stopped feeding :(

[JoS]

My little boy is 5 months old and is breastfed. The last two days he has screamed every time I try to feed him, I can't understand it as it was going so well. He has always taken expressed milk in a bottle so I have been doing that and he takes it fine.
I think he might be teething as he has been really grumpy, gums are very sore. He is also refusing his dummy which he normally loves!
I've been to the doctors but he said theres nothing wrong and to keep trying.
Any advice welcome as its really upsetting me

 

[beckyboo1]

Have you tried putting some teething gel on his gums before you try and feed hin in case it's them that's bothering him?

We use anbesol which seems to do the trick at numbing the gums xx

 

[Nat26]

It sounds like a breastfeeding strike, my lo did this when he was 9 months, he screamed when I tried to breastfeed him for 8 days! On the 9th day he started feeding as usual like he'd never stopped! Turns out I think it was his teeth as the two top ones both came through that week. Keep offering, and if he refuses don't make an issue just carry on expressing but don't give up

Maybe try anbesol/calpol before feeding but don't get disheartened if it doesn't work - it didn't work for my lo and he just started again when he wanted! x

 

[l_maclean]

Sounds like a strike. My LO did this 3 times in the space of a month, the Kelly mom site has good info on it. Try offering boob when sleepy. Do skin to skin, and most importantly don't stress about it ( easier said than done I know), but it is really quite common. Your LO is far far to young to be self weaning - so don't listen to anyone who says that, pump to keep up your supply, but don't worry if you have to resort to formula, he WILL go back on. Our strikes only lasted days but they can be longer. X


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