13 month old - nursing strike?

[jrwlewis]

My 13.5 month old has decided she doesn't want to nurse during the day. She has not nursed during the day for at least 3 days. I noticed on monday that she was a little off. She nursed in the middle of monday night - not at all during the day on tuesday, wednesday and now thursday. Tuesday she nursed in the middle of the night, and last night (wednesday night) she nursed a handful of times.

Is it appropriate to call this a strike? or is that for infants only? We had a biting episode that probably caused this. Her razor sharp teeth made me yelp over the weekend.

I am really torn right now. Part of me is happy that she doesn't nurse during the day because it is freeing but nursing only at night drives me crazy. She is asleep when she nurses - if she is slightly awake she rejects the breast.

Right now I want it all... I want my sleep... I want my freedom during the day... but I also feel like this is so young to wean...

Any thoughts?

[PatioGardener]

Sounds like a nursing strike to me.

[scrappingmom]

Any chance you are preg???

my 3 who didn't quit nursing before 1 all did a sort off striky kinda thing when i got preg... right around me finding out, days before/after or during

did she recently learn to walk, climb or other "extra fun" new trick, discover a "new toy" that maybe is just taking up "all her time" distracting her from nursing? mine also went thru a few days of drasticly reduced nursing when mastering walking... once they started they were just to busy to nurse... 2 quit then and 3 came back to nursing

did you eat anything different, strong flavored? maybe she didnt like the taste and is waiting for it to go away?

a few guesses

[jrwlewis]

I really don't think I'm pregnant. She is already walking and it seems like all of her developmental milestones (i.e. walking, teething) have been preceded by excessive nursing - just a month ago I was complaining because she was nursing every hour - then she started walking and I realized why.

It is just strange. She hasn't nursed during the day all week but continues to do so in her sleep. Oh well... I guess this is just what she wants.

[sarah04]

My DS did a nursing strike when he was 12-months. For two weeks he refused to nurse during the day, and then was up at least once during the night to nurse. It was a huge transition time for our family, lots of stuff going on, and when things settled down, he went back to nursing during the day and sleeping at night.

[PatioGardener]

How are things going, jrwlewis?

Here is a great source of info on nursing strikes - hopefully something here can help you get her back to the breast.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...to-breast.html

[alegna]

It's a strike. She's far too young to wean.

I would offer nursing several times throughout the day and make sure that all her sucking is at the breast (no bottles, pacifiers or sippy cups)

Also, don't give any other milk or juice. Just water. And don't spoon feed solids- just let her self feed.

-Angela

[jrwlewis]

It was a strike! Seven days of absolutely refusing... now she is making up for lost time!

Thanks everyone.

[nummies]

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