Babies not feeding properly

Why is my baby refusing the breast? 8 tips that help | Baby & toddler, Feeding articles & support

Whether your baby refuses the breast as a newborn or when they’re older, it can be very stressful. Here’s why it might happen and what to try…

Why won’t my newborn baby breastfeed?

Sometimes, newborn babies struggle to latch on to breastfeed after they’re born. It can be worrying for new parents when this happens – you might think something’s wrong.

There may be a simple explanation. This information could help you find your own solution, or decide if you need further support.

Some of the more common reasons for newborn babies finding it difficult to latch onto the breast could be:

a difficult labour or birth – your baby might feel sore or have a headache if the mother has had interventions in labour or if they were born very quickly
medication used during labour – anaesthesia, epidural or pethidine can make your baby sleepy or groggy
your baby being separated from you after birth – even for a few minutes
discomfort due to a birth injury or bruising
swallowing mucus at birth can make your baby feel congested, nauseous or uncomfortable
an early unpleasant experience of attempting to breastfeed, such as being forced onto the breast
the baby might have tongue-tie

(LLLGB, 2016)

Why won’t my baby breastfeed anymore?

Sometimes, older babies seem to refuse to breastfeed when they’d been breastfeeding just fine until then. This is known as a 'nursing strike.' They might refuse to breastfeed for 2-4 days, but it can be up to 10 days (Mohrbacher, 2013).

Reasons that your older baby might refuse to feed at the breast could include:

something has changed that makes it difficult for baby to latch
a strong or fast flow of milk, which your baby is struggling to take
a painful mouth, due to an infection like thrush or because they’re teething
being more aware of their surroundings and being easily distracted, for example by noise
a change in the taste of your milk, such as that due to your menstrual cycle
the introduction of more solid food
a small number of babies might struggle because of severe or persistent reflux, known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), so they may link feeding with pain.

(Mohrbacher, 2013; Gonzalez, 2014; BellyBelly, 2016; NICE, 2017; Public Health England, ND)

What can I do when my baby refuses to breastfeed?

8 top tips to help your baby who’s refusing to breastfeed:

1. Try to identify what’s going on for your baby. Knowing the cause can help not only with a plan but it can be reassuring to understand what is happening and know there’s a solution. You could think about the following:

Do they have a cold or an infection?
Was there something that might have caused them to not want to feed?
Talk to one of our Breastfeeding Counsellors or contact our Infant Feeding Line on 0300 330 0700 (option 1) for further support. It can be a great way to get some help to find out what’s happening.
You could also contact a health professional to investigate any medical reasons why your baby might not be feeding.

2. Try to stay calm and not force a feed. Instead, allow your baby to take the lead.

3. Especially for young babies, many mums find skin-to-skin contact in a laid-back position helps to take the pressure out of the situation. It allows your baby to use their own natural instincts to feed (Burbridge, 2017).

4. Don’t worry if your baby bobs their head or moves it from side to side, they’re not rejecting the breast as it might appear. These are your baby’s natural ways of finding your breast (Coulson, 2012).

5. Try a different feeding position to see if you can get your baby more comfortable. Some babies find a laid-back breastfeeding (also called biological nurturing) position helpful if they are struggling to get a deep latch or if you have a strong let-down of milk (Coulson, 2012).

6. Sometimes, feeding your baby while they’re sleepy or even asleep can be helpful. Many mums say that these ‘dream feeds’ can be very effective for a baby who is uninterested when awake (Pitman and Bennett, 2008).

7. You could try feeding your baby while rocking them or walking around, singing or playing with them or playing white noise or background music to them (Australian Breastfeeding Association, 2017).

8. You might want to try feeding in a quiet room, away from distractions, as some babies are so keen to be involved that they limit their feeds (Gonzalez, 2014).

What can I do if I’ve tried everything but my baby still won’t breastfeed?

One of the key things to consider is maintaining your milk supply. You might need to consider expressing, either by hand or with a pump. You can find more information about expressing and storing your milk here.

Another consideration is making sure your baby is getting enough milk. How might you know how much milk your baby is getting, you might ask. The answer lies in their dirty and wet nappies. You can expect six wet nappies in 24 hours if your baby is over a week old (UNICEF, 2016). If you’re unsure, it’s best to ask for support from your health visitor, GP or NCT breastfeeding counsellor.

In the short term, you might need to look at alternative ways to feed your baby if you think they’re not getting enough milk. A newborn baby needs to be fed regularly and parents can use syringe or cup feeding as an alternative to a bottle in the early days (Flint et al, 2016; NHS, 2016).

If you decide to use a bottle, it might be helpful to feed with plenty of skin-to-skin contact (UNICEF, 2018). Gently offering the bottle to your baby by tickling their top lip, waiting for the wide-open gape might also help mimic a breastfeed (UNICEF, 2019). That can support the transition back to the breast.

Taking frequent breaks during the bottle feed, and perhaps swapping sides, can be helpful (UNICEF 2018). Continuing to have skin-to-skin time with your baby and allowing them access to the breast will help this. It’ll also be a bonding and calming experience for you both.

How can I deal with the stress of my baby refusing to breastfeed?

When a newborn refuses the breast, or an older baby goes through a nursing strike, it can be very upsetting for both you and your baby. You’re definitely not alone in struggling with the emotions of breastfeeding problems. So here are some tips that might help:

Try to take time to enjoy plenty of extra cuddles and quiet time together.
Many mums find a ‘babymoon’ helpful for allowing their baby access to the breast in a non-pressurised way. A babymoon means spending some hours together in a relaxed setting, such as lying down snuggling in bed. This can allow you to enjoy your baby without worrying about feeding.
For older babies, some mums find that having a bath with their baby or bringing their baby into bed with them helps their baby to latch.
Try to find some support from other mums and trained breastfeeding supporters. Chatting with other people about this can help to unburden the stresses and worries you might be feeling. Breast refusal is not uncommon and you might find that chatting to someone who understands is invaluable while you’re struggling.
For many mums, time and patience can help the situation. Your baby’s instincts and behaviour can change and develop, especially in the early days.
If you’re struggling, do contact the NCT Infant Feeding Line and speak to a breastfeeding counsellor. They’ll listen, offer you information and will support you to find your own path.

This page was last reviewed in August 2019.

Further information

NCT supports all parents, however they feed their baby. If you have questions, concerns or need support, you can speak to a breastfeeding counsellor by calling our helpline on 0300 330 0700, whether you are exclusively breastfeeding or using formula milk. Breastfeeding counsellors have had extensive training, will listen without judging or criticising and will offer relevant information and suggestions. You can also find more useful articles here.

National Breastfeeding Line (government funded): 0300 100 021.

NHS information on mastitis.

Best Beginnings - Bump to Breastfeeding DVD Chapter 7 'Overcoming Challenges'.

Healthtalkonline.org: Managing Breastfeeding – dealing with difficult times.

References

Australian for Breastfeeding Association (2017) Breast refusal. https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/breast-refusal [Accessed 22nd February 2019]

BellyBelly. (2016) Breast refusal – 13 tips for a baby that refuses the breast.
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/breastfeeding/breast-refusal/ [Accessed 22nd February 2019]

Burbridge A. (2017) Nursing strikes. La Leche League GB. Available at: https://www.laleche.org.uk/nursing-strikes/ [Accessed 1st August 2019]

Coulson S. (2012) Biological nurturing: the laid-back breastfeeding revolution. Midwifery Today, 101 Available at: https://midwiferytoday.com/mt-articles/biological-nurturing/ [Accessed 1st August 2019]

Flint A, New K, Davies MW. (2016) Cup feeding versus other forms of supplemental enteral feeding for newborn infants unable to fully breastfeed. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (8):CD005092. Available from: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD005092.pub3… [Accessed 1st August 2019]

Gonzalez C. (2014) Breastfeeding Made Easy. London: Pinter &Martin

LLLGB. (2016) My baby won’t breastfeed. Available at https://www.laleche.org.uk/my-baby-wont-breastfeed/ [Accessed 1st August 2019]

Mohrbacher N. (2013) Is your formerly nursing baby refusing to breastfeed? Breastfeeding Reporter Blog. Available at http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2013/1/26/is-your-formerly-nursing-baby-refusing-to-breastfeed.html?rq=refusing [Accessed 1st August 2019]

NICE. (2017) Breastfeeding problems. National Institute for health and Care Excellence, Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/breastfeeding-problems#!scenario [Accessed 1st August 2019]

Pitman T, Bennett H. (2008) 0-1 year: nursing strikes; breastfeeding while baby’s falling asleep may help end a nursing strike. Today’s Parent. 7:137.

Public Health England. (ND) Breastfeeding challenges. NHS, Start 4 life. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-challenges/reflux/ [Accessed 1st August 2019]

UNICEF. (2016) Breastfeeding checklist for mothers – How can I tell that breastfeeding is going well? UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative. Available at https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/10/mothers_breastfeeding_checklist.pdf [Accessed 1st August 2019]

UNICEF. (2018) Skin-to-skin contact. Available from: https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/guidance-for-health-professionals/implementing-the-baby-friendly-standards/further-guidance-on-implementing-the-standards/skin-to-skin-contact/ [Accessed 1st August 2019]

UNICEF. (2019) Responsive bottle feeding. Available from: https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/04/Infant-formula-and-responsive-bottle-feeding.pdf [Accessed 1st August 2019]

Causes, Emergency Care, and Treatments

“Poor feeding in infants” is a term used to describe an infant with little interest in feeding. It can also refer to an infant who is not feeding enough to receive the necessary nutrition required for adequate growth.

Poor growth associated with lack of feeding can lead to a separate condition called failure to thrive.

Poor feeding is caused by a variety of factors. It differs from picky eating, in which a baby may reject one form of milk for another or a toddler may refuse certain foods.

No matter the precise cause of poor feeding, undernutrition is a top concern. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 45 percent of child deaths are related to undernutrition.

It is important not to dismiss poor feeding as something that will improve over time. This is a critical point in your child’s life, and missing key nutrients can lead to physical and cognitive concerns.

One of the most common causes of poor feeding is premature birth. Premature babies are typically poor feeders because they often have not yet developed the skills needed to suck and swallow milk.

Still, feeding usually increases as baby grows. If your little one was born prematurely and still has feeding trouble after leaving the hospital, it’s important to continue following up closely with your pediatrician, particularly if feeding concerns worsen or do not improve.

Other causes include congenital conditions such as jaundice and infections such as viral gastroenteritis. Once these conditions are treated, poor feeding usually subsides.

Serious conditions

Poor feeding can also be caused by serious conditions, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. This is an overgrowth syndrome that causes infants to be particularly large and grow at a considerably fast pace. It affects an estimated 1 in 13,700 newborns worldwide.

Other serious conditions include:

congenital hypothyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid fails to develop or function properly
other genetic conditions, including Down syndrome
hypoplastic left heart, a rare condition that occurs when the left side of the heart fails to develop properly and is unable to pump blood to the body
other heart defects

Less serious conditions

Other causes of poor feeding aren’t related to a congenital condition at all. Temporary illnesses can make feeding uncomfortable (and even painful) for infants.

Common ailments that get in the way of feeding include:

diarrhea
ear infections
coughs and colds
teething

When in doubt, it’s always best to double-check with a pediatrician. You don’t want to assume a minor illness when in fact there could be a serious underlying condition.

Feeding difficulty is a serious matter. When accompanied by other symptoms, emergency care may be required. Seek immediate medical attention if your baby is showing any of the following signs:

has a fever of over 100°F (37.8°C), an emergency in babies 3 months old and younger
is vomiting after every feeding
is vomiting blood
has a cough with breathing difficulties
is crying constantly
has bloody stool
is wheezing
is becoming unresponsive to touch

Poor feeding that is caused by an infection will usually stop when the infection is resolved.

Treatment of poor feeding depends on the cause. This can involve changing the feeding schedule to consist of smaller, more frequent meals. If a milk-based intolerance is suspected, your doctor will work closely with you to find a formula and feeding plan that suits your baby.

While serious cases of poor feeding require prompt medical care, other causes can be resolved at home with the advice of a pediatrician.

If your baby is breastfeeding or chestfeeding, try to avoid:

certain medications that can enter breast milk
applying lotions and other skin products to your breasts
high levels of stress — this may also make your milk taste differently

Other considerations may concern formula feeding as well as infants who have started solid foods.

Formula feeding

While breastfeeding is the method of feeding for infants recommended by health agencies such as WHO, it is a fact that not all babies are successful with this method — and not all nursing parents may want or be able to breastfeed.

If your baby doesn’t seem to latch on despite repeated attempts, you may consider talking with your doctor about formula feeding. You may still be able to try breastfeeding or chestfeeding, even when supplementing with formula, if you’d like.

The key is that your baby gets adequate nutrition. A lactation consultant may be helpful, if available to you.

“Picky eating”

After baby reaches 6 months of age, your pediatrician may encourage you to introduce solids to their diet. While solids shouldn’t replace breast milk at this phase of your child’s life, most infants require additional nutrients around the 6-month mark.

Examples include:

rice cereal
pureed fruits and vegetables
pureed or soft meats

Introducing solid foods can be exciting for both caregiver and child. However, some infants don’t take to solids as readily as other babies.

This can be alarming, but the issue may be solved by:

mixing cereal with solid foods
offering solids in small increments
only giving solids two to three times per day
starting with one food at a time, then introducing others as your baby gets used to solids

When an infant doesn’t like solids, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that they are a “picky eater. ” However, this phase doesn’t usually start until your baby becomes a toddler.

Stress management

When your baby is eating poorly, it’s easy to get stressed out. This is especially true for new parents who may not yet know the distinctions between serious conditions and minor feeding concerns.

Remember that stress can worsen feeding concerns. It may interfere with attempts at feeding if your infant senses something is wrong.

Managing your stress won’t treat all causes of poor feeding, but it can help in many cases.

It’s difficult to find time for yourself during this busy stage of your life — even a few minutes a day can help. When you feel stress coming on during feedings, take a moment for some deep breathing.

Poor feeding in infants can lead to serious issues, such as malnutrition and stunted growth. It is essential that babies consume and digest the necessary nutrients to thrive and develop.

Any infant who is feeding poorly should be taken to a pediatrician for evaluation. After a proper diagnosis, treatment may be necessary.

In other cases, poor feeding can be resolved through refined techniques and perseverance at home. If you suspect feeding difficulties may be causing other concerns, call a doctor right away.

An expert spoke about the dangers of malnutrition for children

https://ria.ru/20191212/1562318828.html

An expert spoke about the dangers of malnutrition for children

An expert spoke about the dangers of malnutrition for children - RIA Novosti, 03.03. 2020

An expert spoke about the dangers of malnutrition for children

A child who does not eat properly can potentially lose up to five years of life in the future, the director of the Federal Research Center for Nutrition and... RIA Novosti, 03.03.2020

2019-12-12T16: 01

2020-03-03T18: 12

Society

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Health

Russia

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MOSCOW, December 12 - RIA Novosti. A child who does not eat properly can potentially lose up to five years of life in the future, Dmitry Nikityuk, director of the Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Biotechnology, said at a press conference at Rosstat. "The life expectancy of the child population is directly related to nutrition. period reduces life expectancy by an average of two and a half years, and violations during the school period ... this is another minus 2.5 years of life. That is, by the end of the school period and the transition to adulthood - five years of waiting for a decrease in potential life expectancy ", - said Nikityuk. The event was dedicated to the results of a sample survey of the nutrition of the Russian population in 2018, conducted by the statistical office. A separate block concerned the assessment of the health status of children and the quality of their nutrition in schools. In general, according to parents, the state of health of 81.5% of children aged 3 to 13 can be assessed as good. However, if among children from three to six years of age there were 82.3% of such children, then in the age group from 7 to 11 years the percentage of children in good health decreased to 81%, and in the age group of 12-13 years - to 80.7 % follows from the data of the department. Nikityuk noted that baby food is a serious problem that is being considered at the highest level. "Most of our adult diseases ... have their origins in childhood due to malnutrition ... The problem is extremely serious, but it is impossible to solve it without such large-scale studies," the scientist added. He also emphasized that nutrition, its quality and regularity are one of the most significant factors determining human life expectancy." Naturally, many factors influence life expectancy: this is the genetic program that we receive from our parents, endogenous factors, and a group of exogenous factors . .. Nutrition is, as a shaping exogenous factor , very significant," Nikityuk said. According to him, studies that were conducted on experimental models showed that the share of nutrition among such factors is approximately 70%. "In addition, it has been established that proper nutrition is a well-being factor that reduces the risk of almost all infectious diseases by 80%. And malnutrition, on the contrary, increases the risk," the scientist noted. Nikityuk also noted that it is important to strive to drink clean drinking water and you should not, both children and adults, allow yourself to drink excess amounts of drinks with a high sugar content - like juices, and carbonated waters.

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MOSCOW, December 12 - RIA Novosti. A child who is not properly fed can potentially lose up to five years of life in the future, Dmitry Nikityuk, director of the Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Biotechnology, said at a press conference in Rosstat.

"The life expectancy of the child population is directly related to nutrition. It has been established that constant malnutrition in the preschool period reduces life expectancy by an average of two and a half years, and violations during the school period ... this is another minus 2.5 years out of That is, by the end of the school period and the transition to adulthood - five years of waiting for a decrease in potential life expectancy," Nikityuk said.

November 16, 2019, 10:00Authors

Five secrets of proper nutrition: a unique way to stay forever young Moreover, make innovation a habit. This is how health and longevity is ensured with the help of a competent diet.

The event was dedicated to the results of a sample survey of the nutrition of the Russian population in 2018, conducted by the statistical office. A separate block concerned the assessment of the health status of children and the quality of their nutrition in schools. In general, according to parents, the state of health of 81.5% of children aged 3 to 13 can be assessed as good. However, if among children from three to six years of age there were 82.3% of such children, then in the age group from 7 to 11 years the percentage of children in good health decreased to 81%, and in the age group of 12-13 years - to 80.7 %, follows from the data of the department.

Nikitiuk noted that baby food is a serious problem that is being considered at the highest level. "Most of our adult diseases ... have their origins in childhood due to malnutrition ... The problem is extremely serious, but it is impossible to solve it without such large-scale studies," the scientist added.

January 6, 2019, 08:17

To eat or not to eat: what do you know about proper nutrition?

He also emphasized that nutrition, its quality and regularity are one of the most significant factors determining the length of human life.

"Naturally, many factors affect life expectancy: this is the genetic program that we receive from our parents, endogenous factors, and a group of exogenous factors. .. Nutrition is very significant as a shaping exogenous factor," Nikityuk said. According to him, studies that were conducted on experimental models showed that the share of nutrition among such factors is approximately 70%.

"In addition, it has been established that proper nutrition is a well-being factor that reduces the risk of almost all infectious diseases by 80%. And improper nutrition, on the contrary, increases the risk," the scientist noted.

Nikitiuk also noted that it is important to strive to drink clean drinking water and that both children and adults should not allow themselves to drink excessive amounts of drinks with a high sugar content - both juices and sodas.

April 7, 2019, 02:33

Ministry of Health gave advice on proper nutrition

The main consequences of malnutrition in childhood Kyiv vul. Vadym Hetman, 3

M. Shulyavska 7 15 M. Dorogozhichi 33 18

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Improper diet in children age can lead to the development of serious diseases in adulthood. At the same time, not only the use of unhealthy foods at school age can cause harm, but also the improper introduction of complementary foods to an infant. About the dangers of malnutrition in childhood, how not to make a mistake, said the gastroenterologist Porubinovskaya Inga Aleksandrovna.

– Inga Alexandrovna, tell us what kind of food is wrong for children, and what are its consequences?

Improper nutrition can lead to chronic diseases that continue into adulthood. Improper nutrition is not only the use of unhealthy foods (fast foods, muffins, sweets, etc.), but also, for example, the wrong time for the introduction of complementary foods to a child, improper processing of foods, etc.

Each person has individual characteristics that can be traced from early childhood. A person may not tolerate certain foods. Some children, for example, are lactose intolerant, and milk should be removed from their feed as soon as possible. There are also congenital diseases, for example, dyskinesia, which require adherence to a certain nutrition system. Therefore, it is imperative that the child is observed by a pediatrician. You can not self-medicate a child, parents may not know the symptoms of all diseases, so they miss their development, which leads to complications.

Sometimes children develop pancreatitis after a viral illness. If parents miss this, the disease becomes chronic and accompanies a person all his life. Many parents wonder why a child at the age of 10 has chronic pancreatitis, and the reason is that he was missed when the child was younger.

Nutrition call - consult a doctor

0002 (050) 301-99-26 (067) 446-11-79

Parents should keep in touch with the pediatrician, who will monitor the child's health, including suggesting what kind of food he needs.

— What symptoms might cause parents to suspect that their child has a feeding problem? When should you see a doctor?

Mom should monitor the child's condition and behavior: how he eats, whether he is active or not, whether he has vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, skin rash, etc. If the child does not tolerate some product, the mother should notice that after using it, changes in the baby's well-being occur. If any of these symptoms appear, you should consult your doctor.

— Can you give general nutritional advice for children?

There are no general recommendations. Each child should have only an individual approach. So, I can say that you need to avoid fast foods, the abuse of sweets, soda and other unhealthy foods.

— And how many times a day should a child eat?

This is also determined individually. There are children who eat every 2 hours from birth, others - after 3-4 hours. The main thing is that the food should not be too frequent or too rare.