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February 2014 Moms
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Rejecting the Boob

RedSoxGirl10RedSoxGirl10 member
in February 2014 Moms
Hey everyone. So, quick backstory: LO is 4 months old. He has been exclusively breastfed since day 1 with at least 1 pumped bottle a day. He was hesitant about the bottle from day 1, sometimes rejecting it completely and sometimes reluctantly taking it. I've been back to work for a month now and of course the bottles are going much better. I feed him before work and immediately when I get home so he only gets 2 bottles a day, and 4 breastfeeding sessions...occasionally 3 and 3 maybe twice a week. 

So, in the last week a couple of nights LO has decided to reject the boob. It's only at his last feeding of the day but he'll be 100% happy before I start trying to feed him and then he SCREAMS. At first I thought maybe he wasn't getting the milk fast enough but today he angrily ate for a few minutes and I could hear him swallowing so I know he was getting milk. I double checked and all the nipples for his bottles are slow flow...

Any ideas about what is happening? Is he just developing a preference for the bottle? The other night and tonight my husband had to give him a bottle because he was SO angry about nursing. I really would like him to nurse as long as possible because I am a teacher so in 5 weeks I'll be with him again full time. I would appreciate any tips or ideas! 

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Re: Rejecting the Boob

  • Rosie137Rosie137 member
    My son has been doing this behavior for a week or two now, he's 13 weeks, EBF no bottles. A Google search suggested rocking while feeding and that has been our solution so far. I've had to get used to feeding him without a pillow. I just cradle him, when he's extra fussy I have to let him suck on his pacifier for a little bit, rock him, then swap it for my nipple while he's calm and keep rocking while he's eating and don't make eye contact (my baby is a weirdo!?). I hope you two find your groove :)
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  • PeachLove25PeachLove25 member
    This happened with Anna starting at 2.5 months. Prior to this she was a BF champ with one bottle per day. I've seen numerous lactation consultants since Anna will only latch and eat at night. They've all said the same thing... She is super curious and wants to look around. She hates being stuck on my chest with not much to see. She latches and eats fine in the middle of the night and when extremely sleepy= eyes closed and she doesn't care that she can't look all around. I've come to the realization that I basically EP, and as long as she's getting the BM benefits- I'm fine with it (even though I despise pumping.). LCs had me try to wear fun necklaces, etc. but that was a temporary fix... Those aren't exciting either- ha. Best of luck!!!!
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  • RedSoxGirl10RedSoxGirl10 member
    Thanks everyone this is helpful! He is taking the bottle right after so I know he is hungry. I definitely think the very curious theory may apply to him. My in laws were over last night talking so he probably wanted to see what they were doing. They left before I gave up but maybe by then he was just already upset. I will try bringing him upstairs next time so I can rock him in the rocking chair with no distractions. Hopefully that will help! The idea of being an exclusive pumper makes me cringe, I don't know how you girls do it!

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  • MamaAllisonMamaAllison member
    Just want to say we have the same issue too sometimes. Second to what previous posters said in that a sleepier baby helps! Hope everything gets better soon, I'm a teacher and I'm looking forward to summer and much less pumping too!
    DD1 - Evelyn Riley - 9/30/11
    DD2 - Charlotte Avery - 1/27/14




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  • 1linedrawing1linedrawing member
    TyrannosaurusLex said:

    bribbon said:

    Rosie137 said:

    My son has been doing this behavior for a week or two now, he's 13 weeks, EBF no bottles. A Google search suggested rocking while feeding and that has been our solution so far. I've had to get used to feeding him without a pillow. I just cradle him, when he's extra fussy I have to let him suck on his pacifier for a little bit, rock him, then swap it for my nipple while he's calm and keep rocking while he's eating and don't make eye contact (my baby is a weirdo!?). I hope you two find your groove :)

    This, exactly. Sounds like an overtired kid. Can you try moving his bedtime to earlier or sneaking in one more nap to maybe curtail this before it happens?
    ^^ all that, esp the bolded! I have started lightly draping a recieving blanket over my shoulder/her line of vision as turning on white noise to cut down on the distraction when she is overtired, distractable, etc.

    Same here!

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  • MamaAllisonMamaAllison member
    Just had another session where she was refusing and she did end up nursing in the side lying position, maybe try that!
    DD1 - Evelyn Riley - 9/30/11
    DD2 - Charlotte Avery - 1/27/14




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  • RedSoxGirl10RedSoxGirl10 member
    Thanks everyone for the suggestions. LO nursed no problem all day then at the last feeding completely freaked out on the second side. I tried pumping a tiny bit just to get it started, didn't work at all. I took him upstairs to the glider, as soon as I started rocking he calmed right down and ate. Yay!!! F'14 is the best!

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  • Rosie137Rosie137 member
    Yay! Glad to hear it worked out for you :-D
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