Baby Twisting and Pulling While Breastfeeding?

Is your baby twisting and pulling while breastfeeding? Learn about potential causes for this behavior and how to address them here.

About five minutes into feeding time, my baby would start twisting and pulling at the breast, almost as if he was upset. All this pulling hurt, and I’d be forced to pull him off. Except when I did, he’d still act hungry and even more upset. Let’s just say that these certainly weren’t the calm feeding sessions I had hoped for.

No doubt about it, having a baby kicking while breastfeeding made what should’ve been a relaxing way to bond into a frantic and frustrating experience.

If you can relate, rest assured that you’re not alone and that you haven’t failed in any way. I researched potential reasons this was happening and, more importantly, how to turn things around.

And thankfully, they did. Take a look at these tips to help both you and your baby nurse comfortably:

Table of Contents

Calm your baby down first

Trying to encourage a fussy baby to stop twisting and pulling while breastfeeding can feel like a lost cause. Instead, focus on calming him down and providing comfort, even if that means pausing your feeding session.

Maybe that means rocking him on the yoga ball or walking him around the room. Try swaddling him in a blanket, placing him on a swing, or carrying him in a baby wrap. In other words, calming him down is your goal, and feeding him comes second.

Similarly, try to stay calm as well. Babies can sense how we feel, and it’s not easy to nurse if we’re upset with them. Focus on remaining calm, remembering the bigger picture, and knowing that this won’t last forever.

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Burp your baby frequently

A baby who twists, pulls, and grunts during a feeding session might have gas trapped and feel uncomfortable. If yours continues to squirm, pause feeding and try a few baby burping tricks instead.

You might hold her in an upright position over your shoulder (make sure her tummy, not her head, is pressed on your shoulder). Try sitting her on your lap and supporting her face, neck, and chest with one hand while you burp her on the back with the other.

Take a minute or two to see if burping can help relieve her gas and encourage her to feed more steadily.

Limit distractions

I still remember covering my baby’s face with my hand as I nursed him. Why? He was so curious about what he was seeing that I had to block his view just so he’d keep feeding.

One reason your baby keeps pulling back might be because he’s distracted by what he sees and hears in his surroundings. Try to limit distractions during feeding sessions.

For instance, find a quiet spot to nurse away from the rowdiness of the kids or the brightness of the living room. Dim the lights, shut the curtains, and turn on a fan or heater for white noise. Don’t engage with him too much, and avoid cooing, talking, or making eye contact while he eats.

Try different feeding positions

One reason your baby is fussy at the breast may be that your go-to feeding position isn’t cutting it anymore. If so, try experimenting with different ways to nurse.

Perhaps the “cradle hold” you’d always relied on feels uncomfortable for him at this moment. Maybe you’ll try the football hold by nursing him on one side and positioning his feet toward your back. Or you could try lying down next to him and see if he prefers feeding next to you.

And make sure that he’s feeding at a slight angle where his head is above his tummy. For instance, don’t feed him flat on his back, as this can make him feel uncomfortable while he nurses.

Break your baby’s suction

Perhaps the most painful part about your baby twisting and pulling while breastfeeding is the sudden release of your breast. She doesn’t just ease her lips open—nope, she yanks with all her might. This sudden unlatching pulls on your nipples and makes the experience even more excruciating.

One way to ease the pain is to have your finger ready to break that suction before she pulls herself off. Keep your clean pinky finger next to her mouth and, when you sense that she’s about to unlatch or twist her head, insert your finger to help break the suction.

Alternate with a pacifier

Try this little trick: If you notice your baby twisting and pulling, offer a pacifier. After 10 or 20 sucks on the pacifier, see if she’ll then take to your breast more steadily.

This can help her relax, especially if she loves sucking on the pacifier throughout the day. Or she realizes that she isn’t receiving milk from the pacifier and can be more willing to nurse from your breast instead.

And other times, it’s less about eating and more about needing comfort. You see, it’s not always easy to tell whether a baby is hungry or wants comfort. She might fuss because she’s more interested in sucking than actually consuming milk. If so, the pacifier can be what she wants instead.

Lessen a heavy letdown

Do you have heavy milk production, especially at the beginning of a feeding session? The fast flow of milk might be too much for the baby to take in, causing her to squirm and pull away.

Help make swallowing easier by expressing excess milk beforehand. Either express the milk with your hand and catch it with a towel or bottle, or set aside a minute or so to pump it into bottles or bags.

Another option is to nurse by leaning back instead of upright. Gravity can help slow the flow and provide your baby with milk she can keep up with.

Frequently asked questions

Why does it seem like my baby twists and pulls more in the evenings?

Babies tend to fuss in the late afternoon and early evening when our milk supply is at its lowest. Your little one might be trying to get more when there isn’t much.

This is also the “witching hours” when you’re both tired from a potentially busy day, or she’s overtired from possibly having skipped a nap.

Conclusion

If you’re frustrated with your baby twisting and pulling while breastfeeding, know that it’s okay to feel that way. While you may logically know that this isn’t forever, it may last longer than you expected or hoped for.

Hopefully, you’ve learned a few tricks that might help his behavior. No more fussiness, friend—now you can have the calm feeding sessions you had hoped for.

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