[3daughters]

My 22 month is suddenly refusing to nurse. Today she asked to nurse twice but said 'no' once I exposed my breast and refused to latch. She acts as though she doesn't like the taste. I am about to get my period but that has never bothered her before. She did nurse 2 times overnight last night.<br><br>
HELP!

 

[Ruthla]

I would treat it as a nursing strike for now. Have you checked out kellymom.com?

 

[3daughters]

Yes Ruth, but there is nothing helpful there. She has made up her mind that she will not latch. She just looks at my breast and says 'no'. She is bright child and seems to have made up her mind. I'm not sure that I want to pump daily for an unknown amount of time on the chance she may choose to nurse again.<br><br>
I'm sad <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[annethcz]

I have found with older nurslings that I can go without nursing during the day (even for a few days), continue to nurse during the night, and then resume nursing again during the day when the child regains interest. So much is going on around that second birthday, so much asserting of independance. I've noticed that frequency of nursing often waxes and wanes during the toddler years.<br><br>
I wouldn't force (or even push) an almost 2yo to nurse during the day if she was nursing at night. I would just treat it as a phase, and see where it goes. As long as you continue to be available when she wants to nurse, I think you're okay. If/when your DD decides to nurse during the day again, your milk supply will rebound (supply and demand principles continue to apply here).

 

[DaryLLL]

Did she nurse last night?

 

[3daughters]

Once at around 1 am and I think she nursed in her sleep. She refused the second time she woke up at 5 am and in the morning.<br><br>
Thanks for the words of encouragement. The other stories I have read on the internet are not so positive. I cannot imagine living out a 40 day strike like one mother on kellymom and then going back to nursing. It just seems so emotionally draining and, truthfully, she is 'old' enough to wean.<br><br>
Who would have thought that this could get me so down?

 

[DaryLLL]

Why don't you pump and offer in a cup for a while? This seems kind of cold turkey. Are you getting engorged?<br><br>
We are still in cold and flu season. It's not a great time to wean.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> I know it's hard when you think they are weaning before you are ready, and while you know they could still benefit from nursing. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br><br>
Could it be possible she has a sore in her mouth or something that makes nursing uncomfortable for her? Ear inflammation?

 

[3daughters]

I'm full but not engorged. I pumped last night at around 7 pm and then she nursed that one time at nite. I work full time so its not unusual for me to go for 10 hours during the day without nursing. My body just readjusts after weekends and holidays.<br><br>
I don't think that she has any sort of ache or illness. Its never stopped her from nursing before. It really seems like its in her head and she's just made up her mind not to nurse. She behaves like she is disgusted by the suggestion of nursing (if that makes any sense). Crazy behaviour for a child that used to sign to nurse constantly and insisted on nursing 2-3 times a night!!!

 

[3daughters]

Update:<br><br>
I pumped yesterday at around 5 pm to relieve the fullness and I cried the whole time. It didn't help that I'm hormonal and was off of our regular schedule because of President's Day.<br><br>
She nursed last night at 11:30 pm and 3:30 am but refused at 6:00 am. Is that a good sign?<br><br>
I'm back at work and she's back at day care. She usually nurses the minute we walk in the door at the end of the day. We'll see what happens today.<br><br>
I've been watching her behavior and I have noticed that she is asserting herself more as annethcz suggested. Also, I've noticed that she has become much more fickle on her food choices. She will ask to eat something (and it seems she is always hungry lately) and when I turn my back I find that she's played with the food or thrown it on the floor but not eaten much.<br><br>
My pediatrician is an IBCLC. I was thinking of putting in a call to her. Also, I e-mailed Dr. Newman and he said to leave her alone and see if she comes around on her own.<br><br>
Thanks for listening ladies. It really helps to have a receptive outlet. I'm sick of hearing people tell me how lucky I am that I got to nurse her this long and that I should be happy that she's sleeping better at night. I understand that there is a silver lining but I'm not ready to hear it yet.

 

[DaryLLL]

I think your working full time might have something to do with it. Maybe? At this age, most kids nurse for comfort and out of habit. It is possible she learned other techniques for comfort from being in daycare? And that nursing is not quite the habit it would be if you were together more hours in the day?<br><br>
I am glad she nursed twice in the night.<br><br>
You might post on the working moms forum and see if others have experienced this.

 

[3daughters]

I'm fairly certain that its not a day care related issue. She has been in day care since she is 5 months old and has always been an avid nurser. She did learn to self-sooth at day care which has been a big help this whole time. She is able to fall asleep without the breast (through cuddling and patting her back) so bedtime hasn't been a nightmare.

 

[wendygrace]

nak<br><br>
your dd sounds like mine. she was an avid nurser, especially at night as i also work. However, I did not pump so much. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> My body adjusts regularly to her huge fluctuations from nursing one a night to several long day and night sessions. I just followed/follow her lead.