Expert: ruth kraft - 7/25/2009

Question
My daughter is 4 months old and not nursing since 12 days.She started acting cranky after she got her shots the previous day.At the same time i think i tried give her formula and she didn't accept while she was awake but ate while sleeping.After that she started rejecting the breasts slowly and now she nurses only during the nights.And sometimes when she nurse.,she will suddenly realise the milk taste or something and starts crying.She doesnt take from bottle too.I have to feed her while she is sleeping and with eyedropper while awake.Im worried please help,i want to continue nursing her.

Answer
So, if I understand correctly she nursed for 4 months and then for the last 12 days she has refused nursing?  It sounds like there was alot of traumatic things that happened in a short period of time, So you will have to be patient getting her back to breast. The good news is she will take the breast while she is sleepy and for comfort at night. So , she still is willing. I would suggest absolutly no more formula in a bottle. or at all. Pump your milk and only give her expressed milk. This will solve your milk issue. She might fuss but she will take it. Then slowly reduce feedings by eye dropper even with those and keep offering her the breast over and over and over. So she becomes comfortable with them again . When she is hungry, offer the breast not anything else. Don't force it, just offer. If you are stressed about it she will pick up on it too... and then refuse more. Do an internet search for nursing strike ,and look up my last answers too as I went over in detail some of the things to do for nursing strikes.  Keep it up, with patience she will come back. If she still refuses more go to www.lli.org and find a leader who will do a free consult for you :)

good luck!
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