Whether you are nursing or formula feeding, whether you have introduced solid foods or not, somewhere between 6–12 months, feeding your baby will likely become a start-and-stop event. You’re not alone if you feel that, just when you learned to feed your baby easily, mealtimes suddenly became complicated again.
The culprit this time is not new parenthood, but your baby’s development.
Suddenly aware and interested in everything happening in the room, whether it’s a parent, brother or sister walking by or the cat sleeping in the corner, older babies are easily distracted. They want to look at everything and may turn their heads away from the breast (sometimes still holding onto the nipple) or drop the bottle to see something new and exciting.
Whether thrilling or tiresome for parents, this lively stage lasts just a few weeks. Soon your baby will be able to focus on mealtime once again. Until then, feeding your baby in a somewhat darkened room with the door shut will help you get through to the end of mealtime with as few interruptions as possible.
See also ...
• Breastfeeding a distracted baby
This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.
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