Help! Baby refusing milk feeds in the day

[Obsidian]

My 5.5 month old has been taking shorter and shorter bf during the day for maybe 6 weeks (and feeding loads at night while very sleepy). For the last week, he’s practically refusing feeds altogether. He latches on enthusiastically, feeds for maybe 30-45 seconds, then pushes away, arches back, screams, and won’t have any more. WE HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING. Including different positions, different environments, ebf, formula, different bottles. He’s definitely hungry / thirsty (as miserable / distressed a lot of the time), but something seems to be stopping him feeding.

Does this sound like reflux? Teething? Have tried ibuprofen and anbesol but makes no difference. Getting desperate now, as I’m struggling with oversupply, and LO is miserable all day. He’s not losing weight, as feeds so much overnight, and has started solids (which he loves), but we can’t go on like this. I’m tearful all the time as feel like I can’t meet his needs, and he cries whenever he’s with me (presumably because he’s trying to tell me he’s hungry, but something is stopping him feeding).

Going to HV and GP today, but keep getting fobbed off with stuff we’ve already tried. Are there any experts out there who could help???

Why won’t he feed? What could be stopping him / causing him pain??

TIA

It sounds like typical development as he's noticing the world and getting distracted.

Ps. He’s always been a very sicky baby, so definitely some kind of reflux stuff going on. We’ve tried Gaviscon but hasn’t done much, and he’s now constipated - I guess through lack of liquid in the day? Would ranitidine be worth a try? Or any other kind of reflux medication??

Gaviscon is renowned for causing constipation

I don't have any experience with reflux really. DS was sicky at times but it resolved as he got older- some degree is normal

Thanks for the advice arbrighton

He possibly is distracted, or teething, or suffering from reflux related pain - we just can’t work it out. HV and GP were no help really. Not interested in investigating further as he’s otherwise healthy / gaining weight etc. Just miserable and not feeding in the day.

As we’ve had no practical advice, I feel like the only thing I can do is stop breastfeeding him, as my supply is messed up now anyway, and I think my mental health is at risk if I carry on trying to battle with him to feed. If this is a nursing strike, it’s broken me. Trying to stay positive but feeling a bit sad that this has been forced on me before I was ready.

Anyone else experienced similar at 5/6 months?

Hi
I’ve been going through exactly the same with my baby who is now almost 6 months old. I saw my health visitor this week and she weighed him and he is putting on weight really nicely. I told her that he breastfeeds really well in the morning, having feeds at around 4am,7am and 10am. Then he really protests if I try and breastfeed him, particularly if we’re out of the house. He then feeds nicely in the late afternoon and evening when we’re at home but only if we’re in a quiet room. I started him on solids at 5 months because he’s been grabbing food and putting it in his mouth. He loves solids but I’ve been limiting how much I’ve been giving him because he’s a bit young yet. When he has solids I let him rinse his mouth with water but again tried not to give him very much water because I thought he should be having milk instead. He’d be really grumpy and shout at me when I didn’t give him more but he’d still refuse to breastfeed.

My health visitor was really helpful. She told me to listen to what he’s telling me. He’s ready for more food so I should really ramp up the solids in the daytime and try and include lots of dairy. She also told me not to worry about giving him water if he wants it. He needs at least a pint of milk a day but he’ll be getting that in morning and evening plus extra in his food. So I went away and followed her advice and it’s like I’ve got a different baby! He’s so much happier and he’s started sleeping for longer stretches at night. Today he went 7 hours without a breastfeed but he ate loads of food and had water then had a couple of massive breastfeeds before bedtime.

Apologies this is such an essay but I hope you find it useful

Ah reverse cycling.

My DD did this. HV said is was fine as long as she was getting enough in 24 hours and was weeing/pooing and putting on weight.

She was diagnosed at dairy intolerant at 11 months. She can’t tolerate even step one of the milk ladder at 2 yrs. I suspect this was related.

@Obsidian hi! Old post, I’m aware, so bit of a stab in the dark but seems like I’m in a similar position with my boob refuser!

how did things turn out for you?