21wk old doesn't want to feed

[burstingbug]

DS2 is 21wks and exclusively breast fed. Over the past 2 days he seems really uninterested in feeding, he'll suck a few times before turning his head and crying, even after 3-4 hrs of not having any feeds. He must be hungry after several hours surely?
He is generally only a 5 - 10 minute feeder anyway. His weight is good - 17lbs 1 oz last week.
I'm at a loss as what to do.

no advice burstingbug but I am having EXACTLY the same problem with my ds (22wks) over the past week. I had wondered if it was a flare-up of his reflux or something (he is on ranitidine and had been much better). Can't figure it out, but I do know he is much more distracted these days. Hoping it is just a phase...

Thanks 2labs, hope it is a phase, my ds also has reflux which has been bad lately. Maybe it is related,

Possibly teething? Some babies seem to like to suck more when they are, and others less. Guess it depends exactly where the pain is. He doesn't have to have red cheeks and be dribbling to be teething - my dd had none of the traditional signs when she got her first 2 teeth (the only ones she has so far).

Maybe try him with some baby nurofen half an hour before feed time and then see if he is more amenable to feeding.

He does have a grey line on his bottom gum, but has done for ages now. He isn't drooling that much but does try and chew his hands and my shoulders!

Unfortunately teething doesn't always mean the tooth is imminent. They could just be having a shuffle under the gums, which will die down again and make you wonder forever if it was teething or not! Such a lot of guesswork in early parenting!

they are tinkers these babies! My son has reflux and would go through times of just not wanting to eat much at all and would refuse the bottle ... offer BF little and often and a few days of not eating too much won't be an issue. Also teething can affect their eating even if you don't see a tooth for months yet ...

Bless him, he's still not feeding much. I keep trying him when he is asleep in hope that he'll feed as he's not worked up and screaming.