Sometimes a happily nursing baby will suddenly start refusing the breast for no apparent reason. What will you do if this happens to you?

Distinguishing nursing strikes from self-weaning:

• If you want to do what's best for your baby, you'll want to breastfeed her or him for as long as she or he wants.
• If your baby starts refusing the breast, you need to decide if it's a nursing strike or self-weaning. If it's a nursing strike, you'll want to coax your baby back into nursing. If it's self-weaning, you can be happy that you've had a fulfilling nursing relationship and your baby is now ready for her or his first step towards independence.
• You should assume it's a nursing strike if any of the following conditions hold:
  • Your baby is less than one year old. It's very rare for babies to self-wean this early. Furthermore, the nutritional and health benefits of breastfeeding are too great at this age to just let them go by.
  • Your baby starts refusing the breast abruptly. Self-weaning is a gradual process. Abrupt refusal of the breast is often caused by a traumatic experience at the breast (e.g., perhaps your baby bit you and was startled by your response).
  • Your baby is sick or particularly fussy or teething. She or he may go back to nursing when she or he gets better.
  • You've been away from your baby for a while. Many babies will reject the mother in such a case. Be kind and gentle, and you'll be nursing happily soon.
• Your baby may be self-weaning if she or he gradually starts nursing less often, and finally goes for several days without asking to nurse.

What to do if your baby is going through a nursing strike:

• Be kind and gentle. Don't be pushy.
• Try to nurse your baby when she or he is dozing. A sleepy baby will often be more willing to nurse than an alert one.
• Sleep with your baby. You might manage to put in a number of breastfeeds on a good night.
• Don't forget to pump or express milk.
  • to keep up your milk supply.
  • to provide extra breastmilk to feed your baby from a cup, spoon, syringe, or bottle.
  • to help prevent breast engorgement and mastitis.
• If you've been trying to teach your baby something new (especially toilet training), postpone it for a few weeks.

Back to the breastfeeding page.