6 Month Old on Nursing Strike

Amanda C,

hi, your daughter is just early stage growing than any 6 mos old. so it s very normal. my 2 boys had their first teeth at 3 month old, seriously... so there is nothing to be worry about. as for 6 mos old baby should be drinking as least 6 oz a day that why she drink all her milk fast cuz not enough...lol.. depend if she hungary give it her as long is eating it or drinking it. sometime it is not alway a time frame of whan to eat or drink as long she is thirsty or hungary just give it to her. your baby G. seem to be very normal. she just growing lil early stage that all.. just take her to her 6 month old check up and get her update. as for a breast feed i dont nkow nothing about that..lol.. i only bottle feed..

She may just be ready to go to the sippy cup and get off the breast. The most important thing to remember is that she is still getting the nurishment that she needs from you and not refusing it all together. It is easier said than done, I know.

Well as for feeding let her nurse whenever she is hungry:) as long as she isn't dehydrating or losing weight then she is getting plenty. as for the cup vs breast she may be using the sippy to chew on. she may not be screaming in pain but may have some discomfort that chewing helps sooth, then again my cousin's son weaned himself at 9 months from the breast onto a sippy. she wasn't ready but he was. just keep offering it to her.

If she is ready for the sippy cup because of her teeth that is not uncommon. I have a 9 month old and three older children and they all did the same thing I just had to pump. Well only with my las one did i really breast feed the other ones werent so lucky cause i didnt produce enough milk. But anyways my 9 month old just got 4 in at the same time on the same day and he wont take his bottle or hardly eat unless its table food and a sippy cup. So just try pumping for a while until your ready not to do it anymore. sorry i cant help anymore on how to get her back on the breast but this is the best i got for now. Sorry and good luck

I have a 10 month old who is just now cutting her top tooth and is in some serious discomfort...day care has even sent her home because she wouldn't eat or stop crying. I took her to the ped. and he said she was healthy! The only suggestion I can make is stay patient and it will pass. If you can, keep pumping at the time she would normally nurse to keep up your supply, but don't fret too much...a few days from now it wil get better.

Good Luck!

Hi Amanda,

KellyMom.com has info on how many ounces per day, and LaLecheLeague.org has a discussion board where they often talk about nursing strikes. Off the top of my head, it could be that her gums are tender or she doesn't like the new feeling of the new tooth poking through while nursing. My daughter will often be teething but not show us she's in actual pain until nighttime.

Or it could be simply that she's more interested in the world around her at present and she forgets to eat, nothing to do with teeth. I think most likely this will pass and she will catch up, but if you can pump, do! It'll keep your supply ready for her.

This sounds like she is ready to transition. My doc has said one ounce per hour she waits between feeding. If she eats every four hours than four ounces. If she is eating foods her need for milk is reduced. 8z three times a day is great, even as little as 6 oz is wonderful.

Kids go through periods where they eat a lot or not at all. When a baby nurses it will hurt their gums and ears more then if they drink from a sippy cup or bottle. SHe might have an ear infection which would always cause my daughter to stop nursing. Give her sometime. If she doesn't have an ear infection then keep offering her the breast. Once she stops teething she should resume to normal eating. Just make sure you keep offering her, you don;'t want to wean her from the breast by only giving her a bottle.