Breastfeeding - when babies won't feed
attachment; breast; breastfeeding; breast; feeding; refusal; tongue; tie ;
Contents
Some new babies take a while to learn how to attach to the breast and feed effectively. Others feed well at first, then become fussy. These problems can be very distressing; seek help if these ideas do not help.
Attachment problems
Babies have a sucking reflex, but some need help to attach well to the breast and suck strongly. Some may be very small (eg born prematurely) or unwell at birth and unable to go to the breast straight away. They may need more help when they are able to feed.
- Look at the points under 'attachment' (in the related topic "Breastfeeding - a new baby") to be sure that you know what you are trying to do, even if the baby doesn't.
- Hold the baby close, encourage (and wait for) a wide open mouth, then bring the baby quickly onto the breast so most of the areola area is in the mouth.
- If your baby really won't attach, try expressing a little milk for the baby to taste. This may encourage a wide open mouth. It may help to express even more so the areola is softened and the milk lets down. This way the baby will get an immediate reward when trying to suck.
- Stroke the baby’s lips or cheek to stimulate the rooting reflex.
- Get the baby to suck on a finger then quickly transfer to the breast.
- You can put some expressed breastmilk in a syringe and trickle it onto your nipple as the baby tries to attach.
- If your baby is very sleepy, try to wake him by unwrapping and undressing him, and playing with his toes or hands.
- If your baby won't take one breast, offer the other.
- If nothing else works, a nipple shield may help. See the related topic "Breastfeeding - devices to help with breastfeeding".
Seek help. Don’t stop trying unless you really want to. There is a lot of help available, and most problems can be overcome.
Not wanting the breast (breast refusal)
Sometimes a baby who has been feeding well does not seem to want the breast and may scream and push away. This can happen at any time, but often at around 3 - 5 months. It can be very upsetting as it seems like the baby doesn't want you.
- It usually does not last long. If you are patient and continue to breastfeed it usually gets better by itself.
There can be many reasons why a baby won't take the breast.
Baby reasons:
- sore throat, sore ears or a blocked nose
- gastro-oesophageal reflux (see the topic "Reflux")
- teething
- thrush in the mouth making the baby's mouth sore
- efficient feeding - as babies get older they empty the breast more quickly and get fussy if you push them to take more
- distractibility - the baby wants to look at other things, is easily distracted and so stops feeding. This is common after 3 months when babies grow more slowly so they are not as hungry as before.
Mother reasons:
- your milk supply is low, or you have a lot of milk that comes too fast for the baby
- changes in the taste of the milk
- hormone changes – when your periods start again or if you have become pregnant
- you have eaten something different
- you have been exercising just before the feed (the milk may taste different for a short time)
- you are not well or are taking medicines
- you have had mastitis recently
- you have changed your soap or deodorant or bath powder.
What you can do to help if your baby does not want to take the breast.
- Don't worry if your baby only wants a few minutes at the breast. By the time they are 3 to 5 months old, babies can take a lot of milk in 2 or 3 minutes.
- Feed in a quiet, dark room.
- Feed when the baby is asleep or sleepy (after the baby is 3 months old). This often works well.
- Give more feeds at night, especially in hot weather.
- Walk around and pat your baby while you are feeding.
- Express to get the milk flowing, then put the baby on the breast.
- Get your baby to suck on your finger or a dummy, and then quickly slip the breast in instead.
- If the baby refuses to feed for a few hours, you can express the milk to keep up your supply.
Tongue-tie
A baby is said to have a tongue-tie when the bit of skin between the tongue and floor of the mouth (the frenulum) joins near the tip of the tongue rather than further back.
- This can have the effect of holding the tongue down so that it cannot move forward over the baby's lower jaw and lip, and the baby cannot poke out her tongue very far.
- If the tongue-tie is severe, this may affect breastfeeding, causing problems like sore nipples or low supply, because the baby cannot attach properly to the breast.
- In these rare cases, the frenulum can be snipped to free the tongue so that it can move properly.
Most times, the tongue-tie is not a problem, and it doesn't usually affect speech development.
For more information have a look at the topic 'Tongue-tie'.
Resources
South Australia
Child and Youth Health Parent Helpline
- 24 hours per day, every day - 1300 364 100
Your local Child and Youth Health centre
- see Locations for more information.
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Helpline 1800 686 2 686 (1800 mum 2 mum) (24 hour service)
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
General
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Helpline 1800 686 2 686 (1800 mum 2 mum) (24 hour service)
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
Australian Lactation Consultants Association,
http://www.alca.asn.au/
World Health Organisation, 'Promoting proper feeding for infants and young children'
http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/infantfeeding/en/index.html
Book
Child and Youth Health: "The Feeding Book - from breastfeeding to solids". AUD$5.50 plus postage and handling. From Child and Youth Health head office Ph: (08) 8303 1500.
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.