Self weaning or breast feeding strike?

DS5 is 10.5 months and has refused to be breastfed for nearly 48 hours now. He will latch on, suck two or three times then smile at me and pull away and go off and play?!

He had hand, foot and mouth last week and has been fine since about Friday. He did bite me whilst feeding a few times last week and I simply stopped him feeding and tried again after a few minutes. If he did it again I assumed he wasn't interested in feeding and let him go and play and he was fine with that.

I'm just wondering what I should do. I expressed milk and he had a bit in a sippy cup (maybe 30mls). He has never taken a bottle and wasn't interested when I tried that tonight either. Do I just keep expressing when I normally feed him for a few more days and see what happens? He eats cheese and yogurt and whatever we're eating I share with him so he has a varied diet but doesn't eat a lot of food as such. Weight is no probs as he's 11.5kg at the moment but after five kids I have never had one strike so not sure what to do. Oh and milk production is not a problem :)

Hi Sorka,

Ahh, feeding strikes! Gotta love them! It unlikely that he is self-weaning at 10.5 months, especially if he doesn't eat a lot of food. Many mums find their babies easily distracted around this age by the world around them, it is possible he is just too busy, especially with four older brothers! I'd suggest persisting for the next few days and yes expressing when he would normally feed. It is great that your supply is good, so this little strike shouldn't effect things too much. Most babies will find their way back onto the breast if you just keep offering and don't stress out about it, which it sounds like you're not :)

My DS1 went on a strike around the same age too and I was a bit upset by it, but he came back and we continued on for another year or so :)

Hang in there!

My little boy is 8 months and he will not feed during the day unless I take him to the bedroom and lie down in the dark and feed him. He is so distracted and if we are out anywhere he won't feed all day unless I put him in the ergo with the hood on. He makes up for it overnight when he has y fed during the day. Do you find he feeds more at night?

That's the thing though - he won't feed overnight either. He wakes up once or twice a night and I offer every time but one suck and then he turns away and wants to twirl my hair or pick my nose - anything but drink.

I have been feeding him in his room or in my feeding chair - same place I always have as he has never been one to eat when anyone is even in the same room. DH had taken the boys out of the house over the weekend but it made no difference to him.

Not so much breast refusal but more breast disinterest! He used to feed to sleep of a night time too and that was the only way he would sleep. The last two nights I've just ended up cuddling him then putting him to bed and he protested for a minute then went to sleep.

He doesn't even seem to notice that he hasn't had a feed either not overly cranky and doesn't try to feed through my shirt like he used to either :)

Hmm hopefully someone who has experienced the same thing can offer some advice. Have you tried Pinky, she might have some info or the ABA? Good luck.

Thanks Babylove and OceanPrincess. I have a dr appt for him tomorrow to check his hand foot and mouth has cleared up so will get them to check his throat, etc and make sure he's ok health wise. He seems fine and is happy so u guess its more my problem than his! Will see what tonight brings...

Is there a chance you could be pregnant? Sometimes AF can effect things too.

Hi, At 10.5 mnths he won’t be self weaning - to young for that. (Unless as Eenee says, you are pregnant) Calm persistance will win out if you want to keep feeding. Always offer,; never refuse, and don’t take offence if he declines. Often they will take a dream feed if you pick him up before you go to bed. Often after/during an illness they can have symptoms that are not obvious so they seem well to us, but still might be uncomfortable. In all liklihood he will look up at you in a couple of days as though nothing has happened and he doesn’t know why you are so anxious