Nursing strike - help

[Celia1978]

Weirdly I only posted yesterday about night weaning but I've got a sudden and unexpected new problem with DS - he won't feed at all now.

He's almost a year and eats loads of solids. I'm back at work FT so only feeding morning and evening anyway (bit more at the weekends) and sometimes he's not that interested if he's had a big dinner. He sleeps pretty badly though (night wakings and very early wakings) and will feed a lot then - hence me asking about night weaning.

Anyway, he fed loads in the night over Sunday night into Monday morning. Didn't have morning feed because I'd only given him his last night feed at 5am (and I was in bed catching up on sleep!) but when I came to feed him on Monday evening he just screamed and fought his way away. Same thing this (Tuesday) morning - I tried several times but same thing every time.

He is a bit of a biter and I think he might have got scared of me shouting 'Ow!' when he's bitten.

Thing is, I don't know what to do now. I've read advice online but it's about frequent offering, skin to skin etc and I'm at work all day - I only have a short amount of time morning and evening to feed and I've got another child I've got to spend a bit of time with too.

So realistically is this it? I guess it's not the end of the world - I was only going to keep going until the summer anyway. It just seems like such a horrible and sad way for it to end. I'm surprised how upset I am!

[chandelierswinging]

It could "be it", but it might not be. When my youngest was around this age, we went through two nursing strike periods before she self weaned at 15m. Along with the other things you've read, I was advised to catch us both out and try feeding in a different place/position to what we'd normally do (bathroom floor, bedroom on cushions on floor) which seemed to help things to pick up. If it is the end of this chapter for you, reassure yourself that its natural to be sad about it and that self weaning is a wonderful way for it to conclude. You've done brilliantly.

[chandelierswinging]

He may also be experiencing the joy that is molars coming through... Just a thought!

[Celia1978]

Thank you. I did wonder about teething though I can't spot any other signs. But maybe they only hurt when he's in certain positions.
Oh well, I'll keep trying for a few days but if he's not into it I guess I won't struggle to keep going beyond that. We've had a good run. It just feels like a shame that something so nice and nurturing will end on a note of him screaming in distress and clawing to get away from my evil boobs!