Baby Won’t Eat

My 4 month old has always been a fussy eater, but the past week she has almost given up breastfeeding altogether. When I offer her the breast, she turns her head away and cries. I worry she’s not getting enough to eat. Our pediatrician has said she is perfectly healthy, and has advised that we start giving her formula to see if she’ll take a bottle. I really don’t want to stop breastfeeding. What should I do?

Good for you for continuing to breastfeed your daughter! Here are a few suggestions to help the two of you find your way back together. Be patient and stay positive. Remember, you can’t make your baby nurse!

1. For starters, try to uncover the cause of your baby’s sudden refusal to eat. An abrupt change in her daily routine or a developmental challenge such as teething can cause some babies to temporarily refuse to nurse.
2. Spend quiet, relaxed time with your baby. Try holding her skin-to-skin at nap time and before bed. She may naturally be more willing to breastfeed when she is sleepy.
3. Avoid over-using a pacifier. Encourage your baby to meet all of her sucking needs by nursing.
4. If you choose to introduce a bottle, use your own pumped breast milk instead of formula.

Stacy Rubin is a nurse and lactation consultant in Hartford, Connecticut. She is also the author of the ABC’s of Breastfeeding: Everything a Mom Needs to Know for a Happy Nursing Experience.