Refusing breastfeeding :(

nicoleb86 · May 2012

My 5.5 month old has refused the breast all times it was offered both yesterday and today eventhough she is hungry. I'm beginning to think this might be the end of breastfeeding for her

Dissappointed, sad, and frustrated

meangieman · May 2012

Hopefully she is just teething...try to express some milk first so that she doesn't have to work as hard to get the flow going...HTH

Thinkerbelle80 · May 2012

It's probably a nursing strike. This article gives you a bunch of tips about what you can do. It's important during this time to pump to maintain your supply. This won't last forever.

https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/back-to-breast/

Here's another article on some possible reasons why it could be a nursing strike:

https://www.lalecheleague.org/faq/strike.html

Thinkerbelle80 · May 2012

More: https://www.llli.org/nb/nbstrikes.html

rednelson · May 2012

DS had a quasi-nursing strike at around 3.5 months (adjusted). Every time I would lay him back and try to lift up my shirt he would start screaming. I tried different positions, nothing worked. Finally, when I had him back on the changing table and he seemed to be in a good mood, I decided to give it a go-and he nursed! It was very awkward-me leaning over the table, but I was just glad that he was eating. He didn't nurse for as long as usual, but I figured that something was better than nothing. We nursed like that for a day and a half before he finally started nursing again with me sitting. So, my advice would be to try mixing it up-you never know what might work.

sassyfirechick · May 2012

My LO has never officially refused to nurse, but, when her teeth hurt she will spend a few mins half sucking half crying, before my milk lets down and I've found that sometimes she seems mad at "that boob" that didn't feed her quick enough and I'll switch sides and she nurses no problem. She's been picky about positions lately but I just got some chewbeads and while she nurses she holds onto them and it seems to focus her a bit more and she gets down to business!

sassyfirechick · May 2012

Oh, and when she's really bad, I pump and give her a bottle to fill her up, then she will often comfort nurse afterwards.

Jbunny100 · August 2013

This is really helpful. I have been getting so frustrated and upset each afternoon and evening when my LO refuses to eat. He arches his back, screams, and even hits/slaps the boob after he has been sucking for less than a minute. I've tried so many positions and they aren't working. I have tried to force him onto the breast but that doesn't work and from what I've read that was the WRONG approach. Oops. It really helps to read that others are going through this. I wonder if it is in fact teething since he is almost 5 months.