10 mo only nursing once a day :(

[aMei]

 Ds is 10 months and has been liking nursing less and less. Its been a little over 2 weeks. It's been especially bad this past week with getting 2 new top teeth.

When it first started, he would have one good nurse in the morning for about 10 minutes and then only nurse for 2-4 minutes for the next two. So, I tried giving less solids and spaced out the time inbetween nursings to encourage better sessions. The results were mixed.

For this past week, He only has one good nursing session in the morning and refuses to nurse the rest of the day. I've tried nursing as soon as he wakes, so he's still groggy. Ive tried offering every 15-20min for up to 1.5hrs. I've tried offering after he has had a little bit of pumped milk/food. I've tried nursing after eating solids. Nothing seems to make a difference. He just squirms and pushes away. Once in a while, he will put his mouth to the nipple and pull away instantly.

Could he just prefer solids? Since I think that milk is good for him and I've been pumping to keep up my supply, I will offer the pumped milk in a sippy cup for dinner. He will drink some and spit some out. But if I offer him cereal mixed with the same milk, he eats it right up. He loves to finger feed.

Is anyone else experiencing this? I'm concerned about him getting enough nutrition. Im not sure what to do anymore. Please help!

[becj86]

Are you feeding him overnight at all?

The drinking some, spitting some is quite normal - its just them exploring what they can do with liquid in their mouth

If he's teething, that's a pretty good reason for him to be off his milk a bit. DS went off his milk and then went mad for it once the teeth were cut. You could try meds/teething gel before a feed to see if its discomfort that's stopping him feeding.

[amayzie]

I will offer the pumped milk in a sippy cup for dinner. He will drink some and spit some out.

Hamish will do this with water- if i were you i wouldn't risk wasting any in a cup to be spat out! I'd offer it in the cereal or mixed with puree, or mash, or something you kno he'll get all of.

[aMei]

We  weaned him from the df 3 weeks ago. Should we start it back up?

His teeth cut a few days ago. Is it normal for him to continue this strike? How much longer will it be?

Should I offer him all of the pumped milk (5-7oz)? I was decreasing his solids to see if he would nurse more, but he's been not nursing altogether. I'm not sure how much solids I should be giving him anymore. Also, I've always nursed him until the last few weeks, so I don't know how many ounces he usually drinks. How many ounces of milk should I give mixed with solids? Ds is the type of kid that will almost always eat everything we offer him, especially the foods he likes. He will just keep eating if we keep offering. He has eaten so much that he spits up a little after. So, it would be helpful to get an idea of how much other 10 mo babies eat on average.

Thanks so much for the quick response!

[becj86]

I would be wary of offering lots of solids in lieu of milk. 'Solids for fun til they're one' and all that... I'd probably cut back the solids a bit and see if he'll take more milk.

It could be a few days til he's wanting milk again - especially if he's associated it with pain at any time

I wouldn't start the DF back up, was just wondering how many feeds in 24hr rather than just during the day

[Fiver]

If he's eating so much that he's being sick, I think I'd want to cut back on the solids a good way, especially at 10m.

A nursing strike can last any amount of time, so it's hard to say when it will end.  There's loads of great information about nursing strikes in this FAQ http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=89418.0

Some of it you're already doing (pumping, getting milk into him in other ways etc), but maybe there are other suggestions there that you could consider?

Topical pain relief for the teeth might help and doing some hand expressing to the point of letdown so that the milk is immediately there also.

[aMei]

We did cut back his solids to 1-2oz each feeding. Is that still too much? But, for his last feeding, we tend to give him more, because he refuses to nurse again before sleeping. (I've posted about this before.) should we still not give that much solids?

When he refuses to nurse, should I give the milk in a sippy/bottle/mixed with solids? How much?

In the mean time, I will look at the link for other things to try. Thank you again!!!

[becj86]

When he refuses to nurse, should I give the milk in a sippy/bottle/mixed with solids? How much?

Milk, in a bottle/sippy. Milk is so much higher in calories than any solids you can give him, its really important to keep the milk up to him. If he's teething, he may prefer it chilled a bit (not fridge cold - brain freeze!).

I'd really try meds before BT feed and maybe even a slightly earlier BT feed to see if he's refusing because he's OT.

[Fiver]

I'm sorry, I have absolutely no idea how much 1-2oz of food is

[*Kara*]

I'm sorry, I have absolutely no idea how much 1-2oz of food is

about 3-6 tablespoons  

An ice cube pot is 1.5 ozs

[Fiver]

What about sticking at the lower end of that for a few days and see how you go? (sorry, I never measured in ounces)

[aMei]

Thanks for all the tips! I will continue to give less solids. I hope he gets back to nursing soon! His last nursing strike was only 3/4 days, so this one being twice as long already is a bite worrisome. I'd like to continue nursing if possible.

[*Kara*]

Just keep offering hun...

[amayzie]

Just chiming in to say that my guy has caught some of what yours has and has pretty much refused to nurse all day today!! I've come on and really read thoroughly through this post!!

[aMei]

Katy, sorry to hear that your lil guy is striking too.

I was starting to think that ds might be ending his strike, because he nursed twice yesterday. The second time was just for 3 min, but it's something. But this morning, where he has never refused to nurse, he refused! He cried and cried. We ended up giving him bottles. We started with just an ounce, hoping that once he wasn't starving, he would nurse. He refused to nurse. I'm now afraid that he might have developed a bottle preference. What do I do?

Also, I guess I haven't been pumping enough, my supply has decreased especially on one side. What can I do to bring it back up?

We are doing some international travel in 3 weeks.....I really hope all this resolves in time..