8 month-old refusing breast, and won't drink from anything else.

[BonyM]

The last couple of days, dd2 has been very half-hearted about breastfeeding. She has had her bedtime feed ok and also her early morning feed (about 4.30am) but during the day, every time I have offered it to her she will have only a few sucks before coming off, and I really have to try and cajole her to latch back on again. After a minute or two of this I usually give up as it is obvious she is not interested.

I am a bit worried that she is not getting either her full quota of milk, or of liquids full stop, as it is a real struggle to get her to drink any water. I have tried various cups (Avenet, Tomme Tippee), also an open cup and even a bottle (she's never had a bottle but thought that she may take to it better than a cup). She will have a couple of small sips but to be honest, dribbles most of it out again.

She does have about 5oz of milk on her cereal and at least one yoghurt a day, and is having plenty of wet and dirty nappies so I am assuming she is not de-hydrated. Her fontanelle is slightly concave - not sure if this is normal?

Do you think I should be worried? Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas how I can get her to drink more?

Sorry - long post, but any thoughts/tips would be gratefully received.

Hiya - try going to www.kellymom.com and search "nursing strike".

I'd probably not bother with trying to get her to take cups and things - just try feeding her when she's sleepy and without too many distractions, if possible.

My dd was on about 3 feeds a day at this age and so I offered her water in a tommee Tippee first cup (not non-spill) and upped her intake of dairy foods to try to cover the lack of milk. tbh she didn't take water much but otherwise seemed fine. I think if your dd is alright in herself and is otherwise happy then she will be ok I'm sure .

Yes - I think you may have hit the nail on the head hunker - she is just so nosy and easily distracted and that's probably why she is fine with the night feeds. Thanks for the web address - I'll have a look.

Bagpuss - we have that Tommee Tippee cup but she can't seem to get the hang of it - I tend to jiggle it around in her mouth a bit to make it drip!

Bonym, hello

My friend has exactly the same going on with her 8 month old. She has been slowly cutting back on the amount she feeds over the past month or so and two weeks ago, went on a complete nursing strike for almost 10 days She is feeding again now but really only the night and early morning feeds (as your DD is doing).

My friend was frantic but she got her DD weighed regularly throughout and she was gaining weight and showed no signs of being adversely affected. Now she's just accepted this is how it is.

Oh yes and she carried on feeding solids well throughout.

HTH

BonyM, ds did this about the same age, I think. He'd only feed at night when there was nothing more interesting to do! I got quite worried about his milk intake so just fed on demand (night or day). And then it passed in a few weeks and he is now a total bm addict again.

Thanks Busy and Dinny - this is very reassuring. She did in fact have a really good feed before bed tonight (although has not really fed all day - only solids).

I will stop worrying!

Hi BonyM

My dd's(7 months old) fontanelle is also slightly concave and I took her to the docs to get it checked. Because there are no other signs of dehydration, the doc wasn't too concerned about the dip. She only takes about 2-3 oz of wter throughout the whole day but I'm still bf so therefore i'm hoping this is ok.