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.

• 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.

Back from Nursing Strike to Special Situations page

Back from Nursing Strike to askthelactationconsultant.com