Is My 11 Month Old Baby Done with Breast Feeding?

I went through the same thing when my daughter was 11 months. She was indeed done with breastfeeding. I could not coax her back to the breast. At first I was depressed, as I wanted to at least make it to a year with her, but the more I thought about it, the more okay I was with it. I realized that it would save us the fighting and stress of weaning later. So, she took formula bottles for one month before staring her on cow's milk at 1 year. She was perfectly fine with it, and in the end I was too!

He may have fluid in his ears or an infection...he has to suck harder and differently at the breast than bottle . So, is more sensitive at the breast. Good luck.

Congrats on keeping up with breastfeeding. I'm no expert, but I'd stick to your plan to wean him in another few months. He's just going through a little breastfeeding strike which might very well be related to teething. I was told that some babies prefer bottle over breast when teething, since they have to work harder to get the milk (which means more blood rushing to their mouths, which makes their gums hurt more). I'd just continue trying to offer him the breast, but do give him a bottle (or mix pumped breastmilk into his food) if he seems hungry.

It does sound like a strike, where he would like to nurse but something is bothering him. Check his mouth for any cuts. Keep offering and have pumped milk available. I have heard that babies on strike will be most receptive when they are sleepy. Hope this passes quickly.

I wouldn't give up yet. La Leche League has some good info on breastfeeding strikes, that you might want to check out. However, he might be done. I would suspect that it might have to do with teething. Good luck! Here is a link that might be helpful. http://www.llli.org/FAQ/strike.html

Hi A.,
My first daughter stopped nursing with no issues after I gradually cut the feedings down and then stopped when she was 12 months old. However my second daughter nursed well multiple times a day and then one morning when she was nine months old she did what your son is doing. She was fussy when I tried to nurse and turned her head and just refused. I kept trying for about two days and then just gave up. I pumped and gave her the milk through a bottle and she was great. It was a little sad for me and physically painful for a few days but we all got through it. She was just ready. So, keep trying if you really think it is the teething thing, however, I would recommend not to make it a fight. Perhaps he is just ready and that is okay.
Take care,
B.

Hi A.,

Yes, I totally went through this with my 2nd son right around the same age-- 10 months or so. It sounds like a nursing strike. It was totally out of the blue-- no rhyme or reason, and it caught me completely off guard-- just one day I put him to the breast and he would turn/lurch away and be crying even though I knew he was hungry. Sometimes he would even arch his back-- it was so wierd and unexplainable. I was devistated and thought maybe he was weening himself, but my gut said he wasn't ready and something wasn't right. I spent a lot of time on La Leche league and continued to stick to our routine and offer the breast and tried to be calm when he rejected it and was screaming (I was an emotional basketcase of course, but was trying to be calm :)) Anyways, 3 days later he resumed nursing as if nothing happened and to this day it is still a mystery as to why he went on a "strike" as they say. He ended up self-weening at 22 months!! Both of my boys self weened (at 14 months and 22 months, and it is more of a natural-feeling, over time type of thing-- at least my experience. What you are describing doesn't sound like he is ready to ween but more of a nursing strike. I would recommend checking out LaLecheLeage online and continue to offer the breast, and pump if you are in discomfort. Chances are, he will resume breastfeeding. Best of luck to you!!

This is exactly what my son did. I was heart broken because I wanted to breatfeed for so much longer. We never had any issues moving from breat to bottle through out the day (I had to go back to work so I pumped and he was bottlefed at daycare). He always gladly took the breast when offered, and the bottle when offered. He only seemed to perfer the breast at night. Then one day he just stopped. Turned his head and cried and would not latch. We gave him a bottle and he took it no problem. I continued to breatfeed at night time feedings, but that only about lasted about 2 weeks before he refused then too. The doctor said that he must have relized that the bottle is easier then the breast. Babies have to work more to get milk from the breast and that's why alot refuse it after being started on a bottle. Makes perfect sence to me! I was so sad about the whole ordeal, but everyhting worked out just fine. :)

All 3 of my sons weaned themselves (I wanted to nurse longer)at 10-11 months, each one stopped nursing as soon as they were walking. They just weren't interested except maybe before going to bed at night for a little while longer. I would just go with the flow and let him decide when to wean, he may still want to nurse before bed for a little bit but I would switch to a sippy cup for all other drinks now, because it is a lot harder to wean off the bottle if you get that habit started!

Sometimes babies will go through a "nursing strike" but it is not the same thing as being self-weaned because they will want to go back to nursing afterwards. There are many reasons for a baby to suddenly refuse to nurse, he may be in pain from teething or a sinus infection or he may be too conjested to breathe whie nursing. Or it may be that you ate something that is making your milk taste bad to him, I once had a very garlicly meal and for the next 24 hours my baby would make sour faces when she tasted my milk, it was kind of funny! It could also be taht he is too busy playing to want to stop and nurse, many active babies have this problem, sometimes they do better with many "mini feedings" rather than a long feeding (although that can drive you crazy as it seems they want a "snack" every few minutes!) Just keep offering the breast, if he will not nurse then pump so that you will not get engorged or get a plugged duct. My guess is that he will feel like nuring again in a day or two. Good luck!

This sounds like a nursing strike to me, probably related to teething and maybe to the fast flow of the artificial nipples. I suggest contacting your local La Leche League Leader for info about how to get him back to the breast, if that's what you'd like to do. You can find her at www.llli.org--all LLL services are free.
Congratulations on your breastfeeding relationship!