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Sudden Wean

3 replies

Dadzo · 26/02/2020 10:58

Our 20 month has been a regular breastfeeder but recently refused the boob one night. She was then diagnosed with tonsillitis which my partner and I figured was the reason she didn’t want to feed i.e it was too painful for her to do so. 10 days later and she is over the illness and finishing the antibiotics, but she still no longer wants to breastfeed.

Neither my partner or I ever envisaged breastfeeding stopping suddenly in this way and are both struggling. Our baby is having tantrums like never before and understandably seems very confused.

What I don’t understand is if she is so upset why doesn’t she want to return to the boob?
Could it be that her decision to stop and the tonsillitis was just coincidence?
Do we just need to ride this out?

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated! Especially regarding how I can support my partner who is devastated that the breastfeeding has stopped so abruptly.

OP posts:
Dandelion1993 · 26/02/2020 10:59

It does sound like your child is looking for another option.

Could your partner express still for a while and let your child drink the milk from a cup.

That way there is still the breastmilk side as well as encouraging the next step.

AudTheDeepMinded · 26/02/2020 11:11

This could be a nursing strike, if you google it you should find somehelpful advice (Milk Meg is very good). Have you tried when she is sleepy/asleep? I think she's built up an association with the pain.

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 26/02/2020 11:14

Babies often just decide they are no longer keen to breastfeed. Quite normal at this age. Help her to adapt to cups, food and extra cuddles

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