In a message dated 97-11-05 00:06:21 EST, you write:

<<
 Well as usual back on and with a question.  My 9 month old has been
 pinching me (usually the skin of my throat/neck) and digging his fingers
 into my ribs for about 3 months now and he usually does both at once.  I
 know that this is a normal problem with toddlers nursing and have assured=

 many mothers that if they hang tough and don't allow it that their toddle=
 r
 will soon get the message.  But I have never encountered it in an infant.=
  =

 I either need 3 hands (one to hold Jacob and 2 for each of his two hands)=

 or another way to deal with this.  Any suggestions out there?  Has anyone=

 else ever encountered this?  I am at my wits end I am ready to either tie=

 his arms to his side or wean him, especially when his digging into my rib=

 cage starts a series of muscle spasms.  How do I get the message that thi=
 s
 is undesirable behavior in a pre-verbal child (in both understanding and
 talking)?

 Help!

 Felicia Henry
 Bradley Instructor
 La Leche League Leader
 Oxnard, CA
  >>
I found that when my fourth baby pinched me or hurt me in some way it meant
that she was not feeling well.  I would find, the next day,a new tooth or
signs of a cold etc.  You can be definite that it is unacceptable.  Just like
the biting baby, put child off lap say "no pinch".  Then after a couple
minutes bring baby to other breast and nurse until pinching starts again.
 Keep repeating faithfully and baby will get the idea. With toddlers giving
them something to play with or even to pinch while nursing can help.  When my
son started biting other people as a toddler I would give him something to
bite.  He loved it and would bit it with gusto then be nice to others.  The
same could work with this problem.
Kim  LLL