Nursing Strike
By wmaharper
@wmaharper (2316)
United States
March 31, 2007 6:56am CST
My almost seven month old, has decided he would rather not nurse. I can get him to take 2 full feedings a day, if I fight him, but it's becoming almost impossible to get him to take more. Initially I thought it was my milk supply, but have been pumping, and I've concluded it's him. He was just at the doctor a couple of weeks ago, and he checked his ears because he was doing this then, but he didn't have an infection. My oldest did this when he was 9 months old, decided he wouldn't nurse, and weaned himself, I'm worried that the seven month old is doing the same. Usually, the only way I can get him to nurse is to take him into his room, shut the door, turn off the lights and turn up the music to block any noise his brother may be making, then I have to hold him down (while he's arching his back and screaming bloody murder at me) until he latches on, then he'll nurse. He is the most stubborn little baby I have ever met. Yesterday, he decided he wouldn't nurse after his first nap. I knew he was hungry, it had been 4 hours since he had eaten. I eventually fed him some baby food, but he was still grumpy and wouldn't go down for his second nap. Well not only did he not nurse, but he refused to sleep (probably because he was hungry) and skipped his nap completely. Finally I got him to take a bottle at least, but only because he didn't have to lay down to eat it. He could hold it and sit up and still look around. Has anyone else had to deal with this? with my first, I just let him wean himself, but I'd rather keep this one nursing as long as possible. Any tips?
1 response
@dramaqn (1990)
• United States
31 Mar 07
Youar 7month old is doing just that.. weening himself. Don'f force him. Just like with a bottle and pacifier, when they are done they are done. Remember he is human and has his own personality. If you are just concerned about the nutrients from your milk, just pump and put in a bottle. You chose to nurse your child for a reason and that child has chosen to ween himself, but that doesnt mean you can't still give him the milk. Don't make an issue out of this for the child, it's probably the one time when we as mothers should accept their fickle ways of eating, why? because you didn't have to cook it and they waste it. Really, it's OK. Just put it in a bottle. This way you both get what you want. This is just a sign of his independence. And PLEASE... do not hold him down while screaming to nurse, you or no other mother would do that if you were trying to give him a bottle. Remember everything we go through as children does have some affect on us as teens and adults. SO I PLEAD WITH YOU... DO NOT FORCE HIM TO NURSE
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
31 Mar 07
Well, the only reason I ever force him to nurse is because I know he is hungry, He is easily distracted, which is why he is arching his back and yelling, he wants to go play, if he even hears his brother talking, he refuses to nurse... He wants to go out and play with his brother, and forgets that he needs to eat.. until he's grumpy and cranky. I don't hurt him when I make him latch on, and if he didn't want to nurse, he wouldn't stay latched on and eat a full feeding. Thanks for your response though.
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
1 Apr 07
Actually yes, when he recieves a bottle, because I cannot get him to nurse, there is usually a struggle there too. I think a lot of it has to do with this stage, he just started crawling yesterday, and he has been quite grouchy lately, frustrated because he can't get where he wants to on his own, like his big brother. As far as going in to another room, I do that, it's the only way he'll nurse at all. But he's really always been the independent sort, and he's very willful, he started throwing tantrums when he was just barely four months old, and does it quite often. When he gets what he wants, he's the happiest baby in the world, but if he has to sit, and you can't/won't hold him, he throws bigger tantrums then my 2 1/2 year old.
