Refusing to nurse

stephie1210

DS is 8 months old and has been nursing like a champ since day one.  We comfort nurse and nurse to sleep and love it.  However, the past three nights he cried/fussed to sleep (in my arms) without nursing and hasn't nursed at all since yesterday afternoon.  I took him to the pediatrician to check his ears and they are fine; he is eating solids ok; he will not take a bottle but will drink milk from a syringe, or a little from a sippy cup.  It could be a new tooth cutting but he did not do this with his first four teeth.  I have fear that he will not get enough milk while he is not nursing and an even bigger fear that he will not nurse again at all.  Has anyone else experienced this, especially at this age?  Any ideas for helping him come back to nursing?  Thanks!

LisaLisa1980

There is a nursing strike phase around this time that some women mistake for weaning. There is an article about it on KellyMom

=Lee=B

Yep...nursing strike.  Check out the kellymom and see how to work through it.

 

pinottoparenthood

It's happened to us. My guy loves to nurse and always has, but abruptly he would cry, scream, and refuse to nurse. He would still take a bottle. I just pumped and gave him bottles whenever he refused to nurse (after gently offering the breast a few times) and both times he went back to the breast within a day. I thought it was teething, too, but this was a couple months ago and he still doesn't have teeth. So I still don't know what caused it! I did read that you should stay calm and not upset the baby further by trying to force nursing because you don't want to create negative associations with the breast. lots of skin to skin and snuggling are good; even if you are feeding with a syringe or a cup, keep baby near the breast. Hope it passes quickly for you!

pinottoparenthood

Ps, definitely hit up the breastfeeding board!

HML5382

Both my girls did a similar "nursing strike" right around the time that my period returned. I've read that sometimes the milk tastes different but have also noticed that my letdown is slow around that time... not sure if this could be the case for you but thought it worth mentioning. Good luck!

=Lee=B

Oh the PP has a good point.

My 8 month old definitely notices when I have my period (it returned at 8week pp).  Every month a few days before AF she gets royally pissed with each feed. Pretty sure the milk tastes different...I have noticed that as the months go on she is less upset about it.  Those first few months were really hard.  Now perhaps she either remembers it from last time or is just old enough to not freak out as much.

stephie1210

Thanks so much ladies!  He still isn't nursing at all   but I plan to just keep trying and pray that he comes back to it soon!