bloodybollocking nursing strike....

[wuglet]

Ds is 7mo and on nursing strike (again) for the last 48hrs.

This is his second - had a 4 day one about 5 weeks ago for no apparent reason ?teeth, this one seems to be because I drew in breath sharply when he bit me (for the 5th time in quick succession).

Main problem is that he is always fed to sleep (accidental parent yada yada)(). Last time he was on strike I really tried not to give him a bottle and just cup-fed EBM but he was an absolute nightmare to settle and TBH his sleeping has not been right since.

This time I am trying to cupfeed during the day but have given a bottle of EBM at night to help him settle - which has worked the last two nights. Am also trying to make my boobs "fun and approachable" with no success so far.

Tonight it has all gone tits up (ha) and he is still downstairs awake after 8oz EBM and 3oz cows milk (desperate!).

Not sure why I am posting....just tell me "this too will pass". Ta.

Of course it will!! At that age routines can change every 2 weeks. Don't worry, worst case senario he'll feed if he's thirsty enough. He will feed.

Just in case u r thinking why oh why did I breath in sharply its all my fault - don't be daft - When all three of mine have bitten me I shout ow and show them that I am really upset.

Don't stress it'll be fine!!

I have been through many nursing strikes with DS3 and can happily say I am still feeding (2-3 times a day) and he is 16 months.

I do think if you downplay things, leave yourself easily accessible for feeding when he feels the need and have faith, he will come back to you when he's ready.

I don't think it is a bad idea to give alternative milk, especially if he isn't eating much other food yet. Often a nursing strike (from my extensive research on this ) is stimulated by illness or - as you say - an emotional reaction from you. If the blood sugar gets low or they are ill however, it becomes increasingly difficult to get them to feed. If he's having other food to keep him going, perhaps the EBM/cows milk is not so necessary, though you probably would need to give water if it's a long time. But otherwise, I think getting some milk into them helps actually. I gave bottles of EBM and sometimes formula and STILL went back to feeding. I expressed when I could to keep the supply up.

I have tried playing games and tickling with boobs out, lots of cuddles, and lots of sitting there nonchalantly with a nipple available as if I'm doing something else until he got the idea. The longest strike was about 5 days and was awful... But it completely went back to normal after that. He is prone to it though and even now has 'ishoos' with food I think...

Well he is still at it stubborn little geezer.

Not worried about his calorie intake he eats plenty and is a little chubber so has plenty of stores to rely on. Trying to keep up his fluid as last strike he ended up a bit constipated - he does take a cup/beaker reasonably well but obviously isn't getting anywhere near as much as when he is BF normally.

It's the sleeping that is bugging me. Since his last strike he had got in to the soul destroying habit of going to sleep normally at 6-7pm then waking up 30min to 2 hr later and just not settling at all until after midnight. He could then sleep for the rest of the night no problem (even till midday once!) so he can self-settle. I decided to just ride it out after trying a few tactics that seemed to be making it worse and for the last few nights he has been much better.....and now this!

I'm sure some people my mum think this would be an ideal time to break the "feed to sleep" habit but it normally works so well, did it with DD too until she was 15mo. Luckily neither of them tend to wake much in the night (well he does but is only 1 waking, just happens to be for several hours at a time!).

Will just keep plodding on - was 4 days last time so hoping will be similar this time...