DD doesn't want to feed from me :O(

[alanasmum]

DD is just on 8 months old and is breastfed with a bottle as a top-up before she goes to sleep. For the last two days she just hasn't wanted to feed from me. She has a little drink and then just fights me to get off even though I know she is still hungry. Is she giving up feeding from me? If so is there there anything I can do to encourage her not to? I (selfishly) really don't want to give up yet. I have only been successful feeding her (no luck with her twin brother or older sister) so we have a special bond.

I am aware that she is probably becoming quite smart and has realised that she gets the milk a lot faster from the bottle than from me but I don't want to cut out this bottle as she is not the biggest baby so want to make sure she has at least one bottle of formula a day.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

It is really common for breastfed babies to do this for a few days if they are teething or something is going on somehow for them. Generaelly if you just keep persisting it's all over in a few days.... so many people mistakenly think it is the baby self weaning but no.

I have no idea how the one bottle fits into this but I would not be jumping to any conclusions just yet. Just keep offering.

[JabberJaw]

I agree 100% with Marie. My DD does this everytime she is teething, OR when i am about to get my period. It has settled down and happens less often, but she is 20 months and we are still feeding on demand :D

[alanasmum]

Thank you for your replies - I am sure she is teething. She has been rubbing her gums constantly and was not overly interested in solids today also. Will definitely keep persisting. Fingers crossed she's not ready to give up yet. I feel completely rejected by her though. Not a nice feeling. :(

[JabberJaw]

The other thing i just though of also is an ear infection, my bub use to refuse food and boob and that was her only symptom! But if bub is teething i would say that is the reason. Try some Hyland teething tablets, before offering her a feed. The numb the mouth ever so slightly and stop the pain without the need of panadol or the like.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

Ah yes, I forgot. Was also the first sign for me that my period was returning, and also happened when I got pg.

Unfortunately DS now wants to *constantly* feed when he is teething - if it's not one thing it's another!

ANyway this is not something to freak out about, just keep offering, be patient, they won't do themselves any harm by having a bit less for a couple of days and things will get back tonormal.

Good luck with the teething.

[SomewhereOverTheRainbow]

My 3mth old bub has been having lots of breast refusal issues also. Two things I have found helpful (though might not work with a bigger bub, not sure!) are to take her to bed with me and feed her there (not sure why but she just relaxes a bit more if we are lying down), and to feed her while I walk around the house. Sometimes it's just enough of a distraction that she will feed.