Looking for some reassurance - DS is poorly and refusing to nurse

[broguemum]

DS is 14 months old and is a poorly wee lad today. He's got a nasty bug and has been running a 39 degree temperature most of today. He's not been eating or nursing and the only thing he has done much of is to drink water and not much of that really TBH.
It's been two days now and I'm just a bit worried that he will have self weaned himself by the time he gets better. I don't want to stop yet.... He's still just a baby. Whenever I offer he just looks at me and crawls off. I feel so crap - I always used to be able to make it all better for him by feeding and now he's stopped.
Any views anyone?

Awww bless.
Mot sure what to say but AFAIK your supply will take quite some time to dry up. Could it be a nursing strike? I've read a bit on those, though no experience of it myself!

self weaning is just that-self weaning-if he doesn't want to feed then why force him? My daughter self weaned at 13months and to be honest it took the decision away from me and i am glad she did as i just don't know when we'd have stopped-you've done more than enough getting this far don't you think?

Not sure what a nursing strike actually is TBH. Haven't seen any placards so I think it's just that he is so poorly ATM.

But if he stops because he's poorly is that really self-weaning? I get your point though sleeplessinstretford and if he does self wean then I shall just congratulate myself on getting this far.

I think what worries me the most is that I know BF would be good for him especially since he is hardly eating anything at all.

Here is a link about nursing strikes. It's mainly about younger babies, but some of the advice may help. If I were you I'd keep offering in a relaxed way because he may start feeding again when he feels better. Hope he's ok soon

Thanks for the links - very interesting. Will try again tomorrow morning and see what happens.

good luck,not being negative but my little one used to go through days of not eating (you know how it is yourself) have you checked his tonsils/ears aren't infected as swallowing and sucking can be hard if they've got sore ears/throat-drinking water is easier i guess? it takes more than a day or two of not feeding though for you to dry up

well, no problem feeding last night - he must have fed 3 or 4 times but he was half asleep and burning up with fever each time. Seemed a bit better today and no longer interested in feeding. Bizarre. Will see how he is tomorrow and perhaps go back to the doctor again as 3 days without eating well is not like my DS at all.