HELP! Nursing Strike by 9 1/2month old

Amy - posted on 05/17/2010

My 10 month old has been on a nursing strike for few days now. This is soo hard. I am very emotional about it as I am not ready to stop. My 1st baby also had a strike about 8 months, but I don't remember it being this hard on me. I feel like a failure and that I am being rejected... I went and bought a electric pump and got some motillium from the dr to keep things flowing... I know my 1st just one day decided to start nursing again like nothing had happened, but it is hard to keep perspective. It seems to be the only thing on my mind all day every day... It sure brings me down. I am glad to see others working through this too. It gives me more courage to keep at it.

Cassie - posted on 01/18/2009

glad i found this conversation, my 7 month old has been doing the exact same thing for about a month now. did u supplement with formula when he refused to nurse? i've also been trying to increase my milk supply by drinking mother's milk tea, but it tastes so terrible! i was thinking today that i would just give up and wean her, but i don't feel good about that decision.

Lauryan - posted on 11/30/2008

Also experienced a nursing strike at the same age - but it only lasted about a week... hope you come right soon! :)

Nicole - posted on 11/30/2008

Glad to hear he nursed well!!! Stick with it!

Rita - posted on 11/30/2008

Good for you! sometimes feeding strikes are misread as self-weaning, but really no baby is ready to really give it up that young!

Emily - posted on 11/30/2008

That's great!!

Tanya - posted on 11/29/2008

Ok, he's nursed decently a couple of times... hurray!!!

Mandi - posted on 11/26/2008

My son started the same thing at about 9 months...he's 1 now. I just gave up on nursing him b/c he never accepted it, BUT I instead pumped exclusively till he turned 1 and just fed him my milk from bottles b/c I didn't want to give him formula. The choice you make is your's so do what will work best for you.

Nicole - posted on 11/26/2008

Hope this helps:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby...

This also has links to other good info on strikes! Best wishes!

Nicole - posted on 11/25/2008

Just stick with it! Keep offering the breast to him. If you stop he may change his mind and want to continue in the next couple of weeks....Good luck!

Tanya - posted on 11/25/2008

I just can't pump much. It's really hard for me - it was even when I was at work. As long as I get him to take a little from each side, each day (to keep them both going), I think/hope I'll be ok. I started adding a scoop of formula to his porridge in the morning today, just to be sure he's getting his nutrients. My sister said her duaghter did the same a couple times, but she continued nursing til over a year which is reassuring.

Amie - posted on 11/25/2008

If you really want to nurse long-term, just pump through it and he will probably come around in a bit. I let my oldest wean when she went on her strike and I really regret it still (she's almost 3). Every woman that I know who nursed longer than 1 year had to go through this...you can to!

Amy - posted on 11/25/2008

He could be working on his eye teeth which I have observed to be the most painful. Hang in there!

Tanya - posted on 11/25/2008

He is teething, but he has been teething on & off for the past couple months. Thanks for the support & encouragement.

Amy - posted on 11/25/2008

Has he been sick or teething? The nipping sounds like teething and sometimes there can be an underl lying cause. If you think it is teething you could give him something for the pain and see if that helps. Keep offering especially at night when he is sleeping.

Emily - posted on 11/25/2008

Just keep up with it. I know it is hard. My oldest went on her strike at about 8 months old and it lasted almost a month, but we successfully went on to nurse until 3.5 years old. Just hang in there mama!