My 8 month old wont nurse, help!

[thommymama]

 My son has just turned 8 months old and has decided to stop nursing... For the past 3 days when I offer him the breast he pulls off after 20seconds, arches his back and screams.  He has always been a good nursing baby, we started solids at 6 months and is now up to 3 meals a day but it has been that way for a while.  For a while he hasn't been so interested in nursing in the middle of the day but has done a good 15-30mins before and after naps and when he wakes up in the morning and before going to bed which seemed like enough to me... now nothing! He has to be completely exhausted to take the breast and stay on. 

I will take any ideas, I know my little guy needs "boobie".

Thanks for any advice you may have,,, also he seems to be getting his first tooth and has had a cold recently...

[PatioGardener]

ooooooooh Nursing strike.

Are you pumping to keep up your supply? Feeding him with an open cup, and not giving a pacifier are usually recommended - that will mean that all his sucking needs have to be met at the breast. My little guy had a strike about a month ago for 3 days (also from illness) and I had to feed him about an ounce of pumped milk an hour by open cup. He was too sick to take more. But 3 days later, and some pain medication, and he was nursing again.

Teething can be a reason for a strike - so can a cold. Have you tried offering in the shower/steamy bathroom? The steam helps with breathing so nursing is easier.

Hang in there Mama, you can get through this!

Kellymom has some great tips: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html

[thommymama]

hey thanks for the reply! It's good to know someone else has gone through the same thing,  I had one successful nursing session this evening by going and lying down in bed with him.  I tried to pump some milk but wasn't very successful, probably because I have never pumped before. 

I hope things get better soon!

[Llyra]

How are things going today? Teething is a HUGE reason for striking. My DD1 used to refuse any sucking at all, when her teeth were coming in. A cold is also a common cause of striking. The most important thing, I think, is to keep trying-- try different positions, different places to sit or lie, try nursing while walking around, if you can manage it, or nursing in odd locations like the bathtub or the car. And I agree with the other posters-- if mine were striking, at this age, I would offer no other sucking-- no bottles, no sippy cups, no pacifiers. I would also be cautious about offering too much solids. It would be a shame if a strike turned into premature weaning. Will he nurse in the middle of the night? If mine were striking, I would take him to bed with me and try nursing through the night, if for no other reason than to make sure my supply didn't take too much of a dip.

If his nose is stuffed, and he's having difficulty breathing freely, he might find it difficult to stay latched-- you might try putting a few drops of sterile saline, or even fresh breastmilk, into his nose, about five minutes before you plan to offer to nurse, so that his nose is as clear as possible. Also, something to relieve teething pain, a little while before offering to nurse, might help-- a frozen washcloth to chew on, or a tiny bit of something like Orajel, for example.

I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[thommymama]

 things are going a little better today though I can't see anymore of the tooth than I could yesterday so if that is the reason for his strike I think it should hurry up!! The little guy sleeps with me all the time anyway and has been fine breastfeeding in the middle of the night or when he is very very sleepy.  Today I have been giving him less solid foods in the hopes that it encourages him to breastfeed but the strike doesn't seem to be over yet!

Thanks for the reply!