Expert: ruth kraft - 4/29/2011

Question
My little man is 8 months next week, has been on solids since 5 months, loves his food and eats pretty much anything I give him. He has always been breastfed, does not like drinking formula, but will have it in his porridge. He started sleeping through the night at 7 months, and did it straight for a week, then came down with HFM followed by chickenpox, followed by a cold (poor kid!) and at the same time became hideous at night, waking at least twice a night for feeds. I also went back to work part time this week, and so he has't been having BF during school hours, but he's now refusing any milk from me at all apart from a tiny amount in the morning if I'm lucky, and some at night. He drinks loads during the night so guessing his issue is not pain related. I'm worried he's just not getting enough milk, and can't see a way round this. I'm guessing that as it's been 4 days of no real  daytime milk, that my milk supply will have adjusted, but he won't even get into the right place, just turns his head away. He has plenty of water, and some milk (for the calorie value if nothing else). Any other suggestions? He's a big boy (9kg) and doesn't seem to be at all bothered by not having milk (but then he wouldn't if he's getting it at night instead?!) I'm shattered having to get up for a full day at work after being up 2-3 times in the night...
Any suggestions? Thanks

Answer
Typically babies who do not get enough during the day will make up for it at night. This is often unfortunate for the parent. If you can continue pumping more throughout the day and giving more milk then we would hope to reverse this. It also might not be because he was sick but rather he is developing so rapidly with major motor skills like crawling and standing and picking up finger foods. This is the age where babies often lose interest in food at all. He will get enough even if he is only nursing at night.

Unfortunatly, I don't have the greatest suggestions other than nursing him when he is half awake, half asleep during the day naps, and seeing if that helps, going in a room where only you two are with no distractions and continuing to offer. Trust that he will always get enough though.

Finding a way to deal with night nursings is the hard part, but often after a few months they grow out of that as well.

I hope that helped at least a little!