4 Month Old Started Solids And Has Been Rejecting My Breast When Awake

My baby boy is completed four months and my doctor has asked me to start him on solids. The problem is that since we introduced him to solid foods, he will only take my breast when in sleep and will reject it when wide awake.

Is there any way I can get him to start breastfeeding again?

Please help.

Baby Help Line:

Baby Rejecting The Breast - What Now

Firstly congratulations on being able to keep breastfeeding for the first four months of your baby's life. It really is the best thing, and not all Moms can manage it.

I must say I am a bit surprised your doctor has started your baby on solids this early, usually around 6 months a baby's digestion is more mature and able to cope better with solids. But I don't know the whole picture and I am not medically trained so I guess if your baby was not putting on weight then the doctor must think solids is the best solution.

It is a shame your baby is refusing the breast now, but he obviously is enjoying his solids. Don't get stressed about it all as it will make feeding him even more difficult. If it is only when he is sleepy that he takes the breast then that is still great.

You can add breast milk into everything he eats so he is getting a bit more. You can try expressing and using your milk in a bottle, or even a sippy cup. Many babies that get interested in eating and tasting other things, will drink out of a sippy cup - just gently tip little bits at a time.

The most important thing is to make feeding fun, you have given your little boy the best start in life he can have. Just relax and enjoy this next stage and trust that your little boy will let you know what he needs. He may settle back into more feeding with you when he does his next growth spurt.

Enjoy your lovely wee boy,
Annie Desantis

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4 Month Old Started Solids And Has Been Rejecting My Breast When Awake

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Sep 06, 2011

Rejecting the breast
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Hi,

I just wanted to add a comment. It is actually quite a common breastfeeding problem that a baby starts rejecting the breast after having started with solid foods. However, at 4 months old, I still think there really are good reasons to try to get your baby back on, since the benefits of breastfeeding are so great.

One trick can be to not offer the breast when the baby is very hungry, since he is now associating hunger with solid foods. Instead, see if yo can make him associate breastfeeding with a cuddle with mom.

In between meals - often - lay down together take him in your arms, skin to skin, and offer the breast with a big smile.

You can of course also pump and offer milk in a bottle or mixed into the food Annie suggests. But try to get him back to the breast too, but without any force or stress. If it doesn't work, then at least you have tried.

Hope this helps,

Paula

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