help! 9 month old on a nursing strike

[SoggySemolina]

For no apparent reason, my just 9 month old decided this afternoon that she doesn't want to breastfeed. She fed first thing this morning as usual but refused to go near my nipple after her nap and also before bed. I managed to give her a bottle of formula this afternoon but she refused the bottle tonight.

She does have a cold at the moment and seems to have been teething with top teeth for weeks but doesn't seem in pain today. She is usually a very enthusiastic feeder.

She has an enormous appetite for food so not worried about hunger but don't feel ready to give up bf yet! Never had this problem with my first child so at a loss as to why this is happening and what to do about it. I recently gave my Breast pump to a friend because I could never get to grips with it. Should I get it back?

Any advice?

Ta muchly.

Have you tried feeding her when she is very drowsy ie drifting off to sleep or just coming round - ds4 had a nursing strike at 8.5 months and after a couple of days he did latch on as he dozed.

Thanks. Reassuring to know it might not be permanent. The successful morning feed was when she was very drowsy so may be why it worked. Will try to get her sleepy before last feed of the day tomorrow to see if it helps.

Anyone else with suggestions?

From what I've read bf babies don't self wean before 12 months. I've been though this a couple of times with DS. The first was around 4months. I was so upset, felt like he was rejecting me. I can't pump much milk out and I got engorged. He did start again about 24 hours later, but only on one side. Later the following day I noticed that his glands were raised behind his ear and I think that the way I was holding him, with his head resting on my arm was causing him discomfort. All I needed to do was change position to the football hold and he fed happily.

The second time was following a biting incident. I screamed out and frightened him. Again it was about 24 hours before I could get him interested again. I ended up making a game of it - sort of poking his face with my nipple and making a funny noise (the things we do as parents). This broke the ice and he was back on there.

I think the advice is to keep offering but not pressurise them. If she's refusing the bottle too it might be that something hurts when she feeds or she's coming down with something. Have you try giving her calpol to see if it helps?