[Cranky Kitten]

DS has developed this charming (not!) tactic of grabbing and pulling at my clothes either trying to pull my top down or lift my top up when he wants a feed. Fine I guess if a little annoying at home, but when we're out it's becoming a problem - it winds up with me flashing my bra with an insistent toddler hanging off of me. We've finally made some inroads on the not being a wiggle bum while feeding and not insisting on feeding standing up, but this one is stumping me.

How did you teach your preverbal toddler to ask for a feed?

[CherryAmes]

My toddler used a sign before she could talk.

http://www.auslan.org.au/dictionary/words/milk-1.html

[MakeLoveNotBacon]

I used sign for both of mine too. And then they used words. The sign was so discreet only I and immediate family would know. You can really use any sign you like, it doesn't have to follow the official one. As long as you and baby understand.

I found this article on KellyMom to be really useful -

Breastfeeding Manners

My first would sometimes insist on playing with the other nipple while feeding - four odd years later the memory still makes me cringe! In the end I wore clothes that made it impossible and he ended up finding a mole on my tummy to play with instead (still annoying but better).

[bluedragon]

DS signs too, he holds his hand up and opens and clenches his fist, like a stylised milking of a cow lol.

He still tries to lift my shirt though but the signing does help.

How did you get your DS to stop being a wriggle bum!?!?

[junebuggy11]

Yes my toddler has turned into an addict and a dancer all in one go. I wasn't planning on weaning until 2ish, but the needy dancing has made it less then pleasant!

[Cranky Kitten]

Did you start the signing really early or just when they started doing things you didn't like? I'd be ok with just a gentle chest pat or something, rather than nearly ripping the neckline of my tops.

As for stopping the wriggle-bum antics, I'd just say "lay still for booby" and if he continued I'd stop the feed. He still likes to wave a foot around and plays with his ear as well, but any bum waggling or other such acrobatics results in no milk, so he stopped doing it.