bizarre toddler nursing behavior

[LucyG]

Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? My DD, 16 months old, will ask to nurse. I sit down with her to get started, and she often does not want the breast that I offer. She will cry, turn away, and lift my shirt to get to the other breast. Sometimes she does this with both of them, and sometimes only with one. Both seem to produce a similar amount of milk, so I don't think it's a supply issue. She always ends up nursing after she does this, so it's not a strike. When it happens, she sometimes fiddles with my bra, so maybe she doesn't like the way it feels? I don't know; I'm just stumped. If she always fussed about the same side, I would think she was just developing a preference for one breast over the other. But, it happens equally. She even does this during the night when she's half asleep. Any insights? Thanks!

[DeeEast]

Maybe your milk tastes differently? Are you eating anything different or could you possibly be pregnant?

[stillplayswithbarbies]

it's just the age where they want what they want, even if it makes no sense. :)

For whatever reason, she knows which breast she wants, and she knows that she can have it. It's a milestone in brain development, she's just exercising her new cognitive skills.

...Karen
Jacob Nathaniel Feb 91
Logan Elizabeth Mar 03

[LucyG]

Karen,

Does Logan do this? I think you're probably right, that it's a developmental thing and she's exercising her right to choose! I hope it's short-lived, but I know I could have worse problems.

[Momof3Labs]

Short-lived? Maybe this little quirk, but in general, this stage lasts a loooooong time (like forever...).

[stillplayswithbarbies]

Yes, Logan does this too. Sometimes she insists that I have both breasts available so she can go back and forth, or maybe she just likes to look at the other one, I don't know. And sometimes I think she is done so I close up my bra and she gets mad, even though she didn't want any more just one second ago.

...Karen
Jacob Nathaniel Feb 91
Logan Elizabeth Mar 03

[LucyG]

OK, hearing that makes me feel better! My DD likes to have both out so she can pick (or go back and forth, as you said), and sometimes she just likes to put her head down on my bare chest and pat me! This absolutely cracks my DH up when it happens.

[stillplayswithbarbies]

Yeah Logan does the patting thing too. But she doesn't have the dexterity to be gentle, so it sounds like someone is slapping a horse to make it go faster!

What's really funny is when she is eating a snack and climbs up in my lap for a drink. She takes a bite, then leans in for a drink, and leaves crumbs all over my nipple. ewwwww!

Toddlers are strange creatures, that's for sure.

...Karen
Jacob Nathaniel Feb 91
Logan Elizabeth Mar 03

[aguinn]

>What's really funny is when she is eating a snack and climbs
>up in my lap for a drink. She takes a bite, then leans in
>for a drink, and leaves crumbs all over my nipple. ewwwww!

ok, that was just too funny! i almost squirted coffee out my nose!
thanks for the laugh!

;)amy