Help 7 Month Old Won't Nurse!!

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/strike.html

Its a nursing strike, Please read the link that Sharon M posted. Itwill pass, but you must stop all bottles and only nurse her. Nurse hwen she's tired, when she wakes, when she's fussy, when she's happy. At 7mos she should be nursing at least 4-6 times a day, so offer often and don't offer any bottles or formula. Breast only, and be persistent, she will come back. babies under a year don't wean themselves, but nursing strikes are common, and can last from a few hours to a week or two. Just keep at it.

maybe she's teething.
When my kids were teething... they did not nurse as enthusiastically. It hurts, and they'd feed less. Nursing from breast, is a lot more uncomfortable for a baby, versus a bottle... which is just gravity.
Or, she is self -weaning.
Or, she just prefers a bottle... my son was like that... but my daughter only liked breast. Each baby being different.

all the best,
Susan

Did you change your deodorant, laundry soap, cologne, etc? Sometimes babies react to that. There's a way to tell if she is getting enough, it has to do with how many wet diapers she is creating during each day--but I forget how many diapers that is! sorry! maybe another mom knows?

Also check the soft spot on her head--if it is sunken she is getting dehydrated.

Contact La Leche League and/or a lactaition consultant for more info.

Good for you for pumping!

I hope she gets back to nursing soon!

K. Z.

I agree that it is probably a nursing strike. The link that Sharon posted is great!! A baby under a year will not self wean.

The only thing I've learned about all of this is that the baby will eat when/if they are hungry enough. This sounds calouse but it's true. I was worried about that with Braeden, but he was still gaining weight and was happy. If it continues for too long I would ask your lactation person or the pediatrician.

I went through the very same thing with my third. Call a LaLeche League consultant in your area......I would not have made it through without them. My son went on a nursing strike for 8 days....he would nurse on and off, but with fussing. Then all of sudden he came back to me. The next 3 months were a little hard as he wasn't the same little nurser and wouldn't nurse without some fussing. I would offer it and if he didn't nurse I would wait until he was going to sleep and then take his nuk out and give it to him. Needless to say it was stressful, but about a month ago he started nursing all of the time again and loves his nursing again. I believe that it was teething. If your baby won't nurse at all, you will have to pump to maintain supply. Go to the La Lache leage website, find a consultant and read some of the stories on nursing strikes as they helped me through it tremendously.
Good luck and know that your baby is not weaning.

is she having any other issues? ear infection? teething? bit her cheek or something? some other discomfort while sucking? a preference to the bottle over the breast might be due to the fact that it is harder to nurse from the breast. BUT, since you want to continue (THANK YOU FOR BREASTFEEDING! :)) ) i would tell you this; dont use a bottle. when you are with her, you should offer the breast only. first of all, this will keep up your supply properly. the pump doesnt stimulate the breast the same. also, though she might protest for a while, she wont starve herself. its common for babies in a time of change to have a nursing strike, but no baby has ever died from it. just be persistent, offer the breast frequently, especially when shes sleepy because she will likely get more if shes sleeping so that shes not thinking about it so much.

basically, if shes acting normal, looks healthy, and is active, shes probably getting enough. i wouldnt worry unless she starts getting lethargic, tired, and looks sickly (bad color in skin)...
anyway, just keep up the good work, and dont offer her the bottle... let that be for someone else to do; if mom is there, just nurse!