A mama friend of mine recently reached out to me with concerns about her 11 month old who was suddenly refusing to nurse. Mama was feeling heartbroken and was worried that the breastfeeding relationship might be over! I shared with her that my youngest child went through a short period of time when he stopped nursing and that I, too, had similar fears. Thank goodness for both of us, it was just temporary, as true nursing strikes are.
So, what is a nursing strike?
A nursing strike is a period of time (typically 2-4 days, but can go up to 9-10 days) when a breastfeeding child abruptly stops breastfeeding. *By comparison, a baby who is truly ready to wean will almost always do so gradually, over a period of weeks or months, and not so suddenly.
Nursing strikes can be distressing for both mama and baby and can occur as a result of many factors:
Pain, illness, or discomfort: The baby may be experiencing pain or discomfort while nursing due to issues such as teething, an ear infection, a stuffy nose, or a mouth sore. While not painful, the baby may also notice if mama recently changed her deodorant, soap, perfume, lotion, etc. and it is bothersome to him/her..
Changes in routine: Changes in the baby's routine, such as starting daycare or a parent returning to work, can disrupt nursing patterns and lead to a nursing strike.
Milk supply issues: If the baby is not getting enough milk or if there are changes in the breast milk supply, the baby may refuse to nurse.
Overstimulation: Babies can become overstimulated or distracted during breastfeeding, especially as they become more aware of their surroundings.
Nipple confusion: Introducing bottles or pacifiers too early can sometimes cause nipple confusion, leading to a nursing strike.
As in the case of my friend, it’s not always easy to quickly determine the cause of a nursing strike. Particularly with young babies who do not yet clearly communicate, mama sometimes has to play detective to figure out how to solve the case.
Determining the cause
A good first step to take when a child suddenly stops nursing is to simply observe. Does your baby try to latch and then stop? Does he/she wince, cry, or show any symptoms that may indicate pain or discomfort? Are there any other signs or symptoms such as a fever, trouble breathing out of his/her nose, visible sores, or swollen gums/teeth popping through? Does your baby put his/her hand anywhere to indicate a specific location of discomfort (e.g., reaching toward an ear)? On occasion, a baby may even be frightened by a reaction mama previously had when he/she bit her while nursing.
Outside of illness/pain/discomfort, is your baby showing signs of overstimulation or distractibility? It is typical for babies around 4-6 months to become increasingly distracted which can interfere with their concentration to breastfeeding. Babies at this age start to become more aware of the environment around them and many noises can distract them from feeding. Everyday noise from your phone, television, people in the room and pets may distract your feeding baby and he/she may not want to return to the breast.Â
The next step may be to think about your and your baby’s breastfeeding routines. Have there been any big changes to the typical nursing schedule such as mama returning to work or being at daycare for longer periods of time? Has there been an increase in bottle feeding? Similarly, has mama been nursing or pumping enough to maintain milk supply and/or has there been a notable change in mama’s milk supply? For some women, milk supply can be impacted by pregnancy, as well as during ovulation or menstruation.Â
Working through these questions can be helpful in leading you toward pinning down the reason for the strike. Next up? How to resolve it!
How to encourage the return to regular breastfeeding
Inevitably, identifying the underlying cause of the nursing strike is priority one. Once the cause has been determined, it will obviously be much easier to work toward a solution. Lactation consultants and counselors are great resources during nursing strikes and guidance may not require a face-to-face meeting. If illness or injury appear to be the cause, it may also be wise to seek medical care from a trusted healthcare provider.Â
If routine changes are a factor, your baby may be feeling anxious or unsettled as a result. As such, it may be a good time to offer comfort, cuddles, and reassurance to help your baby feel secure and relaxed. As much as possible, try to maintain consistency in his/her feeding and nursing routine, even with the change in schedule. Stick to regular feeding times and try to create a predictable routine around breastfeeding. If possible, try to nurse your baby before and after daycare or your work hours to ensure they get enough breastfeeding sessions during the day. This can help maintain your milk supply and keep your baby comfortable with nursing.
When at home, aim to create a calm, comfortable, and familiar environment for breastfeeding sessions. Minimize distractions and noise to help the baby focus on nursing. Offering skin-to-skin contact can help promote bonding and relaxation, making the baby more receptive to breastfeeding. Spend time holding your baby skin-to-skin before attempting to nurse. Avoid showing frustration or anxiety, as this can affect the baby's willingness to nurse.Â
You can also experiment with different nursing positions to find one that is comfortable for both you and your baby. Some babies may prefer nursing while lying down, while others may prefer the traditional cradle hold or football hold. You can even use gentle breast compression during breastfeeding to help encourage milk flow and keep the baby interested in nursing. Try gently squeezing your breast while the baby is latched on to encourage swallowing. You may also consider nursing your baby when he/she is asleep, just awakening, or is very drowsy. Since breastfeeding is a survival behavior for babies, sometimes they revert to feeding well at these times.
Don’t forget to maintain your milk supply!
If your baby continues to refuse nursing, it's essential to maintain your milk supply by expressing milk regularly. You can use a breast pump or hand expression to empty your breasts and provide milk for your baby. Depending on your baby’s age and if he/she is exclusively breastfed, you may wish to consider alternative feeding methods such as cup feeding, spoon feeding, or syringe feeding to provide expressed breast milk while working to resolve the nursing strike.
Remember, true nursing strikes are temporary
Resolving a nursing strike often takes time, patience, and persistence, so be gentle with yourself and your baby throughout the process. With support, most breastfeeding strikes can be successfully resolved, allowing you and your baby to continue enjoying the benefits of breastfeeding.
I must say, however, if a baby’s strike persists for more than a week or more, it may signal the end of your breastfeeding journey. And while it’s easier said than done, if your baby seems to be done, I encourage you to be grateful for the time you were able to nurse your baby and to congratulate yourself on getting as far as you did. Your baby is lucky for the milk he/she has gotten up to this point!
If you find yourself in the middle of a nursing strike or need any breastfeeding support, please reach out to see if Latch on to Language can be of assistance to you!
At Latch on to Language, I specialize in working with moms, moms-to-be, and babies. I offer in-home services to clients in Cecil County, MD, and nearby towns/cities in MD, PA, and DE. Additional travel fees apply to locations beyond this area. Virtual sessions are also effective and can be provided to address many lactation concerns.
If you're struggling with a nursing strike or any other lactation issue or you’d simply like more information, please reach out to see if Latch on to Language may be a good fit! I look forward to working with you! 🌟
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