Navigating a Nursing Strike: Gentle Strategies to Bring Your Baby Back to the Breast

February 21, 2025

Even the most peaceful breastfeeding journeys may occasionally present some unexpected challenges. One particularly distressing experience is a nursing strike, a sudden refusal by a baby who has previously breastfed successfully. This isn’t a sign that your baby is weaning but rather a temporary protest, a communication of discomfort or distress. Understanding the potential causes is the first step toward resolving the issue and restoring a positive breastfeeding relationship.

Nursing strikes can stem from a variety of factors. Sometimes, a baby might be experiencing physical discomfort, such as an ear infection, thrush, or teething pain, making breastfeeding painful. If a baby has been getting many bottles, this could also cause a nursing strike due to flow confusion; the bottle and the breast flow differently, and some babies have trouble back and forth between them. Other times, it could be a reaction to a change in the mother’s routine, such as a new perfume, soap, or even a change in diet that alters the taste of breast milk. Stress, either in the mother or the baby, can also contribute to a nursing strike. Babies are incredibly sensitive to their environment and the emotions of those around them. A disruption in routine, like travel or visitors, can also throw them off balance. Additionally, a decrease in milk supply or a slow letdown, often triggered by stress or hormonal changes, can frustrate a baby who is accustomed to a consistent flow. It is also possible that a baby may have had a negative experience at the breast, such as a startle or a sudden loud noise, that has made them wary of feeding. Recognizing these potential triggers may help to address the underlying cause of the strike.

Once you’ve identified potential causes, implementing strategies to encourage your baby back to the breast is the next step.

Stimulating Flow: Pumping Before Feeding

One helpful approach is to pump before a feeding attempt to stimulate the letdown, ensuring the milk is ready and flowing when your baby latches. The consistent, quick flow can be a great motivator for a frustrated baby. When you pump before a feeding attempt, the point is just to stimulate the letdown, so you would only pump until you see your milk start flowing. It’s also a good idea to pump instead of a missing feed to maintain your milk supply during the strike. If a feeding is missed entirely, pump for 15-20 minutes to maintain your milk supply.

Soothing Motion: Breastfeeding with Bouncing

Movement can also be a powerful tool. Breastfeeding while gently bouncing on an exercise ball, or any deep, rhythmic bouncing motion, like on the edge of the bed or while standing, can be soothing for both mother and baby. The gentle motion can help to relax your baby and encourage them to latch. Motion also triggers the suck reflex. Combining bouncing with other strategies, like drip-feeding, can be especially effective.

Simulating Flow: Drip-Feeding with a Syringe

For babies who are striking because of bottle preference or flow issues, drip-feeding from a syringe can be a valuable technique. By gently dripping milk into the corner of your baby’s mouth, you can simulate the flow of breast milk, stimulating their suck reflex and encouraging them to latch.

Changing Sides: The Switch Nursing Technique

Switch nursing, moving your baby from side to side until they settle and latch, can also be effective. Often, the change in position and the anticipation of a letdown can be enough to pique their interest.

Adjusting Comfort: Changing Breastfeeding Positions

Sometimes, a simple change in breastfeeding position can make a world of difference. Babies can be particular about their comfort, and a position other than the traditional cradle hold, such as an upright or sitting position, might be more appealing.

Feeding During Sleep: Breastfeeding While Drowsy

Breastfeeding when your baby is drowsy or asleep, particularly in the side-lying position, also known as the cuddle curl, can be a gentle way to reintroduce them to the breast. This position is naturally comforting and can minimize resistance.

Mimicking the Breast: Paced Bottle Feeding

Mimicking the breast experience with paced bottle feeding can also be helpful. By incorporating a non-nutritive phase, you encourage your baby to actively stimulate the flow, similar to breastfeeding. The breast can take an average of 30 seconds to let down, while bottles can immediately release the milk. That’s why this approach on the bottle can help to gain more patience on the breast. You can achieve a non-nutritive phase by letting the baby suck on the empty nipple for about 30 seconds before holding the bottle parallel to the floor for paced bottle feeding.

Patience and persistence are key during a nursing strike. It’s important to remember that this is a temporary phase, and with gentle encouragement and understanding, you can overcome this challenge and continue your breastfeeding journey. Maintaining a calm and relaxed demeanor is crucial, as your baby will pick up on your stress. Focus on creating a soothing environment, with skin-to-skin contact and gentle cuddling, to help your baby feel secure and comfortable. Remember, breastfeeding is a partnership, and with time and patience, you and your baby can rediscover the joy and comfort it brings.

Liked the post? Please Share

Boosting Your Milk Supply: Choosing the Right Supplement

When it comes to supplements for supporting lactation, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There are a lot of choices, and it’s hard to know what will get the best results and, most importantly, fast. The good news is herbal supplements can offer a natural and effective way to support lactation. However, with a plethora of options available, with varying results and quality levels choosing the right supplement is important. Here are a few important things to remember when you choose a supplement.

Breastfeeding Basics: Your Guide to a Successful Start

Breastfeeding is a beautiful and natural way to nourish your baby. It offers countless benefits for both mother and child, from boosting immunity to fostering a strong bond. Breastfeeding may be natural but it’s not instinctive. Throughout human evolution, breastfeeding was a learned skill. Women learned it from watching other women breastfeed. Today most new moms haven’t seen enough breastfeeding around them so they didn’t have a chance to learn, That’s why prenatal education is crucial. This blog post will equip you with the essential knowledge to embark on your breastfeeding journey with confidence.

Empowering Breastfeeding From Hospital to Home: The Vital Role of IBCLCs.

In generations past, women were immersed in the visual landscape of breastfeeding, witnessing it in both public and private spheres from childhood onward. This constant exposure offered an organic learning environment where skills were absorbed through observation and community support. Today, however, the cultural landscape has shifted. Breastfeeding is often unseen until a woman faces the challenge of initiating it herself, leaving many without the foundational knowledge once gleaned through observation. This lack of early exposure creates a significant gap, highlighting the indispensable role of the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). These professionals now serve as crucial guides, offering the expertise and support that was once naturally acquired within a broader community, ensuring that modern families have the resources to navigate the complexities of breastfeeding successfully.