Recently my son suddenly stopped wanting to nurse. The first day I didn't think too much of it and just thought it must be due to teething pain or the cold that he was having at the time. It wasn't until the third day I started to think, "Did my baby just decide to wean himself?".
My son's nursing strike lasted three days. I considered taking the opportunity of the break to wean him but my heart was just not in it so I continued to nurse once he indicated he wanted to again.
Nursing is a very special bonding experience for mother and baby so when it abruptly stops unexpectedly, it can actually be very hard emotionally to accept. Even though my son's nursing strike only lasted three days, I actually experienced a real feeling of sadness and rejection. I was even amazed and surprised at myself by how hard I was taking it.
The sites below provided great information about nursing strikes. Reading these made me feel good to know that this is a common experience for babies between three and eight months old and that it is most often temporary. I hope my sharing this information may help another mom who may be wondering why their baby stopped nursing.
La Leche League - My Baby Is Suddenly Refusing to Nurse
Baby Center - Nursing Strike
Stork Net - Nursing Strike
Disney Family Parenting - What Experts Say
Saturday, September 19, 2009
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