Ok, so maybe I won’t actually quit, but I really hate it sometimes. I mean who likes having the unused nipple pinched, scratched, twisted, pulled and mangled? Jack has become obsessed with this other nipple. I wear tight-necked shirts so that it is impossible for him to get in there, but he practically rips my shirt or has a meltdown. I wear necklaces of various types, but he is too smart for this now. He knows this is just a ploy to distract him and he ignores the necklaces all together. I try to hand him toys to hold and he pushes them away to begin his expedition into my shirt.

Breastfeeding is the thing I will always be the most proud of in life. We fought tooth and nail to get here. We overcame obstacles. We persevered. Blah, blah, blah. My neck hurts! I lie on my side all night so that he can nurse on demand. But nowadays he only wants the top boob; whichever one that is at the time. So I have to lean my body over and then toss my head and limbs in the opposite direction to maintain balance. I wake up with a stiff neck, sore hips and a bad attitude.

On top of all of this Jack has been nursing like a newborn lately. He is on my boob every 20 minutes! I tried to walk to the drug store and back the other day. It is 2 blocks away. He couldn’t make it. I NIP freely, but that’s not the point. I just wanted to run an errand and go home! He latches on and then the digging begins. The exploration through the scarf and shirt to find the other nipple. That hidden nipple that he must have right here right now!

Well, it felt good to get that out while I lie here nursing my boobie baby to sleep.

Abby Theuring, MSW

Abby Theuring

The Badass Breastfeeder is a mother, writer, social worker, attachment parent, proud breastfeeder and advocate. Her career as a social worker has shown her that gentle and connected parenting is vital for life-long emotional health. You can find her blog at www.thebadassbreastfeeder.com and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheBadassBreastfeeder.

View Comments

  • My daughter tries to twiddle. I hate it. Most of the time I nip it in the bud before it even starts, and she leaves it alone, but the few times I'm otherwise engaged and can't stop her, she cries until I let her. She is a year and a half today, and nurses more than she did as a newborn. Although it is cute that she asks me "nurse", it is highly aggravating that I have to sit down and nurse her constantly. I don't get much of anything done. If I try to do something, "nurse". She has also taken to pulling on my shirt and tangling her arm/hand in the straps of my tank top. Complete meltdown if I don't let her. I couldn't even get through typing this before she asked me to nurse.

  • Omg yes this is my son for sure he's 17m longest I've breastfed and he is a serious twiddler and he still nurses like a newborn lol... he climbs on my lap and lays down and he can pull it out when he wants and if u don't give it up its a melt down! And if I try to block my other nipple yeah he screams and pushes my hand away my daughter was no twiddler.

  • Oh man, more power to you for being so patient. I don't know how, but I would definitely not allow the nipple twiddling. It makes me shudder to think how irritating, you poor mama. Luckily, neither of my kids did/do this. However, my 9mo daughter is suddenly cluster feeding again like a newborn and its driving me a bit insane. You are a shining example of perseverance. Fight the good fight my friend.

  • I have a 2 1/2 year old wean for three months now not by choice I'm exspecting twins but it was hard work to wean had to keep telling her milks all gone and she is a big girl now my partner had to help put her to bed with me she was so use to having the boob when it suited her but each week got alittle Easyer and my partner help by telling her she is a big girl and milk all gone BUT.... She still after three months wants to play with my boobs like she use too she always wants to touch them pull on the cuddle them some habits hard to brake but over time I think she will get there I have to keep telling her no there mine that hurts some days it sinks in some days she just wants that comfort of holding them like she use too.

  • I laughed so hard reading this. Mine drives me absolutely beyond insane with the twiddling. To the point where sometimes during the day I can hardly bear to be touched at all! And that's saying something as she only nurses at night! I'm really wanting to wean, the frustration is more than the benefit at this point. I think I'd be a better mom if I had the um intimate parts of my own body to myself lol. But HOW do you wean a toddler?!

    • I'm in the same boat! My 2.5 year old still nurses like a champ, but I'm ready to have my body back, and let my husband be the twiddler again . How DO you wean a stubborn toddler?

  • Hang in there... mine does it too. But he is my third and I breastfed both my others until they were exactly 3 years old.

  • My 2 year old is exactly the same about the other nipple! He fights and scratches and goes crazy to get it! No matter if I have a bra on and I usually use my hand to cover the nipple of the free boob because he will rip it off if I let him! I tell him that it hurts mommy and be gentle but logic is irrelevant to a two year old! Soooo thankful you posted this!!! It means so much to hear that so many other moms experience this!! Phew!!

  • Ahhh im not the only one i could have written this blog its so like my lg!!! Even if im carrying her shes rooting around to find a lboob to hold its soooo annoying and painfull to!!! Its like she has to constantly hold one to make sure no one takes it i swear she uses it as a substitute blankie!! Or stress ball lol the joys!! What mothers go through for thayr little ones

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Abby Theuring

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