9.5 month old on nursing strike - milestone related?

[{{{Angela}}}]

Zinnia has refused to breastfeed since Sunday night (it's now Tuesday morning).  Also Sunday night she started sitting up in her crib at bedtime, refusing to go to sleep.  Each nap time and bed time now has been a struggle to get her to lie down and stay down.  She used to BF 3-4 times a day plus maybe at night too.  Now she screams whenever I get her close to my boobs, or like this morning, she just won't open her mouth and push me away.

She had a low fever Saturday evening and Sunday, but it seems to be gone now.  She had really bad NWs the past two nights, probably due to being OT since she's taking 1-2 hours to go to sleep.  I tried feeding her but that just resulting in screaming.  I tried giving her teething meds before BFing but no use.  I tried feeding her in a dark room, a light room, door open, door closed, changed scenery...nothing.  She will drink water from a bottle but not BM.  So she only gets 1-2 oz. of milk in her cereal during the day.

I know I should just keep offering but I am hoping she is not self-weaning...it's too early for that, isn't it?  I have no experience with nursing strikes at this age.

[clh]

{{hugs}} Saw this and had to post something.    I don't really have experience in strikes, but from everything I've learned here, it's most likely NOT self-weaning. 

Could be developmental, could be something else.   Is she prone to ear infections?  Sometimes that will show in a refusal to feed.  Something about the change in position messes with their ears to make an infected ear hurt.  Those didn't always come with fevers at our house. 

Keep offering.  She needs to stay hydrated, especially in the heat.  {{hugs}} hun.    Hopefully someone will have better suggestions soon.

P.S.  She's such a cutie in your avatar! 

[{{{Angela}}}]

Thanks!

She's been drinking a lot of water today - won't take milk in a bottle.  I'm going to get a drink box with a straw and see if she'll drink milk from that.  Tonight before bed she seemed to latch on and then she bit me (ouch!) and I yelled and scared her   and she started crying.   It was so sad. 

[clh]

Oh, no!  So sorry to hear about the biting.  OUCH!  Bless her being scared.  I've done that to mine, too. 

[samijoe]

It really really does sound to me like she is teething.

I wasn't still nursing my dd at this age, but she would refuse whole bottles and still be ok.  Just used to bug the heck out of me when it was a bedtime one!


hang in there


sami

[{{{Angela}}}]

I tried giving her tylenol or camilia (homeopathic teething remedy) beforehand and also some homeopathic teething gel, but it doesn't seem to have any effect.  Poor baby.  I hope it ends soon.  Poor boobies. hahaha.

[liacarmen]

Oh I'm so sorry, we're going through the same thing (maybe the stars were aligned against us on Sunday!). To summarize the advice I've been given - skin to skin time, just hang out and maybe she'll be interested, I might bring her in bed with me if she wakes in the night and see if she'll go for it then. Emma suggested I try a nipple shield, which I'm going to do. Good luck to you, it's horrible, I know.

[{{{Angela}}}]

Well she had a really good night last night sleep-wise, and woke up this morning not at all interested in BF.  Nope, none, nada, nil.    She was totally happy until I tried to give her some boob.  If she is teething, she didn't show it last night.   I was thinking teething too because of the NWs but now I have no idea.  I guess I should try to stop analyzing it and just go with it.

[samijoe]

well, not to scare you or anything,

but the 9/10mth can be a bit tricky for our lo's.  there is soooo much going on in this stage, makes it harder to do everything!

is she trying to stand in her crib or anything like that???



sami

[{{{Angela}}}]

sami, she is trying to pull herself up, but can only make it to her knees.   it's pretty cute.   There is a lot going on, but I usually BF her before a nap, always have, I find she eats better when she wants to relax/wind down, but now she won't have any of it.  She's also freaking out when I put her down for naps and I need to pat her to get her to sleep.

[samijoe]

ok, im missing the obvious info then.....

let's see her routine, if you can manage to get it down for us.

i really doubt she is weaning, as much as it does seem so.  hang in there...we'll figure this out!



sami

[*Nicola*]

Angela,

Dropping in some (((hugs))) here for you.

x

[eireann74]

that is exhausting for you. does she start screaming when she is reclined? perhaps the ears are bothering her?

[{{{Angela}}}]

Hi...sorry I have responded to this thread...I've taken her to the doctor's and she is fine health-wise.  Nothing wrong with her ears, nose, throat, etc.  I tried not giving her any teething meds and she is fine, she slept well without them.  So it is not teething.  She is still refusing to feed, even after going 12 hours without eating at night.  I have taught her to drink from a straw so she uses a drink box to drink breastmilk but my supply is diminishing rather quickly.   So I am off to get some formula to supplement...I guess I will do 50/50 when necessary or 75/25 breastmilk/formula.

[enna77]

Big squishy hugs coming your way hun  Come on Z EAT!