My 18 month old stopped nursing about 3-4 days ago, very suddenly. He's nursed about twice a day the last few months, and when I get home from work, has always wanted to nurse immediately and often falls asleep at the breast.
Just in the past few days, he still asks to nurse, but then latches on, pops off crying, and refuses to nurse. He'll suck his thumb and cuddle, but not nurse.
He had a mild cold about 2 weeks ago but seems fine now.
The only other time he refused to nurse was when he had hand-food-mouth disease a few months ago.
Normally he's a super-happy baby, but has been very cranky and getting very upset at the smallest things in the past few days.
I'm very much at a loss. If he's weaning, then okay, we will do that. But I really don't feel like I know what's going on and if he isn't really wanting to wean, I'd like to keep nursing him. I had hoped to nurse him until he was 2 years old.
Nothing else is going on and I'm not pregnant. My older daughter self-weaned at 19 mos, but it was a gradual thing where she just sort of lost interest and stopped asking. Not like this, where he's asking, trying, crying, and it's all happened so suddenly.
If he decides to nurse again, will I still have any milk? I can hand express a few drops, which is normal for me with a toddler this age.
Thanks for any suggestions. I really need some input. I contacted a local LLL leader but haven't heard back yet. I also made an appointment for him to see the doctor, just to rule out something like an ear infection.
Just in the past few days, he still asks to nurse, but then latches on, pops off crying, and refuses to nurse. He'll suck his thumb and cuddle, but not nurse.
He had a mild cold about 2 weeks ago but seems fine now.
The only other time he refused to nurse was when he had hand-food-mouth disease a few months ago.
Normally he's a super-happy baby, but has been very cranky and getting very upset at the smallest things in the past few days.
I'm very much at a loss. If he's weaning, then okay, we will do that. But I really don't feel like I know what's going on and if he isn't really wanting to wean, I'd like to keep nursing him. I had hoped to nurse him until he was 2 years old.
Nothing else is going on and I'm not pregnant. My older daughter self-weaned at 19 mos, but it was a gradual thing where she just sort of lost interest and stopped asking. Not like this, where he's asking, trying, crying, and it's all happened so suddenly.
If he decides to nurse again, will I still have any milk? I can hand express a few drops, which is normal for me with a toddler this age.
Thanks for any suggestions. I really need some input. I contacted a local LLL leader but haven't heard back yet. I also made an appointment for him to see the doctor, just to rule out something like an ear infection.
:
Don't panic yet! 
Cross post to the Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy forum since this is an issue that people would face whether it's CLW or not. Do a search on "teething" on it and "supply" see what turns out.
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