How to Get Through a Nursing Strike Without Losing Your Supply

Baby boycotting the breast? Don’t panic—a nursing strike almost always ends. Learn how to keep baby fed, maintain your supply, & get baby back on the boob.

Nursing Strikes Are So Hard, But They Always End pregnancy post by Mama Natural

You finally got into a good breastfeeding groove, then—BAM!—baby refuses to latch. What gives? Is this because of teething? Does this signal the end of breastfeeding altogether? Or is it just a temporary nursing strike?

Here’s what you need to know:

  • What is a nursing strike?
  • How long do nursing strikes last?
  • What causes a nursing strike?
  • How to cope during a nursing strike
  • How to end a nursing strike
  • Plus, how to keep your cool

What is a Nursing Strike?

A nursing strike is when a baby or toddler who has otherwise happily breastfed suddenly and abruptly stops nursing (or is very uninterested in being at the breast).

The abrupt nature of the nursing strike is important to note, because many mothers confuse nursing strikes with weaning. However, true natural weaning from breastfeeding is almost always:

  • A slow, gradual process
  • Takes place over a period of weeks or months, not all of a sudden
  • Usually happens when babies are at least 2 years old, unless initiated by mom

How Long Do Nursing Strikes Last?

The suddenness of a nursing strike is one of the reasons it can be so disturbing and confusing for moms. But take heart: Most nursing strikes are temporary and last between 2 and 4 days. There are some more difficult cases that last longer, but even those usually only last for a week or two.

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What Causes a Nursing Strike?

Although it might feel like your baby or toddler’s refusal to nurse is coming out of nowhere, there is always a cause—it just might take some digging to figure it out. Remember: Common nursing strike may be triggered by something happening with mom or baby.

If you’re in the thick of a nursing strike, you may suspect baby:

  • Is going through a new social or developmental stage that causes them to want to play and look around more than nurse
  • Has an illness (especially a stuffy nose or an illness that causes mouth sores like Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease) that makes nursing uncomfortable
  • Has an injury that makes nursing uncomfortable
  • Is frightened, because they bit you and you reacted strongly
  • Has sore or inflamed gums from teething

If you’re in the thick of a strike and have ruled out the above issues, the nursing strike may be because you:

  • Are using a different deodorant, soap, perfume, etc. and your baby is thrown off by the unfamiliar scent
  • Have been under more stress lately and it’s affecting your supply
  • Have changed your nursing patterns because of vacation, new job, move, or a different schedule
  • Are pregnant and your milk supply is reduced
  • Are getting your period and milk supply is temporarily reduced
  • Have been sick and are dehydrated, and your supply is affected
  • Are taking a medication (like a cold medicine with pseudoephedrine or a new birth control pill) that reduced your supply

When a nursing strike isn’t actually a nursing strike…

If none of the above apply, take a moment to assess whether what you’re experiencing is actually a nursing strike. (If you need help, a lactation consultant is a great resource.) There are times when it might look like your baby is striking, but what’s really happening is that they are breastfeeding more efficiently and for less time. Many mamas make this mistake around 4 months or so, when those 20-minute breastfeeding sessions are often replaced with quicker 5 to 10 minute sessions.

What to Do if Your Baby Goes on a Nursing Strike

Besides not panicking (which can be hard, I know!), your top priorities when your baby is striking is to make sure they are well fed and that your milk supply stays intact. Here’s how to do that:

  • For every nursing session your baby misses, pump or hand express your milk to ensure your supply doesn’t dip
  • Feed baby the expressed milk using a method like paced bottle feeding to most closely mimic that of breastfeeding
  • Count baby’s wet diapers—baby should have at least five wet diapers per day after six weeks
  • Speak to your baby’s pediatrician or a lactation consultant if you have any questions about your baby’s intake or your milk supply

How to End a Nursing Strike

After you’ve covered the bases in terms of feeding and expressing, your next step is to gently and lovingly coax your baby back to the breast. Your top goal here is to remind your baby that the breast is a place of comfort, love, and food—and to help them forget about whatever triggered the nursing strike.

You need to figure out what is the magic ticket for your baby—and it might be a combination of “tricks”—but here things to try:

  • Keep stress to a minimum if possible (practice deep breathing!); your baby can pick up on your stress
  • Nurse in a dark, quiet room, away from any stimulation
  • Nurse when baby is sleepy, right before a nap or bedtime, or just when they are waking up from sleep
  • Try different nursing positions
  • Nurse while babywearing, and add a little bouncing!
  • Nurse skin-to-skin
  • Take a “nursing vacation,” spending the weekend in bed with your baby, resting, doing skin-to-skin, and offering the breast
  • Stimulate your let-down first, via pumping or hand expression, and then offer the breast
  • Try co-sleeping
  • Avoid pacifiers; instead, offer your breast for comfort, or let your baby suck on your finger
  • Take a bath with baby and try nursing then
  • Wear big, bright necklaces that baby can “play” with while nursing… sometimes you have to use the power of distraction to get baby to nurse!

How to Take Care of Yourself During a Nursing Strike

Being in the middle of a strike can cause you to stress out and even begin to question yourself as a mother. It’s so important to remember that you are not to blame. Nursing strikes are really common.

Practicing self-care during a nursing strike is so important. Here’s how:

  • Make sure you are pumping or hand expressing often. Not only do you want to keep up your supply for your baby, but you want to avoid a clogged duct or mastitis, which will just make things more miserable.
  • Reach out to fellow nursing moms for support. Knowing there are other moms out that who have been through a nursing strike and gotten through it can be so reassuring.
  • Connect with a lactation consultant or breastfeeding peer counselor (at La Leche League, for example) who can arm you with confidence and information to get through the strike.
  • Contact your pediatrician if you are concerned that your baby isn’t getting enough to eat or is on a nursing strike because of an undiagnosed medical issue.

You Will Get Through It…

Most of all, keep the faith. The first rule of nursing strikes is that they always end. So take a deep breath, muster up all the patience you can, and remember that this too shall pass.

How About You?

Did your baby ever go on a nursing strike? What words of assurance would you offer a mom experiencing this?

Genevieve Howland

About the Author

Genevieve Howland is a childbirth educator and breastfeeding advocate. She is the bestselling author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth and creator of the Mama Natural Birth Course. A mother of three, graduate of the University of Colorado, and YouTuber with over 130,000,000 views, she helps mothers and moms-to-be lead healthier and more natural lives.

5 Comments

  1. My 10 month old has been on a nursing strike for a week. I think because he started biting suddenly and I reacted too strongly. I feel like it is my fault! He is suddenly sleeping all night though, after constantly getting up and nursing every 2-3 hours. So I have mixed feelings. He’s my 4th and last baby so I’d hate to think my nursing journey is completely done, yet I’m really liking finally getting sleep! Ugh! He’s proving to be my most challenging of the 4.

  2. My son is 3 (autistic and non speaking and has epilepsy) I just recently had surgery (internal bleeding from a ruptured cyst and I’m full of endometriosis.) My son also had an allergic reaction to a new anti seizure, discontinued that medicine and then had to increase his dose on his reg med. he hasn’t nursed in days. We’re on 3 now. He will snuggle near my breast, then just roll over and go back to sleep. We have never had any issues and up until routine changes from my surgery and then his meds being increased.. I’m honestly a mess. I’m feeling hopeless and lost. My boy isn’t wanting milk and that’s just not like him. I’m heartbroken 💔

  3. My 10 month old is on day 11 of a nursing strike and I feel like it’s not going to end. I’m so heartbroken. I’ve tried everything. Taken her to the pediatrician to rule out Illness and worked with a lactation consultants. Please give me some hope that this will end.

    • Hi Rebecca,
      How did your babys nursing strike end? How long did it take?
      My baby has been on a nursing strike for 4 days so far and I’m losing hope, I’ve been crying everyday, it’s so upsetting

      • My baby has just finished her 4th day of nursing strike. I’m also losing hope and am crying everyday. She’s only 2.5 months so I’m terrified that my supply will fall, especially as my milk volume with the pump is dismal. The only way I’m getting through this is by giving myself the permission to quit when she turns 3 months.


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