https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:28:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1631425 Tue, 13 May 2014 12:19:48 +0000 maybebaby 1631425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This happened to us too. At this age they are getting much more interested in the world around them, and have no time to snuggle patiently to nurse! It was very disheartening, but I found a few ways around it. First is whenever possible minimize distractions. I would nurse him in his room with lights off, white noise running, door closed so kitties couldn't come in and get his attention. Second, I had the most success nursing him when he was sleepy and relaxed--so right before or after naps. Have you tried that? The one thing that is a little off to me is the back arching--any change baby has an ear infection? We've had 3 in our household and arching back when I would try to nurse him was one of the tell tale signs--he didn't like being reclined because it hurt his ears. You're doing a great job--I know how frustrating it is to have to pump and feed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1629824 Mon, 12 May 2014 18:10:09 +0000 catlady 1629824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@edelweiss: Thanks! I really hope she is not done nursing. She has only been resisting since Friday and it came only really suddenly. Very strange!</p> <p>@Applesandbananas: I keep checking and hoping it's teething! It seems like the right time. </p> <p>Tonight has been bad. She was sooo hungry but absolutely refused to nurse. She just screamed and screamed. We had to give her a bottle. I just feel really defeated. She still has 1-2 MOTN feeds so I'm hoping it will go better in the night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1629805 Mon, 12 May 2014 17:51:13 +0000 Applesandbananas 1629805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This sounds like my LO's reaction to his first bout of teething. He had a stuffy nose and sore gums and just wanted the cold nipple of a chilled bottle of breastmilk. Thankfully it didn't last long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1629302 Mon, 12 May 2014 14:13:08 +0000 edelweiss 1629302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my friend has a 7-month old who has been resisting nursing for the past couple of months (although would and does take pumped milk or formula from a bottle), but my friend thinks her LO is done with nursing. sounds a bit different from your situation since yours might be related to the cold...other people have given you lots of advice, good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1629286 Mon, 12 May 2014 14:07:52 +0000 catlady 1629286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: Oh no! How old was your baby when that happened? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1629165 Mon, 12 May 2014 13:36:38 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1629165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first did the same thing and never recovered. I had to start pumping exclusively. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1629147 Mon, 12 May 2014 13:29:47 +0000 catlady 1629147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Zbug: @Mrs. Yoyo: Thanks, that's good to know. She has had colds before, but maybe this is just a bad one. Or the cold plus her age, now that I think about it.</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: Thanks for the link! That's great info. I definitely don't think she's ready to wean yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1629005 Mon, 12 May 2014 12:41:43 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1629005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think also this is normal for this age range but it doesn't mean she's trying to wean. </p> <p><a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/back-to-breast/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/back-to-breast/</a></p> <p>"Nursing Strikes</p> <p>When babies abruptly stop nursing, it’s a nursing strike – not weaning. Babies rarely wean on their own before 18-24 months, and self-weaning is almost never abrupt.</p> <p>Will baby nurse while asleep or just waking up? This is usually one of the best times to try. You also might try nursing lying down or while walking around. See also the tips at the top of this page for persuading baby to nurse.</p> <p>As long as baby is not nursing as often as before, you’ll want to express milk to maintain your supply, stay comfortable, and reduce the risk of plugged ducts and mastitis.</p> <p>Don’t miss the great links below about nursing strikes." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1628992 Mon, 12 May 2014 12:36:21 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 1628992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>^ My LO was more finicky during his recent cold, too. Make sure her nose is clear before offering; that helped us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1628987 Mon, 12 May 2014 12:35:02 +0000 Zbug 1628987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It could definitely be the cold. Nursing can make it hard to breathe when they are stuffed up. I would keep offering the breast first but then give a bottle for now. Hopefully, she will go right back to nursing once she feels better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/7-month-old-suddenly-hates-nursing#post-1628970 Mon, 12 May 2014 12:25:57 +0000 catlady 1628970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 7 month old has been getting increasingly distracted while nursing, but we've been mostly ok. Then on Friday night, when I went to nurse her at 2am, she suddenly wouldn't latch at all. She just arched and screamed and cried. I kept trying and eventually she latched. Saturday was hit or miss. A few times she refused to nurse completely so I had to pump and give her a bottle. Yesterday and today, she has been nursing but she seems to hate it. She latches for a minute, then pulls off and screams. It is awful! She will take a bottle no problem, and she seems obsessed with her pacifier.</p> <p>She is getting over a bad cold (was home from daycare with a mild fever Thu/Fri) plus I know she is desperately trying to crawl so she has been fussy in general lately. I thought maybe she was teething but I still can't see or feel anything.</p> <p>Anyone experience something like this? I'm not sure how to handle it, if I should keep trying to nurse or give her bottles instead. I haven't called the pedi yet but I probably will if it continues. </p>