Baby 3.5 months old feed ONLY after naps half asleep

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I have been doing this for 3 months now - feeding after nap times. It makes my day completely dependant on his nap times - if I am late 5 minutes after nap time - DS will not feed and I have to wait for another nap... He does not take the breast between nap times - even if he is crying and hungry he still does not take it - he just takes his dummy and I have to wait after nap time. Anyone else had similar issues? I thought it was a phase, but now when it is 3.5 months like that - will I always be dependant on his nap times and catching the right time?

Have you considered removing the dummy?

we decided on a dummy when he was 7 weeks - he did not want the breast before nap times but wanted to suckle. I would offer the breast - he would go on a breast and then come off straight away crying - so I assumed that because there was probably milk coming out..he wanted just to suckle without milk ( my theory). I offer the breast frequently, but he prefers dummy for comfort. he did not know the dummy at that time and he showed his preference not to suckle on the breast for comfort ... I know that dummies interfere with feeding, for sure. But I am trying to use dummy for comfort...unless he got used to it too much?

MigGril, I often offer the breast to DS, but he turns his head and screams - showing he does not want it. Today I expressed and gave in a bottle some of milk as I have a feeling is is impatient to wait for milk at a breast and he is not the baby who will scream for feeds- he will moan and then go to sleep, so I am just worried whether he has enough milk. he has just 3-4 wet nappies a day ( it used to be 5-6) and now I can see some change is happening. I am reducing the use of dummy.

It almost sounds like he's having a bit of a nursing strike. Have you come across kellymom website. there is a good section on nursing strike.

I also think that due to the reduced nappy count and not being able to see what's going on some real life help would be a good idea. Do you have a local breastfeeding group, they are often held in the local Childrens centre. Or a phone call to one of the help lines. I think the LLL one is open late at night and the others all run over the weekend to. NCT, BfN or the national breastfeeding helpline.

I have contacted La leche and was advised to express after feeds and also to reduce the dummy. I actually did not give him a dummy at all today. I just think the followig reasons:

1. silent reflux - painful when drinking milk?
2. nursing strike
3. slow let down

Not sure how to differentiate nursing strike from slow let down? Today he went on breast and then pulled off straight away - I had a feeling he did not want to wait for the let down...

I feel so frustrated and do not know what to make out of this situation...please help me with your ideas...

If he's getting upset at the breast when you try to feed him. Then you could try skin to skin contact between feeds, help to reassure him its a nice warm place to be.

If he gets fussy then take him away and charm him down before trying again. You don't want to reinforce the upset behaviour at the breast.

Are you still giving a bottle?

Have you had a read of the kellymom website at all there is a really good section on nursing strikes.

I gave him 2 bottles yesterday and today and I ordered a doidy cup - then I will try to give expressed milk in a cup or a beaker. will have a look on nursing strikes. how to differentiate a nursing strike from an issue of a slow let down? I am still not sure what is going on...

I think slow letdown can lead to a nursing strike. But it could just be himfavouring the faster flow of the bottle. Either way lots odd skin to skin contact, allowing him to hang out at the breast. will help in both cases a skin to skin will help you're hormone release by relaxing you and him.

I will try skin to skin. if I want to give extra milk - is it better a cup or beaker? I have got a Tomme Tippee beaker with the lid and there is a hard spout with 2 holes. is it the right beaker?

Yes that's a free floor beaker. Fee flows just mean the when you to them up the milk just pours out no sucking needed.

is the beaker better than a bottle in terms of my desperation to carry on with bf? DS2 is now 4 months old exactly.