Refusal To Breast Feed

Sometimes, a baby that is breast fed may suddenly

decide to refuse breast feeding. The baby will

pull away from the breast, then toss his head from

side to side. This can happen at anytime, so there

really is no way to predict it happening.

Reasons why

Refusal to feed from the breast could occur when the

baby is in pain. Normally, this can be due to an

ear infection, sore head from vacuum delivery,

thrush in the baby's mouth, or teething.

The use of dummies, teats or nipple shields may also

contribute to refusal. Some babies actually find

it difficult to feed from the breast and bottle as

the sucking action is very different. Some become

confused, therefore it's always best to avoid using

any type of teats or dummies.

Sometimes, the milk just takes bitter. This can

be due to antibiotics, if you starting or in the

middle of your period, or nipple creams. If the

milk tastes bitter, your baby will normally not

want to feed.

Solving the problems

First, you should always try to identify what may

have caused the breast refusal then begin to treat

the cause. Always remain patient and gentle with

your baby. Be sure to hold your baby next to you,

skin to skin, so that he can take the breast when

he wants to, so that he begins to realize that

breast feeding is both enjoyable and comfortable.

Older babies may suddenly take shorter and fewer

breast feeds, although this can be normal with

some babies. Therefore, it's always best not to

try and make the baby feed longer, but instead let

the baby decide how often and also how long each

individual feeding will last.

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