Nursing strike or weaning?

Peepp79 · February 2013

Hi all,

For the past 3-4 days, my LO has been not taking a feeding here or there. She's already at four sessions. She just refuses to eat sometimes. Last night she refused the night feeding which she never does. Is this a strike or her weaning herself? I asked over at the BF board but got conflicting answers. Also, if she keeps this up, do I need to start giving her formula to make up for this or just let it go and keep trying. How long do I try offering to her withouth her taking it? I just hope she's getting the nutrition she needs. She also has three meals a day. So I was trying to cut back just a little bc I thought she wasnt BFing bc I was giving her too much food. Should I still feed her her meals or let her get hungry enough that she'll want to BF. But then a few times she has wanted a feeding during the night bc she's hungry bc she doesn't eat during the day that much. She hasn't gotten up in the night to feed for a month so I don't want her to go back to that, uggh, this is so frustrating. I know she's getting her first year molars but I don't think this is the reason why. She already has 8 teeth so I know how the teething situation goes. She's just not herself lately. Sorry for the long rant. Any suggestions?

mrsburt2010 · February 2013

I haven't personally gone through this but a close friend of mine just did. Her son, 9 mths, was basically refusing to nurse all together. It lasted about 2 weeks and she was conflicted on whether he was weaning and just on strike. He would take a bottle of pumped milk without a problem but when she tried to latch him he would get and and even bite! But, she just kept offering and supplementing with pumped milk when he wouldn't nurse and then after almost 2 weeks he initiated wanting to nurse so she offered and he's been nursing fine ever since.

I have another friend however whose son basically weaned at about 9 mth I believe...only wanting to nurse usually on the morning and at night. She said she just made sure he was getting dairy from other sources in his diet and getting a well balanced diet and never supplemented with formula. He eventually weaned entirely at 11.5 mths

hope that helps.

Peepp79 · February 2013

That does help, Mrsburt! Thanks!!

vamomtobe · February 2013

Another possibility could be an ear infection. My LO wouldn't nurse before bed one night, and also wouldn't nurse when he woke up for his usual MOTN feeding at 4 am. The next day he also had a fever, and it turned out it was an ear infection. He started nursing like normal once we gave him some ibuprofin and he was on antibiotics. I don't think babies with ear infections always get a fever, though. Hope you figure it out or at least have her back to nursing soon!

Peepp79 · February 2013

Thanks vamomtobe, we had her checked at the doctors and there's nothing wrong with her. They only mentioned the molars coming in. Thanks for the support though.

jessandandy09 · February 2013

bah, I wish I had better advice, but really each child is different. I think that most children will continue to nurse until you make them stop. but its up to you to decide whether you want to put in the work... Kids go through lazy periods and they go through wanting to nurse. If your LO is taking a break, it could be an opportunity to wean if you want to, or pump until they are interested again. Either way, if Lo is taking BM through a bottle, they are still getting the nutrition they need.

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