5 Month Old Just Stopped Nursing One day....help!

The drooling is a sign of teething, does she have loose stools? That can also be a sign. It may take weeks for them to come in..

The nipple on the bottle may give her some relief especially if the breast milk in the bottle is a slightly cooler temp than the breast milk.

You still get a bond holding her and speaking with her with the bottle. Keep trying the breast especially if you have allowed her some time to chew on a frozen wash cloth. Her gums may have enough relief for her to be willing to work on the breast.

Do not dispare, this happens.. Remember those little teeth feel like little pins in the gums,She just does not feel as well..

This is not weaning, it's a nursing strike, and you can get through it! Nursing her when she's very tired helps -- before she's fully awake is a great idea, or in the night when she's barely awake. Also the dark, quiet room helps at this age b/c she's so newly aware of her surroundings she doesn't want to be turned inward to eat b/c she wants to see what's going on. One of the biggest things you can do is get her in a warm bath with you -- that's the way adoptive moms can get their babies to take the breast for the first time at an older age. The idea is to get you both nice and relaxed, no noises or other kids, skin to skin. Keep with it! You're a champ for pumping to keep up your supply during this strike!

If all these ideas fail, I would encourage you to contact a La Leche League leader in your area who may be able to give you more ideas.

L.

I'm so sorry you are going through this! My daughter had a real rough time nursing from 10-18 weeks (and then occasionally after that), and I remember how difficult it was. Looking back, I think she was already having some teething pain, although she didn't break a tooth through until 5.5 months. She wouldn't take a bottle either...I was just beside myself!
I would try to catch her before she woke up all the way and get her latched on before she even knew what was going on! ;) We were on a pretty good routine of nursing mostly after sleeping, so I could catch her a lot this way. I found if I swaddled her up or held her tight and swayed or walked around as I nursed that helped...just about killed my arms and back though! Whew! My SIL reminded me that in some places, bottles aren't an option...and they really will eat if they get desperate!

BUT - also remember you aren't a failure if she stops nursing. I really do think she'll come around though. My daughter did, and boy is she stubborn! ;) We were able to nurse till almost 17 months when she weaned completely, and it was a pleasant experience once we got through those couple of tough months....and she's 27 months now!

Message me if I can offer you any more words of encouragement...Oh! Also, maybe try a change of scenery?? Maybe outdoors if you have a private patio area? And...sometimes, I'd get her latched onto her paci and would try to make a quick switch...sometimes it did work!

Take care,
R.

my son did that when i went back to work. I hated it and tried almost everything to get him to keep nursing but I to started to lose my milk and he fought eating. Unfortunatly I ended up having to stop nursing. After a few weeks I realized the reason I wanted him to nurse other than the health benefits was the bond and when I got right down to it trying wasn't bonding. he was stressed I was stressed it just wasnt worth it. i am sorry this makes you sad it did me too, but you gave her a good start and you can still bond with a bottle and other things. I know it's not the same, but continuing to force it isn't doing any good for anyone. Just something to think about. My son was still getting my milk cause i pumped too he just thought it was easier from the bottle and didn't want to work so hard anymore. Good luck and i am sorry if things don't work out. try to remember there will be sooooo many other things and times you two can bond. i know it doesnt take the place of breastfeeding but I found bath time and right before bed story and rocking to sleep worked for making me feel connected.

I notice that Rebecca G. said she nursed her baby before she woke all the way up. I did the same thing when I was afraid my daughter was weaning. I would go in get her out of her crib and nurse her when she was asleep/half asleep. She would be totally groggy, acting on pure instinct and turn and nurse immediately even if she had refused during the day. Ummm, I guess it worked since she is 25 mos and still nursing occasionally. :)

My oldest weaned himself at 9 months. I tried for several weeks to nurse him. It became so frustrating for both of us, that my husband finally talked me into stopping. Try some of the other suggestions, but try not to stress yourself or your baby out. Sometimes it just doesn't work out the way we want it to.

the thing iyour baby me beginning not to want it anymoer it isnt a bad thing it just means your baby hass moved on sooner than most. my daughter is only two months old and she already stopped taking my breast, she just likes formula better.

Both of my girls went through this around 3-4 months. It's called a nursing strike. When you are offering her the breast be sure you stay calm. Take her into a dark quiet place so she has nothing to attract her attention. The bottle is so easy compared to the breast where she has to work to get the milk. You may also try squeezing her breast to get the flow started before you latch the baby on to make the milk "on demand" for when you introduce the baby. Hang in there, you are doing a great job!!!

the nursing strike is a distinct possibility and if that's the case you may well get through this. my first thought was 'this baby is just done.' sometimes babies wean themselves and we need to move past our own wants and honor their timetable. i'm so sad for you that it's such a threshold and causing you to cry every night. please please please know that your bond with your little girl will NOT be less if indeed it is time to stop nursing. that bond is indestructible and you will find many many other ways to nurture and foster it.
hugs and good luck to you.
khairete
S.

First of all, you are doing a great job of providing your child with the best nutrition there is. Pumping is a big commitment and you have a long work day. She is lucky that you are working so hard to keep up your milk supply for her and provide her with breastmilk.

It is normal for babies who take bottles to wean themselves earlier than babies who've not had the option. Although nursing at the breast is important for jaw development, it is also takes more effort and smart babies figure that out. As babies get older, they are also more easily distracted. Some babies do better at night and in a dark and quiet place with fewer distractions. Some babies go on nursing strikes because of an ear infection (upright nursing would feel better) or teething or other problem that could pass. You will need to add pumping sessions to cover the missed feedings to keep up your milk supply. Your body is able to respond to increased and decreased demand for milk within a day or two. For example, sometimes older babies get sick and start nursing around the clock when they can't take in solids and the nursing mom's milk supply responds. It takes a day or two after the illness to ramp back down. So you have a lot of control over that.

You can keep trying to nurse by keeping things really relaxed (it must feel really frustrating when she pushes away) and make sure she has plenty of cuddling time. Some babies like to nurse in a tub if you take a bath together or even a shower or laying down at naptime or bedtime or in the night if she wakes up. Often working moms can skip bottles on the weekend and just nurse. Babies get used to that routine.

Have you changed soaps or fragrance or even laundry detergent? Some babies are very senstitive to fragrance.

Hang in there! And remember that you are doing a great job no matter whether she has pumped breastmilk in a bottle or takes it straight from the source.

K.

The mamas are giving great suggestions - if you feel you need extra help, contact a lactation consultant. I worked with one for 3 months after my son was born cause I got shingles 3 days after having him (long story). With her help, I was able to get my supply up, get his suck back to normal, and nursed him till he was 2.5 years old. Check with your hospital or ob/gyn for a referral.