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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Why is my 10 month old refusing to feed?

11 replies

marthaplatypus · 22/03/2006 20:55

My second daughter has been breastfed (only) for the past 10 months. On Tuesday, out of the blue, she refused to feed... and she hasn't fed since. Any time I try, she squirms away and starts crying. I am hoping it is something to do with teething as her 2nd and 3rd teeth have broken through in the past week, but she is not showing any signs of discomfort. She isn't starting to feed and then breaking off in pain. She isn't even starting.

I am fully prepared to stop breastfeeding now but I just don't understand why she is reacting this way. And she is not replacing her feeds with formula or even water - she simply takes a few sips. I have tried expressing, formula and water - in various cups. The most successful has been using a syringe but the novelty factor is wearing off and it's rather laborious.

She has a bit of a cold (only a runny nose) but is eating well and seems happy (unless I try to feed her!)

Has anyone else had a similar experience or have any helpful tips? I'd be very grateful to hear!
Thanks

OP posts:

lazycow · 23/03/2006 15:54

If she won't feed at all it may be a breastfeeding strike. I'm no epert but you could try looking at www.kellymom.com. If you use the search function for breastfeeding strike there is a load of useful information about this.

(sorry I'm no good at links)

Original poster

marthaplatypus · 23/03/2006 16:13

What a great site, lazycow. I'm going to trawl through it later. Thank you so much!

OP posts:

koolkat · 23/03/2006 16:29

martha - how often is she fed solids ? Sometimes overfeeding solids can lead to a lack of interest in bf.

It is VERY unusual and I would say well nigh impossible for an excl. bf baby to self-wean under the age of 1.

If they do there is usually an external factor causing it: i.e. introduction of formula, too many solids too often during the day, not offering the breast frequently enough, etc...

Might she have thrush ? Both teething and thrush can lead to (short-term) breast refusual.

kellymom.com in excellent if you want to continue to bf.

Spatz · 23/03/2006 19:55

bump

Original poster

marthaplatypus · 23/03/2006 20:25

Thanks koolkat. She feeds well but is not over-feeding, I don't think. From a quick scan of the kellymom site, I wonder whether it might be an association thing. She has nipped me a couple of times recently and I have yelped. I hope not though... I'd feel bad.
I'll look up the info on thrush - I hadn't thought of that. Grateful for your thoughts.

OP posts:

Lilliput · 23/03/2006 20:46

My dd did exactly the same thing when she was 10 months. I was beside myself as she was a pretty bad eater as well, she went off food and then boob and it was a struggle to get even a ounce of formula into her. She still slept well and met all her development milestones so looking back I shouldn't have worried as much as I did. My ds just all of a sudden stopped breastfeeding at 13 months, and that was that. The one time he did go on after his strike he looked at me as if I was trying to poison him and it was the most repulsive thing ever. It's all pretty hurtful at the time but I do think you do have to follow their lead and tell yourself you have done a brilliant job breastfeeding for 10 months.

koolkat · 23/03/2006 20:53

martha - good luck if it turns out to be thrush I am the self-appointed thrush expert on MN look up my name in the archives for tips to deal with thrush.

spidermama · 23/03/2006 21:03

It sounds very like a nursing strike. My ds did this just before he was one. I coaxed him back eventually but it was a tough five days for both of us.

\link{http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBstrikes.html\La leche league} have lots of info on this. There are also a couple of threads in the archive recently (mine included) with info about what to do.

I spent loads of one on one time with him, skin to skin, in the bath etc. One day he just came back of his own accord and I literally cried with relief. Having fed my three others into toddlerhood the strike had really taken me by surprise.

If it's thrush and her mouth is sore that's a different matter. If it were that sore I would think you would be able to see the thrush in her mouth which would show as a white coating or as white spots which don't go away when rubbed.

The Breastfeeding Network has great stuff on thrush (probably on strikes too come to think of it.)

Either way, best of luck with it. Hang in (assuming you want to continue feeding) and express to keep your supply up.

If you want to CAT me for any more info you're more than welcome. (I had thrush too btw with the same ds. Ouch!)

Best wishes.

dinny · 23/03/2006 21:11

My ds did the same at probably the same age - v stressful! A bf counsellor told me to try feeding him standing up and kind of latching him on when he wasn't expecting it. That did work wuite well during his strike, which probably lasted a week or so. Seemed AGES though. All the best to you.

koolkat · 23/03/2006 21:15

I lied - spidermama is the thrush expert on MN - I have read her stuff on other threads, she knows what she is talking about

I really, really hope it's just a strike martha, you can get them back on though with a bit of effort.

Original poster

marthaplatypus · 24/03/2006 14:46

Thanks everyone. Just relieved there are others out there who have been through a similar experience. I'd never heard of a 'strike' before and my health visitor certainly didn't mention it. I'm not sure I'll ever know why dd stopped bf but at least I don't feel so concerned about it now. Very grateful for your tips!

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