Sudden weaning?

[Latte Mama]

DS suddenly stopped nursing approx. 5 days ago, he's 20 months old. I don't know if this is coincidental but he also slowed WAY down on cows milk at the same time.

He'll ask to nurse but when I lift my shirt, he won't do it or shakes his head no. Previously, he was only nursing about 2 x a day but I thought the sudden stopping was strange. If he was younger I'd be thinking strike but do they do that now?

[pbjmama]

I would say strike based on 1) sudden and 2) asking but not following through and possibly 3) cutting back on other foods too. Any chance he is sick? Hand foot mouth or ear infection?

[Latte Mama]

No illness. He's eating and drinking everything else but milk and mama's milk.
Unfortunately I may dry up in the meantime. I really wanted to make it to 2!

ETA: He will more readily drink cows milk if I add chocolate.

[ewe+lamb]

I'm sorry, nursing strikes are awful, however in the meantime you can pump your milk and then do some things which may encourage him back to the breast - if you want this, take a bath with him - it encourages re-birthing emotions, biological nurturing (www.biologicalnurturing.com) - great website, set up a little nursing corner with soft furnishings, low lighting, no distractions maybe a little soft music, co-sleep so that when he's sleepy he takes the breast without really realising what he's doing, lots of skin to skin and topless living - lol, you could entice him back - hope it works out for you.

[Latte Mama]

Thanks mama. He's showing interest and will even go as far as putting mouth to breast but will not suckle. It's so weird, he never had a strike up until now. I haven't lost my milk yet so there's still hope. We have been co-sleeping on and off the past week too.