Comfort nursing and attachment

In the last week or so, Ella has started showing a preference for me and the boob. Lately I'm the only one that can comfort her, and sometimes the only way to do that is to nurse her. Even if it means she nurses for a minute and then falls asleep.

I'm worried that this will become a habit and I'll become a human pacifier (she's rejected pacifiers). She's been taking an occasional bottle (maybe 1 a day) since she was 2.5 weeks old. I'm going to have to be able to leave her for a few hours a day as I return to work and I'm concerned that this is going to be a problem.

Ella is ONLY 5 weeks old, so I'm not looking for any solution involving CIO, and I'll do whatever it takes to comfort her but I need others to be able to comfort her. She's a very good baby and rarely cries unless she's hungry. But she has been fussier this week and having fitful naps, and I wonder if its all related.

Is there anything *I* can do now, so that the situation doesn't get worse. Or is this just a phase given her age?

Message edited 7/30/2006 11:06:32 AM.

Re: Comfort nursing and attachment

I don't know much about the nursing part, but I wanted to you to know that I feel your pain. Noah was VERY attached to me for the first 6 months pretty much, I couldn't put him down. At playgroups, I was the only one holding a baby. But when he pretty much hit six months, he started to get some other interests....like eating his toes, sitting up, playing with his maracas (no innundo there, he loves to shake his maracas) and shouting. But it was a fantastic relief for me when he started to let go a little bit. I say, just go with it, she will only be a teensy baby for a short period of time! Enjoy the clinginess!!!

ETA, I totally forgot how good the 5 s's were, the shushing worked wonders, it was the only thing that could allow my husband to get Noah down for a nap...get that book!

Message edited 7/30/2006 11:46:08 AM.

Re: Comfort nursing and attachment

I was concerned about the same thing. I was reading the book The Happiest Baby on the Block. It really helped me to comfort my DS without the boob. the book discusses 5 things that you can do to calm your baby. the 5 S's, swaddling, shushing, sideways(holding her or laying down), swinging(in a swing or in your arms) and finally sucking (pacifier) after they are calm. i hope this helps

Also they have a growth spurt at about six weeks. that may cause her to nurse more.

Message edited 7/30/2006 11:46:08 AM.

Re: Comfort nursing and attachment

thanks! I'll have to get that book

Believe me, I love that she wants her mommy, but DH and my mom don't love it when she only wants me and I'm not there...

Re: Comfort nursing and attachment

We went through this, and it was a small cause for concern because she became a little, ahem... chunky... because she was comfort nursing. We tried using a pacifier but she wouldn't take it, until I tried again at around 4 or 5 months. I tried about 6 different brands and eventually we found one she liked (Nuk). She took to it instantly... it got significantly better when I started to wean her. Good luck!