14 month old very suddenly started behaving as if something is "wrong" with breast; what's going on?

[DirtyMartini]

DD is 14 months old, and has continued to happily feed every morning and evening (plus some naptimes when we're home together) all along. She fed as usual on Wednesday morning, but that afternoon when I offered her the breast she did this odd thing which she has continued to do almost every time I have tried to feed her since. (We've had just one brief "normal" feed on Thurs first thing.)

It goes like this:

1. DD shows her usual feeding signs: bit grumpy, throws dummy away, pulls at my top and leans in with little open-and-shut mouth at my boob to show she wants to feed

1. I offer her the breast, she takes nipple into her mouth for a brief moment and maybe starts to latch on

1. Almost immediately she unlatches and pulls her head back, slightly shaking it "no" at the same time, and grumbles/cries

1. But she won't be comforted by the dummy and still makes a few more tries at the boob, backing off right away every time

1. So I give her a cup of water instead and that does the trick, sort of (or in the case of this morning, we just got up and had breakfast)

What is going on? It does seem as if she wants to feed, but when she tries, something about it feels wrong to her. I even wondered whether it was hurting her, maybe teething or a mouth ulcer making her sensitive (but I don't think so, as she barely touches the nipple, and then takes a sip from her spouted cup with no probs; and all her other eating/drinking seems unaffected through the day).

I haven't eaten anything weird or changed my soap/lotion/detergent so I can't imagine that I would smell or taste unusual. It's just so odd.

Any ideas? I know it's not as urgent as someone having problems with a new baby but I still would love any advice, as I can tell she's still interested in the idea of feeding so I don't think it's just that she is self-weaning. If she lost interest in the breast I wouldn't force it on her but until recently, it has been a great source of comfort and soothing to her. And I don't want to lose that; at 14 months she still has no teeth (!) so I want to hang onto anything that will make it easier for her when she gets them.

DirtyMartini - It really doesn't sound like self weaning (I have had one DD self wean and DD2 is probably in the later stages of self weaning at 3.8y though I don't anticipate it happening in the next few months) it does how ever sound like a strike.

Has anything happened while your dd was bfing? Sometimes getting a fright (loud bang/dog barking/siblings shouting/etc) or if they have bitten you, you crying out or being cross with them can set a strike in motion.

Bfing while they are sleepy can help with getting over a strike, as can having a bath together or snuggling in bed skin to skin. This link has lots of other ways to get a child to cross the picket lines

lol at picket lines. No, I can think of nothing as a cause -- I just don't know what it could be. But I agree, based on what you and others have said here, it sounds like a strike. Negotiations continue :) Thank you for the link!

DS went on nursing strike a few months older than yours, and it was exactly as you describe. Happened after my first ever night away, could have been pure coincidence, but oh how guilty did I feel!

Aw, Wottinger, what a shame! I take it things turned out ok though?

So grateful for all the help here. Just to let you know (and for the benefit of anyone who finds thread later if searching on similar issues), all is now well. DD has laid down her placard and extinguished her tiny brazier - the strike is over. I still don't know what set it off but we've had good feeds for the past almost 48 hours - I actually think what helped the most was me feeling relaxed about it after all the information you gave me. We cuddled up in bed and I tried to make sure the breast was available to her but not too near her, so not being pushed at her in any way; there were a few false starts but then she did latch on and feed. Big relief (physically and emotionally).

When my dd decided to stop it was more or less immediate. No gradual slowing down or lack of interest, she just decided she didn't want to do it any more. She had her last ever breastfeed on her 1st birthday (sob!).

Congrats Dirty Martini, it' such a relief when they break a strike, I'm just glad for you it was only a 48 hour one. 2 week strikes are a killer!

Just spotted this on Analytical Armadillo which is great timing for you

Great news!

Thanks TruthSweet!

Not such good news for us DirtyMartini it went on for 3 wks, me frantically expressing whilst trying to reinitiate BFing. Eventually decided to stop the expressing, would have like to keep going but figured at 1 1/2 yrs we'd done okay

Hi I would definitely have a good look in her mouth, it could be the latching position that causes the discomfort, sounds like pain to me rather than an attitude strike.
Tam