https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 13:59:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/refusing-to-nurse#post-1875729 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:41:51 +0000 Pirouette 1875729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MK0180: my goal was 6 months too, and i'm now still going strong at 9 months, and she's a boobaholic now, haha! hopefully the adjustment goes quickly and you'll reach that goal :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/refusing-to-nurse#post-1875658 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:07:42 +0000 MK0180 1875658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: thank you, this is very helpful! I did feel a little rejected but I know that this is an adjustment for the both of us :) I'll continue to pump as much as possible - my goal is 6 months so hopefully I can keep at it!</p> <p>@jojepie: thank you! He nursed early this morning but i think he was a little bit sleepy and then just flat out refused the boob when he was wide awake. I'm pumping after he gets the bottle so am hoping my supply stays up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/refusing-to-nurse#post-1875628 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 12:45:02 +0000 Mrs. Cheesecake 1875628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around 10.5-11 months my DS starting refusing to nurse. I'm not really sure what it was since I had already been back to work for a couple months. I tried to keep at it with him but ultimately I just continued pumping to keep up my supply and we fed him BM+Formula in the bottle. I wish we could have kept BFing until he was a year, but it just happened this way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/refusing-to-nurse#post-1875585 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 12:22:42 +0000 Pirouette 1875585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OH YES. I went through this exact same thing at the exact same time with my LO, and it coincided with me going back to work. I assumed LO just preferred the bottle, but this went on for a few weeks with us, and it was really hard on me, especially with the back to work adjustment. I almost gave up on BFing but I managed to hold on and things got SO MUCH better! once she adjusted to the new routine, she started waiting for me to come home to nurse, because she loved it so much. I think it was a developmental thing and an adjustment she made to me going back to work and suddenly not being around a lot. Things we did that helped were:</p> <p>- Never force the issue. If she got upset, put the boob away!<br /> - Distract distract distract. If she wasn't feeling the feeding, play, make her laugh, do anything to distract her from the situation. often, she'd come back and nurse after the distraction wore off. this also helped her to see me more as a person and not just a food source.<br /> - LOTS of skin to skin. We snuggled so much during this time. she didn't usually nurse, but just snuggling really helped (both of us!).<br /> - Feed when sleepy. I fed her when she was practically asleep most times just to feed her.<br /> - Continue to pump! try to keep your supply up so you can go back to nursing when LO is ready.<br /> - most importantly: DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY! It can be very emotional. try not to take it personally, your baby loves you and you guys will work this out :)</p> <p>If i think of anything else, i'll add to it. hope this helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/refusing-to-nurse#post-1875488 Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:12:58 +0000 MK0180 1875488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's been a while since I've posted anything but I could use some advice. LO is 11.5 weeks and started daycare this week in preparation for my return to work full time. He went one half day and did a full day yesterday. Last night he refused to nurse and I had to give him a bottle before he went down for the night. He wakes up around 4 and nursed then but the two feelings since then he refuses to latch and screams and screams. I gave him one bottle of BM and another of formula (my frozen stash is very low and I need to save some when I work tomorrow) and he was content after these feelings so I'm thinking he prefers the bottle since he is able to get the milk faster and doesn't have to work for it.</p> <p>Has this happened to anyone? Did your LO eventually start nursing again? Any advice from any mamas out there? I'm hoping this is temporary. TY!! </p>