My almost 9 month old has been going on a nursing strike for the past two days!!! He had gotten the occasional bottle in the past, at most once a day, but the past two days fusses every time I try to nurse him. He did take a bottle this morning, after I attempted nursing for over 20 minutes with no luck!! Looking for some advice or thoughts about his strike?
I'm not crazy about the idea pumping to bottlefeed, seems like double the work, especially with a 4 and 3 year old too.
It happens. My lactation consultant/mother's helper/doula might be ale to help you. She Skypes or does phone calls for distance help!
She worked for Dr. Sears forever, which is where we found her.
____@____.com
PS: Self weaning doesn't mean they abruptly stop. After 4 kids, I can tell you, they dwindle down the feedings.
Does he cry if you don't nurse? Is he crying FOR the bottle?
If he's not interested in nursing but isnt crying for milk, just wait till he's ready/hungry, maybe he's changing the routine?
Hi - at the same age my daughter did that as well. Everytime I even put her in the position to nurse she'd freak out. I tried to be as patient as possible and cuddle skin to skin as much as possible. In the evening when she was really tired she nursed. I did make sure there was no ear infection, etc. She was however getting teeth at that time and I think she was in a little bit of pain.
The nursing strike made me so sad. I looked so much stuff up and even called people at LLL. Unfortunately this went on and off for a month or so and when she was 10 months I nursed her for the last time - it really upset me. I had pumped enough to have her make it to a year on breast milk and while that made me feel better I was depressed as I really missed our special time!!
Best of luck to you!
I have heard of babies self-weaning at this age. That sure wasn't my son, whose little life revolved around nursing, but I've heard of it. Is he eating his solids well? Otherwise happy? If so, he might just be ready to move on.
First...does he have thrush?
Second- How is he nursing in the morning and nighttime? Seems to me that there is just too much going on he doesn't want to miss out on during the day and nursing is not on his agenda anymore. Same thing happened to me when my son was 10 months old and same thing happened to my friend when her daughter was 9 or 10 months old. When my son went down for his morning and afternoon naps...I pumped and then gave him the bottle when he got up. It was an easy transition and worked well for us.
I did not have any older children at the time, but I don't really see why that would be a big problem. If you are able to nurse your baby with the older kids around, then why wouldn't you be able to spend 10-15 minutes pumping with them around? Do you have a hand pump? It is much simpler and more mobile to use especially for these types of situations:)
Maybe try to include them in the transition and have them help you feed the baby the bottle when he wakes up. Just a thought.
Don't try to force the nursing though.....It will just make everyone frustrated...and still hungry.
She may also be teething. She may also be weening and there is nothing wrong with using a bottle at 9 months. 20 min is too long for nursing...and does seem rather inconvenient especially with a 4 and 3 year old. you may not be producing enough or you may be consuming something or doing something like exercise that does not agree with the baby.
I wish you the best and don't let it get you down. I would remember to be overjoyed about having a healthy beautiful baby and pray for all those that are not so fortunate.
Maybe weaning. Maybe teething. Maybe your nursing position is uncomfortable. A lactation consultant might be able to help you.
