Baby on nursing strike

[Rosiep10]

My 9 month old has been EBF since birth but was ill and teething over the weekend and is refusing to feed. He just bites my nipple and then screams, he doesn't even attempt to latch on. I think his teeth are hurting and am giving him everything you can for that but he's not ill any more. I feel disproportionately upset about this - he's my last baby and I wanted to keep feeding him as long as possible. I've read the advice from La Leche League and am pumping to keep up my supply and feeding him expressed milk from a cup but I wanted to ask for any success stories from people who survived a nursing strike and went on to continue breastfeeding - what worked for you and how long did it take?

Both mine did this around 9/10 months. It's very stressful and anxiety provoking feeling as though your going to get bitten!

Express to keep your supply up and just keep offering the breast. Watch for signs of them getting bored and take off before they bite. Breast compressions help.

My first would bite at the end of a feed once fine. DD bit at the beginning and I could only feed her at night when she was more relaxed. I had t fed her for months at night before then so it was annoying but both went back to feeding normally after 7-10 days and I fed them until 2 years without issue.

Thank you - that is helpful and reassuring! I've been feeling a bit rejected tbh! I hope we may get back to it with some persistence. My husband says maybe he's just gone off breastmilk and we should give him formula but I don't think I'm buying that one.