6 month old baby suddenly not wanting to nurse

[LambcameraPDX]

I'm so confused and nervous. Have spent the past 6 months semi delerious from co-sleeping and nursing many times a night.

Last night and still now, ebf baby hasn't wanted to nurse. She woke up restless at 3am and pooped, slept through her change, and same thing at 6am. It's 6:30am now. I can't fall back asleep b/c I don't understand this. I'm worried about my milk supply. It's always been fine. But could this affect it? And why isn't she hungry? She last nursed at 10pm.

For the past 6 days she's been trying tiny bits of solid food. Tiny tastes of what I eat, and I don't think she's actually swallowed anything.

Also, fwiw, from 4 months til a few days before she turned 6 months last week, she pooped 2xs a week. Now for a week she's pooping a LOT, maybe 5 times a day? And it's always green now. It used to always be mustardy.

Your insights will be appreciated!

[greenmulberry]

I have heard some babes can go on a nursing strike at 6 months, although I have not experienced it.

If your milk supply has always been adequate, one night of some missed nursings at 6 months isn't going to be a problem. We occasionally have had nights where the baby slept very well and did not nurse at night and it has no effect on my supply.

I have noticed my baby is in a state of change now at 6 and a half months. She wakes more, goes through diapers at night where previously was staying dry longer, makes more noise, ect. I just think they are growing and changing, and that it manifests as changes in routine and habits.

[greenmulberry]

Also, maybe she is getting a tooth and is distracted by that? Which is why she doesn't want to nurse?

[Rani]

Definitely a turning point, 6 months is....learning so much..thinking about maybe tasting food but not really ready....I remember this time being the first of several nursing strikes..happened at around 10 months to a year as well. Keep offering but don't worry...pump and freeze if you are worrying about supply.

Also, if the little one is a bit constipated, won't want to eat..feels bloaty...and yes poop will turn many many colors depending on what you ate and what babe has tried that day lol...the technicolor diaper was a source of interesting convos in our house for a good while.

[LambcameraPDX]

Thank you for all of the feedback.

I also emailed my pedi who is an nd and she suggested giving baby probiotics, in a powered supplement. I asked why this would be better than raw sauerkraut juice, which baby likes, or a little bit of organic yogurt. She said "because with the supplement, I know exactly what's in it." So I bought the brand she suggested and mixed it with water and spoon fed it to dd. Well dd was perplexed and made funny faces...and then barfed it right up!

Now I'm wondering if it would be more tolerable mixed with breast milk. I felt strange shoving (gently) a spoon in her mouth. I wasn't around any babies growing up. Have never fed one that way!