Nursing Strike!
A nursing strike can happen to breastfed and bottle fed babies alike. It often happens around six months of age when your baby begins eating solid foods. This can be stressful and difficult for parents and even if they don’t know it, for the baby as well.
Before their first birthday a baby’s main source of nourishment should be breast milk. If you are not breastfeeding then the baby should be mainly drinking formula, with baby food being only a secondary source for nourishment. Occasionally when your baby starts solids he will begin refusing to take the breast or bottle. If he does this there are several things you can do to help him get reaccustomed to the nipple.
1. Cut back on solids. If your baby has started refusing to nurse, cut back on the solids. It could be that you are feeding him TOO many solids and he is full.
2. Try to reintroduce breast. Put your baby skin to skin, letting him find his way to your breast on his own. Don’t force him, just lay there, acting like it is no big deal, and let him discover breastfeeding all over again.
3. Feed your baby when he is drowsy. If you catch your baby right as he is about to go to sleep, or just as he is waking up, you will probably be able to get him to latch on in his not-so-awake state.
4. Nurse baby before offering baby food. Use the baby food like a “dessert” with the breast milk or formula being the main course.
5. Try a cup. Often if your baby no longer wants the nipple, you will be able to get him to drink from a sippy cup and get his liquid that way.
Nursing strikes can be very common and is another one of those stages that your baby may or may not go through. Patience will help you persevere as a parent in helping to make sure that your baby gets the proper nourishment that he needs.
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January 4th, 2012 at 11:31 am
My 8 month old has been on at least 3 nursing strikes! However, I’m still nursing him even though it’s a fight sometimes!
I think his problem is that he wants his food faster, so he’d prefer it from a bottle or a spoon & dish. I think he is also distracted by wanting to play & look at the world. Nursing him when he’s going down for a nap works pretty well for us, but a few days ago I happened upon another thing that has really helped! Letting him hold his pacifier while he nurses has calmed him & extended his nursing times. He just plays with it, rolling it around in his hand & across my chest. When it drops, he comes off the nipple, so I pick up the pacifier & put the edge in my mouth while he re-latches, and he takes it out of my mouth & continues playing with it.
I don’t expect this to work for everyone, or even for us forever, but it’s one more trick in your bag. Good luck!!
March 31st, 2011 at 9:15 pm
My baby is 5 months old. He is mainly breastfed and totally refuses the bottle since he turns one month. After he turned 4 months, he started to refuse the breast as well. He eats so little that he keeps getting dehydrated. We had no choice but to use the syringe to force feed him. If he is not dehydrated, he is smiling and very active though. Well, he also hasn’t grown a single ounce in almost a month.
We sent him to the various doctors but they couldn’t find any problem. They all said that he will eat when he wants to. This really worries us and sometimes I really question those doctors. We requested for a complete checkup but they refuse.
The only time he eats from the breast is when he is half asleep. He is on nursing strike for 7 straight weeks already. It drives us nuts. Any of your idea would be really appreciated.
October 28th, 2010 at 8:37 am
My 9 mo bit me one day and I yelped and said “No!”. He started crying, really crying. He did not nurse for 5 days after that. He wanted me near him and wanted me to hold him – but refused to nurse. He would cry, turn away, and push away from the breast. I was pumping during this time but he preferred water or formula out of a sippy – not my milk. Needless to say I was so sad and cried every day. I wasn’t ready for him to be weaned – he is my last baby (3rd). I had to stop nursing my 1st at 9 mos and my 2nd didn’t make it past 4 months – so this was new territory for me. I read suggestions here and elsewhere and decided to take it really slow. A lot of skin to skin and I offered the breast but didn’t push it. I noticed that every day he got more and relaxed and yesterday actually started to drool! So today he sat in my lap – patted the breast and leaned in to nurse. We BOTH were really happy after that and he has nursed all day. SO – just take it slow and they will come back to you!!