Why baby refusing breast

Your baby is uncomfortable or in pain. Your baby is having trouble attaching. Your baby is overstimulated, overtired or distracted, which is normal in older babies. Your milk tastes different, possibly because you are taking medication, are experiencing hormonal changes you might be about to have a period again , or have eaten something unusual. Your milk flow is faster or slower to let down than usual. Your baby might have a strong preference for one breast.

Your baby is full after having other foods or drinks. Breast refusal: options You might want to try the following to get your baby on the breast : Relax and be as patient as you can. Try baby-led attachment. Try a new feeding position — see our illustrated guide to breastfeeding positions. This might encourage your baby to feed.

If he has just been refusing the breast and is upset, distract him by doing something completely different - a walk outdoors, looking at toys, singing a nursery rhyme.

When he has settled down he may be eased on to the breast, or he may be happier just being cuddled. Walk around with your baby in an upright position against your body with her head level with your nipple. Walk and feed simultaneously. You could try putting your baby in a baby sling but remember to have your bra undone so that her face is touching the skin of your breast and she can find your nipple.

The sling will need to be worn lower than normal for this purpose. Try a completely different feeding position : your baby tucked under your arm twin style ; or lying down on a bed next to your baby with no body contact - this is especially good if it is very hot, or your baby is sensing your tension; or lying down with your baby cuddled in close next to you.

Feeding your baby while you are both in the bath may help. You may want to have someone available to help you lift your baby in and out of the bath. Try breastfeeding baby after his bath when he is warm and relaxed if he likes baths. You could try playing with your baby on the floor while you are bare from the waist up.

After some time gradually offer your breast. Anticipate your baby's waking time and lift her to feed while still sleepy - you may slip in extra night feeds this way. Try to soothe baby with a dummy. Walking, singing and rocking while baby sucks the dummy may gradually soothe him so you can gently put your baby to the breast while removing the dummy.

It may be necessary to start a very hungry baby sucking on a bottle with a small amount of expressed breastmilk, e. Some mothers, whose babies have become accustomed to a bottle, have found that putting ice wrapped in a flannel on the nipple or tickling the nipple and areola makes it easier for the baby to grasp.

Alternatively, you may use a nipple shield to begin a feed , slipping if off quickly and putting your baby back to the breast once the milk is flowing and she is sucking happily. Feed in a rocking chair. Express some milk into your baby's open mouth to encourage him. Spend five minutes or so before the feed massaging your baby's naked body to relax her, if she is receptive to this. Try singing to your baby - he probably won't mind if it is the same few lines over and over.

Try playing some favourite relaxing background music. Once you get your baby on to the breast, it may help to provide an instant milk reward. This can be done with a breastfeeding supplementer. Breastfeeding will almost always get back to normal with a little time. Getting over the nursing strike and getting your baby back to the breast takes patience and persistence.

Get medical attention if an illness or injury seems to have caused the strike. See if you can get some extra help with your household chores and any older children so that you can spent lots of time with the baby.

Try to relax and concentrate on making breastfeeding a pleasant experience. Stop and comfort your baby if he or she gets upset when you try to nurse. Extra cuddling, stroking, and skin-to-skin contact with the baby can help you re-establish closeness. Additionally, these time-tested suggestions have helped many nursing parents overcome a nursing strike. You may consider feeding by cup, spoon, eyedropper, or syringe while you work on getting him back to the breast. You might feed baby by bottle, making sure to practice paced bottle feeding.

Tilting a bottle or using fast-flow nipples can sometimes confuse baby and bring on a nursing strike. Try to keep in mind, this could all be over in a day or two. While baby is refusing breast, you need to extract your milk as often as baby has been nursing. Some moms find hand expression to be effective, while others rely on pumping. Not only does this practice protect your supply, it also saves you from potential clogged ducts or mastitis.

Take one hour at a time. Be gentle with yourself. Finally, if this strike goes on and days turn into weeks, this may signal the end of your nursing journey. Please recognize what a gift you have given your child! Not to mention hormonal changes as your milk supply diminishes. Take care of yourself and manage the weaning carefully to avoid clogged ducts or mastitis. This is yet another step in your motherhood journey.

Congratulate yourself on your breastfeeding effort! For best printing results, open the llli. Although you can view the site well in any browser, printing from other browsers might not operate correctly. Click the Print button that is displayed on the web page not the Print command on the browser menu or toolbar. This opens the browser print window.