Nursing Strike?

Scarlett830 · July 2016

Last night my almost 11-month old decided he was going to refuse the boob. He woke as usual during the night and was inconsolable but again refused. Same thing all day today so far, with him being super mushy, cranky, and easy to cry.

I'm hoping that his two upper teeth may finally be emerging and this is why he's on this sudden nursing strike, but at the same time those gums have been puffy and swollen literally for months, so who knows. No fever, no ear pulling, and he's eating solids and drinking normally from the bottle. Just totally refusing the boob with the most disgusted look on his face.

I don't think he's self weaning because he loves the boob too much and hasn't shown any signs of it before. Anyone else experience the same? How long did it last if so? FX he'll decide he wants it again soon because I'm not looking forward to the idea of having to pump enough to last him all day rather than just the two bottles he goes through at daycare.

shines721 · July 2016

My son never did full out strikes. But would refuse random feeds and typically wouldn't take the bottle after I had pumped either. I sometimes would sing to him or rock a little to view it as a snuggle time as well and that would help.

I do think that your milk changes in taste and you have a lower supply as your hormones change during pregnancy. It could be that he is beginning to wean due to that. I'm sorry if that's the case! I stopped nursing my 15 month old last month for some freedom and to be able to get pregnant (that was fast!) and I still get sad about it sometimes!

wintersong · July 2016

I would assume a strike unless it goes on for a long time. Sometimes nursing is painful when teeth are coming in. I don't have much advice other than Motrin, keep offering, and keep an eye on wet diapers. Since he's taking bottles I would think the taste isn't the issue as much.

Also, my so didn't strike, but at about 13 months he seriously upped his solid intake and just started nursing less.

Good luck! Let us know how everything goes!

Eta: Could he gave thrush or something? Is he still refusing this afternoon?

AverageAsh · July 2016

I would give it a day, Lu sometimes gets really agitated at the boob when she's teething. The next day she makes up for lost time and nurses double. How's he doing today?

meq124 · July 2016

I would assume it's a strike since he is refusing at every meal. Since getting pregnant, my LO has dropped down to just 2 feeds, morning and night, from 4 feeds, but she did it just one feed at a time and would always eat the other times. I feel so bad for them with the teething, it seems like it lasts so long! Hopefully this is short lived, but I would assume he will eventually get back to it with some persistence. I have noticed that the closer you get to a year the more "toddler" they become with their decision making. I feel you on the pumping though! I can't wait until the day I can office space that pump!

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Scarlett830 · July 2016

Thanks for the advice, ladies. He's still refusing as of right now. Normally he has 4 feeds a day with one being in the middle of the night, and then he has one bottle at daycare. He had a bottle this morning and his normal oatmeal for breakfast. We'll see what he does later on this afternoon/evening, because he doesn't generally take the boob for lunch time.

I know my supply has dropped somewhat when pumping, but he's so much more efficient and hasn't seemed hungry otherwise when nursing so I think he's still getting enough. And I don't think it's a matter of taste since he's still taking the milk in bottles.

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