At one time or another, every nursing mom has visited the "dinner theatre." You know the place: when your infant won't breastfeed without pausing every other minute to take in "the show" around him. While the babies certainly seem to enjoy this leisurely method of dining, for most moms, it grows old very fast. And on occasion, the habit grows into a real problem, with baby struggling to latch on and even refusing to nurse.

Fortunately, experienced breastfeeding mothers have developed tips and tricks that you can use to help hasten final curtain calls for the "dinner theatre."

Slings and Things
As babies grow, some can't resist the urge to peek at everything new and exciting. They latch on for a few moments, then rip off when Dad walks by or when a sound on the television catches their ears. Not only can it take hours to get in a full feeding, but breastfeeding this way can really irritate Mom's nipples.

Kirsten Phillippe, of Seattle, Wash., started having trouble breastfeeding when her daughter was 4 months old. After several bouts of latching on and pulling off, Phillippe realized that walking sometimes helped. "I usually am successful [at getting her to eat] by walking around with her, usually in a sling, and latching her on that way."

Why does the sling work so well? Veteran parents know that babies like security. One of the first things new parents learn is how to swaddle their newborns. Just like swaddling, the form-fitting sling helps contain flailing arms and jerking legs which can sometimes be a distraction.

Once the baby is distressed by repeated attempts to latch on, the issue becomes more about calming the child down long enough to get the feeding started. The security of a sling can help the baby relax and even become sleepy enough to latch on and stay on.

And if a sling is not part of your infant's wardrobe, don't fret. Mary Jane Hoover, of Rochester, N.Y., the mother of six breastfed children, suggests using a warm blanket, securely wrapped, to help calm the child down.

Beds and Baths
With some children, the name of the game is simply avoiding distractions. For most breastfeeding couples, this means leaving the room.

"My top tip is to climb into a warm, relaxing bath with [baby], maybe with some essential oils in it, and nurse," says Helen Griggs, from Colchester in the United Kingdom.

For those times when a bath isn't practical or just isn't working, Griggs suggests that mothers create a relaxing atmosphere elsewhere, with "no bright lights or loud noises."

Sometimes, that relaxing atmosphere can be found snuggled up in bed. "[My son] is really active and is distracted easily," says Sara Tibbs, of Orlando, Fla. "I rarely, if ever, feed him sitting up. I take him into the bedroom. I know this is inconvenient, but I have to get him to eat somehow. I found something that works, and I am sticking to it. Besides, I get a little rest each time we nurse!"

But what should a mother do when the distraction is sleep itself? It is quite normal for babies and toddlers to fall asleep at the breast. Yet this natural occurrence can cause parents a great deal of stress, wondering if baby is getting enough to eat.

A quick check of wet diapers should tell you that your little one is doing just fine. But in the event that your baby is sleeping through too many feedings, here are few things to try:

Gently stroke baby's cheek throughout the nursing session. If she needs more vigorous stimulation, enlist the help of a spouse of other family member to massage arms and legs or even to tickle the bottoms of feet.

Nurse on one breast until the baby falls asleep, then stop and do a diaper change. This should wake baby long enough to stimulate nursing on the other breast.

Remove the baby's clothing and your shirt and bra. If the room is cold, wrap a blanket around both of you, so you maintain constant skin-to-skin contact.

Bring your child into bed with you. Many distracted nursers make up for lost time during the night. Having your baby in bed with you can actually increase the amount of breastmilk your baby gets each day, and it might even increase the amount of rest you get each night.

Ultimately, the old saying is true: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That's right, many moms find that the best remedy is ending the breastfeeding session and trying again later.

"When my kids are distracted," Hoover says, "I usually let them get involved in the distraction and watch until there is a quiet moment in which they will nurse."

Take solace in knowing that more often than not, these periods of distraction are merely phases in your child's development. And while it seems as if you'll never breastfeed in peace again, your patience and perseverance will win in the end.

Want to see more? The Right Way to Breastfeed in Public Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk? What to Do if Your Child Refuses to Nurse Breastfeed.com MomsTalk Discussion Board Shel Franco is an iParenting contributing writer living in Pennsylvania with her husband, Todd, their two sons and one pug dog.