3 mo doesn't want to nurse, help!

buggy7

My 3 1/2 mo has started to cry every time I try to nurse her, and just won't latch on. I can usually get her to nurse in the middle of the night and in the morning. I work full time, so she takes bottles during the day. I am worried that she is just too used to bottles and it takes less effort, so she prefers that. Could she be too tired? She'll take the bottle fine, so I know she is hungry. Anyone else go through this? It's so upsetting!!

Danni7535

buggy7:

My 3 1/2 mo has started to crynbsp;every timenbsp;I try to nurse her, and just won't latch on. I can usually get her to nurse in the middle of the night and in the morning. I work full time, so she takes bottles during the day. I am worried that she is just too used to bottles and it takes less effort, so she prefers that. Could she be too tired? She'll take the bottle fine, so I know she is hungry. Anyone else go through this? It's so upsetting!!

You should post this on the Breastfeeding board too. Make sure you're using a newborn slow flow nipple and bottle feeding in a breastfeeding friendly manner. Look this up on Kellymom.com if you're unsure. You basically don't want a bottle to be easier than your breast, so you need to pause after each ounce.
Maybe burp her while waiting. Don't just let her chug down the bottle.

I had a similar problem around 2 months. One weekend I didn't use any bottles. We did lots of skin to skin, and I just nursed on demand. Basically, I stayed in bed with baby. I had read that this reminds baby of how nice breastfeeding is. Anyway, it worked. When I reintroduced the bottle, I used the tips above. Also, I only use a bottle when I have no choice.

linzeek44

Agreed with the PP. 

Look up paced bottle feeding and make sure that's how bottles are given.

Take a nursing vacation in bed.  

Switch nurse if baby latches but loses interest. Do breast massage and compression to speed up the flow, or switch back and forth on the breast.  

Theresa+Miguel

Perfect advice. I would only add to make sure nothing is going on to make her not like nursing. Stuffy nose, teething I've heard sucking can make it hurt worse ear ache..