https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 00:20:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/9-month-old-refusing-breast#post-2793656 Wed, 27 Dec 2017 11:51:34 +0000 Shantuck 2793656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This happened with my daughter (but hadn’t happened with my son). Once I started back at work and she got more bottles, she seemed to prefer the bottles. I suspect the flow was faster and she had to work for it less. I think the right answer is to keep offering the breast first and then resort to the bottle but I ended up just moving to exclusively pumping except for middle of the night and first morning feedings when she seemed hungry enough to take the breast. I tried to see the positive in that I didn’t have the stress of needing to be away with her not taking a bottle. In my mind, that would be worse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/9-month-old-refusing-breast#post-2793646 Wed, 27 Dec 2017 11:29:28 +0000 Adira 2793646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could be a bit of a nursing strike. The teeth coming in might be irritating him and the work to nurse, especially in the evening when he has to work harder to get the milk, but be frustrating him. Also could be a bit of an ear infection causing him discomfort when nursing.</p> <p>Just keep offering, but try not to pressure! Usually a nursing strike lasts a couple days and then will be over. And when you do bottle feed, especially in the evening, make sure you do paced feeding, so the bottle doesn't seem exponentially easier than the breast.</p> <p>Good luck. I think we've all been through this at one point or another. &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/9-month-old-refusing-breast#post-2793640 Wed, 27 Dec 2017 10:50:28 +0000 Aspen 2793640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is going to be 9 months old next week. He is EBF but has been eating solids 2 - 3 times a day, and I work full time and pump, so he takes a bottle three times a day at daycare with no issues. </p> <p>He is currently teething and will refuse to eat from my breasts in the evening and sometimes in the afternoon. Even this past week/weekend when we were home all day together for the holidays he would eat fine in the morning, or sometimes all day, and refuse his feeding before bed. Yesterday we had to give him two bottles of breast milk because he refused to eat for two of his feedings.</p> <p>I guess I'm just asking for some support or advice. Has this ever happened to you? I am so incredibly sad and frustrated when this happens. I know I shouldn't take it personally but my hormones must be all over the place because it makes me feel terrible. </p> <p>And I'm only pumping so much and we're going to have to start supplementing soon. I know I should feel great that we made it this far but whenever I try to find answers to why this may be happening the internet makes me feel like I'm not doing enough.</p> <p>Vent over. :( </p>