Nursing Strike

A nursing strike is a time when the baby is refusing the breast for an unknown reason before one year old.

If your child has refused more than 1 feeding in a row and is under 12 months old, it is likely a nursingstrike. NOT self-weaning. It is my opinion, that a child will not naturally self wean prior to one year. Often this does occur, but is likely a result of those babies being supplemented with bottle feeds. Rarely does an exclusively breastfed (no bottles or sippy cups) baby self wean prior to a year.

baby sleeping

A baby can refuse the breast due to teething, ear infections, thrush, milk changes (from mom menstruating or working out), 9 month growth spurt or due to a multitude of other reasons. Whatever the reason for breast refusal, here are some tips to help you make it through and resume breastfeeding:
  • Pump to maintain your supply: stay on the same feeding schedule as baby. Use a good pump
  • Keep offering the breast - reduce stimuli (dark room)
  • Offer expressed breastmilk feeds as needed
  • Have your child evaluated by your primary care physician

A breastfeeding strike usually resolves on its own within 24 hours. Hang in there, dont give up.

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