Easily Distractible 21 week old

[@llli*charlottesmom1]

Hello there. I have a 21 week old daughter who is exclusively breastfed. Ever since she was about 3.5 months old, she has been extremely distractible during nursing. The only place she will get a good feeding is before or after her naps, laying down on our bed, curtains closed and with absolute quiet/white noise. It is rare that I can get her to nurse anywhere else. This isn't a problem, though. A little inconvenient, but not extremely so. However, I am wondering, could this arrangement lead to early weaning? I would like to breastfeed as long as possible. Her growth is awesome, but I am just looking towards the future when she will be going longer between naps. I don't want my milk supply to drop. I can sometimes get her to eat between naps but we must be lying down, in a quiet room, etc. Is this a phase that babies outgrow or is it permanent?

I own a hand pump but I typically don't pump since she's never really taken a bottle. We've never put an effort towards introducing one, however, since I stay at home and there's no need. Would you suggest pumping anyway?

[@llli*rakoonz]

Do you cosleep? I found that baby started nursing more at night when the daytimes got more distractable to make up for lost time, so to speak.

[@llli*mommal]

Babies change so much in their first year. The distractible baby who won't nurse anywhere but in a dark room may turn into the toddler who rips your shirt open in the middle of the grocery store. So I don't think you should expect that your baby will always be like this, nor do I think you need to stress and get out the pump. Just be cautious as your baby transitions to solids- if she continues to be uninterested in nursing, you want to go slow and make sure she doesn't start skipping opportunities to nurse.

[@llli*sixyearplan]

Mommal described my child. We nursed in a dark room for a year, and then she was ready to nurse nonstop.

It was helpful for me to nurse my DD in a sling. Somehow it helped her get calm and focus.

[@llli*toddlerandtwins]

I had 2 very distractable babies around 4 months. I learned not to nurse while watching tv, and I even had to not talk while nursing because they would stop eating! Dark room is also helpful, and keeping noises (like a toddler) out of the front helped. My girls grew out of the phase, maybe after 2 months or so. Good part is some babies (like mine) became more efficient feeders so the 'quiet' sessions were faster than when they were younger.

[@llli*charlottesmom1]

Thanks for your responses. I will try not to worry about it. Easier said than done, right? I haven't co-slept since she was 1 month old. We don't have that option anymore.