Nursing Strike: Coaxing Baby Back to the Breast with Patience, Love, and a Little Creativity

A nursing strike can be stressful, but it's important to remember that it doesn’t mean the end of breastfeeding. In fact, babies under one year old still need their mother’s milk, so if your little one suddenly refuses to breastfeed, it’s likely a temporary phase – often called a nursing strike. Here's how you can gently coax baby back to the breast, with a lot of patience and plenty of cuddles!

🐱 Patience is Key Just like trying to convince a cat to have a bath, a nursing strike isn’t something you can force. It’s all about coaxing baby back to breastfeeding without turning it into a battle. Pushing baby to latch will only add stress, so take a step back, stay calm, and give it time.

👙 Easy Access and Skin-to-Skin When your baby is refusing the breast, make sure you’re wearing clothes that allow for easy skin-to-skin contact. This helps to build trust and comfort. Spend lots of time cuddling and bonding – sometimes, the closeness is all that’s needed to help baby feel ready to nurse again.

⏳ Time for Patience and More Skin-to-Skin More skin-to-skin time equals more relaxation for both you and baby. This helps baby reconnect with the natural instincts that make breastfeeding feel good. If baby isn’t nursing right away, it’s okay – these are positive steps, not failures!

🍈 Offer the Breast Often (No Pressure) The more you offer the breast, the better your chances of baby latching. Try different times and places – in bed, on a walk, or even during a bath. Keep it casual and relaxed. If baby’s not interested at that moment, no worries – try again later!

🫡 Let Baby Set the Pace Remember, you’re not in a race. Let baby decide when they’re ready. If baby pulls away, don’t force the breast back in their face. Instead, make it available without pressure, offering comfort through skin-to-skin time.

👐 Carry Baby Close (and Stay Hands-Free) A sling or carrier can work wonders for keeping baby close while you get things done. This also gives baby more chances to feel secure and connected, which can encourage them to go back to the breast.

😴 Sleep Close, Feed Easy When baby sleeps near you, it’s easier to catch early hunger cues and keep things relaxed at night. Safe co-sleeping (if it works for your family) can help with those middle-of-the-night feeds too.

🛡️ Nipple Shields: A Little Help If Needed Nipple shields can offer some assistance if baby is struggling to latch. However, seek out specialist and trained support before using them to ensure they’re the right solution for you.

🐭 Comfort Nursing: Small Steps Start small with comfort nursing – try offering the breast when baby is sleepy or just waking up. It’s all about making baby comfortable with the breast again before moving on to full feedings.

🤱 Reintroducing the Breast (Gently Does It) If baby is actively resisting, check if anything physical might be causing discomfort, like teething or reflux. Go slow, and keep offering the breast without pressure. Stay patient – just like convincing a toddler to eat their broccoli, it might take a little time.

☕️ Peer Pressure With babies who are a bit more aware of their surrounding, seeing other babies breastfeeding can sometime coax them back, for you the parent it can be a chance to share the load, meet other parents and enjoy a cuppa and possibly some biscuits

✋ Avoid the Bottle (If You Can) While you may be tempted to give a bottle, it’s best to hold off if possible. Offering a bottle may stop baby from returning to the breast sooner, as it satisfies the sucking urge. If you absolutely need to supplement, try using a special feeder, a cup or syringe instead.

🐻 Remember, You’re Not Alone Nursing strikes can feel overwhelming, but they’re usually temporary. With a little patience, persistence, and some gentle strategies, baby will likely return to breastfeeding. Keep calm, stay patient, reach out for support and trust that this phase will pass. the National Breastfeeding Helpline is open 24/7 https://www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

Marion Frey-AlQurashi

Certified Lactation Specialist and Mindful Breastfeeding Practitioner.