Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
What Causes An Infant To Refuse Breastfeed?
hello doctor i m keerthi my baby girl is 4 months 7 days old now... Past two days she refuse to breasfeed til nw i didn t give anything otherthan breastmilk nd i m going to rejoin my job next month so suggest me what to give for her nd why she refuse to drink.....
Fri, 28 Apr 2023
Hi,
There can be several reasons why an infant may refuse to breastfeed. Some common reasons include:
* Teething: Teething can cause discomfort and pain in infants, making them reluctant to breastfeed.
* Illness: If the baby is suffering from any illness or infection, they may not feel well enough to breastfeed.
* Milk supply: If the milk supply is low, the baby may become frustrated and refuse to breastfeed.
* Change in routine: Changes in routine, such as starting solids or returning to work, can sometimes cause a baby to refuse to breastfeed.
* Overstimulation: Overstimulation, such as being in a noisy or busy environment, can sometimes cause a baby to become too distracted to breastfeed.
If your baby is refusing to breastfeed, it is important to identify the underlying cause and address it. Here are some tips that may help:
- Offer the breast frequently: Offer the breast frequently, at least every 2-3 hours, to help maintain the milk supply and encourage the baby to breastfeed.
- Try different positions: Experiment with different breastfeeding positions to find one that is comfortable for both you and your baby.
- Address teething pain: If teething is causing the baby to refuse to breastfeed, you can try giving them a teething toy or gently massaging their gums to relieve discomfort.
- Seek medical attention: If your baby is ill, consult with your pediatrician to determine the best course of treatment.
- Consider pumping: If you are going back to work and your baby is refusing to breastfeed, you may want to consider pumping breast milk and feeding it to your baby in a bottle.
In summary, there can be several reasons why an infant may refuse to breastfeed. Identifying the underlying cause and addressing it is important, and several strategies can be tried to encourage breastfeeding. If you are going back to work, pumping breast milk may be an option to consider.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
There can be several reasons why an infant may refuse to breastfeed. Some common reasons include:
* Teething: Teething can cause discomfort and pain in infants, making them reluctant to breastfeed.
* Illness: If the baby is suffering from any illness or infection, they may not feel well enough to breastfeed.
* Milk supply: If the milk supply is low, the baby may become frustrated and refuse to breastfeed.
* Change in routine: Changes in routine, such as starting solids or returning to work, can sometimes cause a baby to refuse to breastfeed.
* Overstimulation: Overstimulation, such as being in a noisy or busy environment, can sometimes cause a baby to become too distracted to breastfeed.
If your baby is refusing to breastfeed, it is important to identify the underlying cause and address it. Here are some tips that may help:
- Offer the breast frequently: Offer the breast frequently, at least every 2-3 hours, to help maintain the milk supply and encourage the baby to breastfeed.
- Try different positions: Experiment with different breastfeeding positions to find one that is comfortable for both you and your baby.
- Address teething pain: If teething is causing the baby to refuse to breastfeed, you can try giving them a teething toy or gently massaging their gums to relieve discomfort.
- Seek medical attention: If your baby is ill, consult with your pediatrician to determine the best course of treatment.
- Consider pumping: If you are going back to work and your baby is refusing to breastfeed, you may want to consider pumping breast milk and feeding it to your baby in a bottle.
In summary, there can be several reasons why an infant may refuse to breastfeed. Identifying the underlying cause and addressing it is important, and several strategies can be tried to encourage breastfeeding. If you are going back to work, pumping breast milk may be an option to consider.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Loading Online Doctors....