stop it (he goes ballistic if I refuse to let him have the other side when he wants it)? I am starting to dread nursing because these new behaviors are so uncomfortable and annoying!

[LaughingPeaMama]

If you've both had a cold
Could it be that thee is fluid in his ears that hurts when he lays on his side?

[myoo]

He got tubes 2 months ago, so there shouldn't be fluid in his ears . . . I wondered at first if it was a sick thing, but he's over the cold now and still doing it.

[tibeca]

Nursing manners! http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/nursing-manners.html

That is what nursing a toddler CAN be like, but it doesn't have to be.

[carolineb]

Mine is doing the same thing! He'll be one on the 25th so not far behind yours. It's nutty because he acts sooooooo desperate but then almost as quick he unlatches and crawls off. I haven't really found a solution yet other than offering table foods when he does too much off and on. That may not be the route you want to take though. I don't plan on forcing a wean either but if he doesn't ask I won't offer except first thing in the am and before/after naps. Those are his best nursing times when he's more likely to be calmer.

[myoo]

I read the kellymom section on nursing manners after he started doing this, but I just can't tell if it's just that or if there's some other problem (like he's frustrated because he's not getting enough milk or something). Maybe I should try offering less often (I haven't wanted to do that because I'm worried about his lack of weight gain) so there's more milk readily available as soon as he does start to nurse. So do I just say "Mommy doesn't like that" and put him down whenever he starts squirming, popping on/off, or switching sides after a few seconds?

[thtr4me]

Oh, I am laughing in commiseration. My almost 14mo is doing the pop on and off thing too. He will nurse for maybe 10 seconds, then pop off, cry and want down to play, then 2 minutes later want back up to nurse for 10 seconds again. He will stay latched on just long enough to trigger a letdown, then take off to play leaving me dripping. Yes, it is annoying. Funny, and annoying. I have resorted to taking him to bed to nurse in the evenings.