Nursing Strike? Teething? You Decide.

Amidst all this crazy moving stuff (I'm here! Hello Atlanta!), my son has decided he doesn't like to nurse.

In the sling.

On the bed.

(Cue bad parody of Green Eggs and Ham)

Prior to moving he'd eat before his nap. I'd nurse him on the bed and if he fell asleep, I'd leave him and if he didn't, I'd put him in the crib and let him cry a bit and he'd fall asleep.

But since we left for the trip it's been terribly inconsistent and hot. So nursing in the sling at a rest stop was almost insane. And nursing before a nap laying down was impossible.

So he didn't really nurse. He wasn't upset or miserable or even hungry. I'd hand express into a sippy and he'd drink a bit of it, but nothing ravenous. I even bought formula and tried that. But that didn't work either.

Now that we're here, he's still refusing most opportunities to eat, even before naps. He will eat regular food (peas, green beans, rice cereal).

And of course he nurses fine before going to bed at night. And the other 3-4 times during the night (thought honestly, it's not as excessive as I think -- I often hear him roll around and try to latch him on and he just rolls over and goes back to sleep).

So can someone tell me what's going on? And what I need to do? He did this before when his teeth were coming in (two are in on the bottom). So, I'm thinking that might be it. And he's not starving. Nor is he unhappy.

But the worried mom in me just keeps saying EAT!

Comments

[Damselfly]

Aw. I went through that, too. Maybe he's got more teeth? Maybe he hates traveling? Maybe he misses the in-laws? ;)

[carmen]

Sometimes, when babies are this age, they are too involved in what is going on. Have you tried the "nurse in a dark room with no other activities" thing that most LC"s recommend?

Or, you could just rest easy in the fact that he's still nursing a bunch at night and making up for the missed day nursings? One of my kids, at about this time, only nursed at night. It took me a few days to adjust, but after that it was good - she gained plenty of weight. She also LOVED the solids, so I wasn't afraid she'd starve.

You could always try it and see if it works.

[Jill]

Mine went through stages where I had to bore them. If anything else was going on, they'd get distracted. He may just be out of routine and have forgotten what he used to do.

I'd offer him a chance to nurse every routine time you used to, and then relax if he doesn't want any. Just try again later. Growth spurts used to come on subtly for mine and end suddenly so I hadn't noticed them eating a lot until they quit.

[Manic Mommy]

I'm going to go with change of scenery/change of routine. If he's eating more solids (I assume breast milk in the rice cereal?), let it go.

[Tater and Tot]

Hmmm - when my oldest refused to nurse at 6 months it was because (surprise!) I was pregnant with her little sister. My hormones had changed the taste of my milk, and she didn't like it anymore.

Isn't that just a big kick in the head.

[Kristen]

Ha TnT -- I actually took a test last week.

Negative.

[Heather]

Kids, always gotta change the game!

Both of mine would go through these ebbs and flows. It all turned out ok and they came back to it in full force when they were still that young.

[beth]

sounds like all the stress from the trip, the heat, the unknown has him in a bit of a stress out perhaps..along with teeth coming in and surroundings being different..he is just feeling out of sorts, out of his normal schedule??? as long as he is getting enough solids, and nurses at night quite well and if he just tries to latch on but rolls away...don't force it. i'm not familiar with how old he is..but it sounds like his lil world has gotten out of sync, out of schedule so he is reacting to it..and then on top of it all more teeth oh how fun (not!) give him some time..and know that there has never been a nursed baby starve to death! when he finally gets settled and figures out the world he will probably come back to nursing just fine and you are gonna be so used to this schedule ur gonna have to get used to another one again..and drink more water so your milk getssome help refilling and comes back in and lets down good. ohh and with travel.. did you let yourself in the heat and humidity get dehydrated?? maybe he felt something from you in the heat or maybe milk tasted funny...

[Tater and Tot]

Oh, too bad! Maybe it was too early and you'll have to retest!