Lost Interest in Nursing?

I am not a breastfeeding counsellor but have had lots of situations to deal with.

Firstly - take away the bottle/teat. Any drinks away from the breast should be in something else. That way if baby wants the comfort she will use the breast, else she is substitiuting the teast for the breast.

Secondly try not to panic too much. My son was older when he stopped feeding for 3 weeks which left me in a panic as he was probably going to be the last child I would feed and I was not ready to stop. After 3 weeks he went back as if he had never left!

You say about snuggling down with her, often if you strip to the waist and get some skin to skin going it can increase the chance of feeding.

Consider co-sleeping / co- bathing.

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Very good luck and let me know how you get on, lots of love nad support xx

www.a-little-wish.co.uk

I remember my daughter going through several spells of not being interested in nursing. We powered through them. However, I didn't use a bottle much at all, but we did nurse for 22 months. Be strong, patient, and keep trying. I agree you may want to hide the bottles for awhile. Good luck and know there are several moms out here supporting you!

M.,

Yes, I'd just toss the bottles for awhile. She's not going to let herself starve, and you can keep pumping at times she doesn't want to eat (to keep your supply up). My son went through this at about 9-10 months - he was losing interest because my milk wasn't letting down as easily. We just suffered through it and I was able to keep breastfeeding him till he was one. Then we were both ready to quit. She might be slowing down on the breastfeeding thing and wanting more food to eat - I remember he was down to about 3 times a day for the longest time.

Also, she might be able to sleep through the night without needing milk at this point. Have you tried letting her cry for any length of time when she wakes up in the night? Perhaps let her try to get herself back to sleep for awhile (set your timer for 10 minutes - you'll be amazed that she'll fall back asleep at 9 - it seems like FOREVER though!)

Good luck and don't give up! She'll come around, they always do!

M.,
I couldn't agree more with contacting someone from the La Leche League to discuss this. I attended meetings when I was breastfeeding my daughter. I've recently rejoined since I'm expecting a baby in December. I had to stop breastfeeding when my daughter was 9 months old because my milk supply dried up. I was devastated and not ready to stop breastfeeding either. The instructor at the last La Leche League meeting I attended said that 9 months is a common age for babies to start exploring the world around them and lose interest in breastfeeding. This doesn't mean you have to stop. You just need to ride this phase out until she is interested again. An instructor will be able to give you ideas and support. I know I lost my milk supply because of stress and not nursing/pumping enough when I was working. I'm definitely going to keep on top of this with breastfeeding this baby. I don't want want to have the same thing happen again.

I'm nursing a 9 month old too! He's just so BUSY that unless he's getting ready to sleep or just waking up (when he nurse's like a starving piglet!) he takes 2 swallows, looks around, takes 2 swallows and looks around...
I'd get rid of the bottles when you are home and take advantage of those sleepy cuddly times!

Its a nursing strike, totally normal at 9mos old. Continue to offer, and offer before you give her solids. Offer the breast often, and always before and after sleeping times. Take her to a quiet dark room, get some nursing beads or a special lovey that she can play with while nursing.

your milk supply is fine, she is fine, and if you keep offering she will come back to the breast. All kids have a time where they go through a strike, its totally normal. Babies don't wean themselves, they have nursing strikes that parents think is weaning, but its really not. It would be sillly to switch to formula now, especially if she is having medical issues you will relaly want to continue the breastmilk to make her stronger through it. Stop all bottles for now, that won't help anything, it will make the strike longer. ONLY nurse, breast only, until she is back on track.

I'd still continue to nurse as well...in a quiet place with limited distractions. I know both of my children at this age were losing interest so I'd give them a beaded necklace to hold while they nursed because I too wasn't ready to give it up (I ended up nursing them both until 15 months like you). It kept their interest and was a special thing they could hold and look at only while nursing. You can google "nursing necklaces" and you'll find a ton of them.

Best of luck!

My son went on a nursing strike when he was about the same age - I could see 12 months ahead, and did NOT want to choose formula. A lactation consultant recommended bringing up my supply with fenugreek (herb) - and it did the trick. The supply doubled (nearly tripled) - making it more filling and satisfying for him and his growing needs, as well as his hurried nursing time. We went from a feared ending of nine months to a 17 1/2 month span. Also nursed my second until 23 months - and am now at 22 months with my last baby. Good luck :)

I have heard of babies who decide early that they are done with breastfeeding. Sometimes there's a reason, like the mother's milk flow is down, etc. Othertimes it just seems they are ready to move onto "real" food and milk is secondary. I know it's sad, but you really need to follow the child's needs. Good luck trying to get her back to breastfeeding.

I don't want this to sound harsh & I really don't mean it to, but I think you need to go with your daughters desires. If you can keep her interested in nursing, that's great, but don't force it because it's what YOU want. Your whole question was revolved around what you want, not your daughter. You need to do what works for BOTH of you. Maybe you're stressing about it & she can sense the stress. Just relax & go with it. Maybe when she sees that it's no big deal to you, she'll happily do both or even just nurse. I do applaud you for wanting to breastfeed her for as long as you can! It's a lot of work, but well worth it!

M.,

This is very normal 9 month old behavior. If you want to keep nursing (and I encourage you to do so), try taking her into a quiet spot when you can to nurse. Try a nursing necklace to keep her interest in you as you nurse. If you are up for it, just stop bottles all together as you suggested.

My son when through a very similar phase with nursing at about that age. We had a challenging couple of weeks or a month or so, then, we were fine again after that, nursing to almost 17 months.

Good luck and good job!

Jessica
SAHM to CHarlie (3 1/2) Joey (22 months) and baby girl due Nov. 16

M. - I disagree with the few posters who are advising you to follow your daughter's queues rather than your own desires. Nursing is the best thing you can do for your baby; the AAP recommends breastfeeding for at least their first year (http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/ped.... Don't feel like you're being selfish wanting to keep it up!

It sounds like her recent medical condition has caused her to change routine, and I remember my daughter at this age preferring bottle over breast. It seemed like she could get more, faster, from the bottle.

Just keep trying to nurse, put away the bottles for now, make sure the room is quiet and not distracting while she nurses. She'll come around.

Good luck!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE contact the local la leche league in your area. they are fully supportive of all moms, breastfeeding ones especially, and can give you direct info, advice and all of that for your issue. i cant really help you but i understand how you feel - my son just up and self weaned at 19 months and I didnt feel ready then! LOL.
but you are right - 9 months is too young :(
maybe shes got a teething issue, maybe decrease the amount of solids you are feeding, encourage more relaxed snuggle time. the more relaxed you are the better it works.

have you/ are you getting a period? this can change the taste sometimes and make babies be not interested for a while.
just keep at it
and congrats mom for nursing your precious babies so long! i am so proud to know another mom who is as excited about nursing as i am !:D

My guess is that it is a phase she is going through maybe related to not feeling well. My third child "forgot" how to nurse for 5 days while she had thrush. I encourage you to stick with it. Also, your milk will be good for her while she recovers, antibodies, etc. Good luck. Hope the infections resolve quickly.