What do I do if my baby refuses to breastfeed?

What do I do if my baby refuses to breastfeed?

Rebecca Charlton (Lactation Educator & Registered Dietitian, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles) gives expert video advice on: How do I soothe the pain of engorged breasts?; Why do I get sore nipples after my baby feeds?; What should I do to alleviate sore nipples during breastfeeding? and more...

If your baby refuses to breastfeed, then something else is probably wrong. Most babies will breastfeed with very little encouragement. They want to breastfeed. They're programmed to breastfeed. Some babies, however, will go on nursing strikes, or have a fussy period, refusing to breastfeed for a lot of reasons; if there's fluid in their ears, if they have a little bit of a cold or a stuffy nose. Babies are nose breathers, so if their nose is stuffed up, they can't breastfeed and breathe at the exact same time. So a lot of babiesthat won't breastfeed, they just have a cold that you don't know about. Frequently just suctioning and comforting the baby will allow it to breastfeed again. The baby will be okay if it goes about 24 hours and doesn't breastfeed. If it goes longer than that you probably need to get someone involved to try to help you feed it. Babies also tend to have preferences. They like to breastfeed in one position and not another. They may not like their sibling around while they're breastfeeding. They may not enjoy the football game. So if you can try to figure out whatever is happening that's upsetting your baby and eliminate it, the baby will go back to the breast.