Distracted baby
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38112
Printed Date: 25 August 2025 at 6:40am
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Topic: Distracted baby
Posted By: Kellyfer
Subject: Distracted baby
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 11:37am
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I have one super active wee man which is great... except when it comes to feeding. When I'm giving him his bottle he seems to want to do anything but drink! He's very tactile and grabs at anything within reach (usually my nose, lips, hair, clothes, necklace - I have to make sure his fingernails are clipped every couple of days or else he gouges me!). He also twists around a lot and I have to make sure I'm holding him pretty tight or else he'll just flip right off me. It makes getting a bottle into him a mission. (an extra pair of arms would definitely be fantastic).
So my question is, does anyone else have a baby that just won't sit still? How do you manage it? Is it just a phase? I guess when you are 6 months old the whole world is much more exciting than having a bottle. I have just started on solids although he's only really having a small amount and only in the mornings at this stage, so it could be that he's just not as hungry as normal or his milk's a bit same-old now. He is constantly on the go though - either sleeping or moving, and he's very 'independent' (ie stubborn and knows what he wants) - I'm just having visions of future dinnertime battles!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: shellgirl
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 1:04pm
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Sounds exactly like my wee boy. One thing we have found works a little to calm hime is holding him in a position where he can look out a big window or at the TV (yes, bad Mummy I know) to distract him. Sometimes I have to really battle to get the bottle into his mouth, but once in he will drink it all up so who knows what's going on! My boy still gets a little breastfeeding as well, and he was much better at that, although lately he is as distracted for that part of his feed as well. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 1:19pm
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This is exactly like Alex. Drives me mental!
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 1:40pm
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Maybe he doesn't need to feed as often anymore?
My DD was/is BF, but around that age she started saying "no thanks" with her teeth  when I offered her a feed and she'd rather do something else. Needless to say, it didn't take long for me to stop offering until she indicated she wanted it. She's growing and I felt like she was getting enough to drink so didn't worry about it.
But, I have no experience with bottle feeding, so I don't know how that might work. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 2:02pm
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Jacob has been just the same lately at times (although he's breastfed, not bottle fed). When we're by ourselves, he's often fine, but when there's any kind of noise / movement / anything, he just starts squirming and wriggling and despite the fact I know he's hungry (and he was demanding a drink a minute ago!) he doesn't drink. I shut myself in his room, turn off the light and close the curtains, and that helps, if he can't see much else he tends to go back to drinking. -------------   
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Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 3:17pm
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Yep, totally distracted baby here too! I've actually stopped feeding him when other people are around because he won't concentrate, and it annoys me because I want to keep covering my nipple!! ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: snugglebug
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 3:37pm
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Hehe yeah my baby is like this. He is constantly kicking, punching, wriggling, looking around, he's fascinated with everything. It can take a while to get a bottle into him. I don't have too much advice as Im figuring it out myself but it definitely helps to have as little distractions and bright coloured things around as possible and to give the feed when he asks for it. I often feed my baby when he gets up for a sleep so I leave him in his wrap me up (little sleeping bag swaddle with arms in) maybe that could do for a short term fix? But yeah it's tricky lol ------------- Me 28, DH 29 DS born 20 Nov 2010 (4 years old) #2 due October 7 http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 4:14pm
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DS went through this at about the same age. I would often only be able to nurse if we went to our bedroom and pulled the curtains, no TV or anything either and I would wrap his arms. It did just seem to be a stage though, and eventually he grew out of it. -------------  
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 4:15pm
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Oh, and if wrapping him didn't work ie too hot, I would make sure I had something for his free arm to play with, eg. a necklace, my hair, a small toy. -------------
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 5:37pm
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I think it's an age thing, we went through it too! I can't remember what we did exactly, we had been told to feed in a quiet, dull room but it didn't really work but found she ended up snacking a bit and eventually would just give in and feed. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mummymonster
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 7:11pm
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DS was bottle feed and easily distracted. I remember thinking it was crazy he could be distracted by the wardrobe door (plain wood).
I often feed him in his bouncer. One of those basic mesh ones. Mr squiggle monster suprisingly enough didn't squiggle in there. I'd also feed him in his car seat. Only if his feed coincided with us going out anyway. Again that reclined in a piece of furniture thing seemed to calm him. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Kellyfer
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 8:21pm
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Aww JadeC and TRex... it's one of the few times I'm a little glad I'm not BFing anymore when I see him chewing furiously on the teat of the bottle and then spitting it out!
Thanks for the suggestions, I will definitely try wrapping him and I think I need to invest in one of those baby-friendly teething necklaces coz he is absolutely fascinated by my jewelery. I'm going to have a go at letting him feed himself with a sippy cup tomorrow. So far he's only had water out of it, and I think some of it might be him wanting to feed himself since we are doing BLW. Failing that, maybe a faster flow teat? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 8:28pm
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Haven't read all the replies, so sorry if I am repeating myself. I have had 2 distracted feeders, its perfectly normal at the that age and by large they normally grow out of it. With #1 I use to have to feed her in the a darken room (usually just her bedroom with the curtains closed). #2 I didn't have that option with #1 running around....so basically he had to get used to it. If he was mucking around then I just took him off and wanted another 15mins or so and then tried again. I figured if he was hungry then he would drink. Now he is on solids he is also a very distract. ed feeder as well and often I have to feed him with some toys on his highchair (which he loves tossing overboard). I always joke that he wants ' dinner and a show". Its gets a bit annoying at times, but I do normally find that he does eat a bit better if he has something to play with ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: Danda08
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 9:15am
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My girls are both doing the same thing. I've found the easiest thing for me is to sit on the floor with them on pillows. They still twist and wriggle all over the place but they don't fight as much now we're not trying to hold them.
I've also found that letting them have a a few moments and then trying again seems to work better. Guess they're just trying to assert their independence. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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