My baby is 3.5 months old and now she is refusing to drink milk when she is awake. Only when she is in half sleep she is drinking. So Everytime we have to make her half sleep to feed her. what can we do.?

Question

Accepted Answer

When babies reject direct breastfeeding consistently, even if they're really hungry and it's been hours from their previous feed. This is termed as a nursing strike. Some of the reasons could be
1) if the baby is ill (ear infection, hand, foot, mouth disease, teething, etc.)
2) if there's an overactive letdown
3) baby was startled at the breast (e.g., by mom yelping if bitten, etc.)
4) if baby has been forced to nurse

Nursing strikes generally last a few days, but there are cases where it could go on for longer periods as well. If babies stop nursing prior to 18 months of age, it's probably a nursing strike and shouldn't be considered as the baby self-weaning.

If your baby is on a nursing strike,
1) Make sure baby is feeding sufficiently, either by offering the breast when the baby is sleepy or offering expressed milk. Try not to use a bottle at this time. Open cups, shot glasses, straw cups, spoons, paalada are all options that can be used.

2) Keep an eye on the baby's pee count. That’s your best bet to check if the baby is getting enough.

3) Make sure that your supply is maintained, by dream feeding the baby regularly, pumping or hand expressing

4) Gently encourage the baby to return to the breast. Do lot of skin to skin. Never force the baby to latch.

The following scenarios are not nursing strikes.
1) At around 3-5 months of age, babies get distracted and don’t nurse as often as they used to. Offer in a dark and boring place. They also get more efficient at nursing around the same time. It’s nothing to worry if the baby has 6+ wet nappies.

2) Changes in nursing patterns, like nursing fewer times once solids are introduced. It can be due to offering too many solid meals.

3) Baby rejecting the breast after bottle feed has been introduced. Babies tend to prefer the fast flow from the bottle, compared to putting effort to suck from the breast and hence reject the breast.

Answer

Can you please tell me how long that phase gone my baby is currently 4 month old and since 10 days she is doing same am really worried

Answer

No no follw the feeding schedule feed baby every 2-3 hours during the day time. It's important to do this. And night hours feed every 4-5 hours. Night hours it's fine to leave baby sleep for a while because as food, sleep is also important. But don't wait for baby to cry just feed frequently