Navigating Nursing Strikes

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Your breastfeeding journey has been going on without a hitch, and then all of a sudden, your baby seems to detest being at the breast. 

There are tears, often from both mom and baby. Many frantic searches on the internet to help you figure out what in the world is going on. Constant thoughts that maybe this is the end of your breastfeeding journey. And the hardest part is that it seems like it came all of a sudden. 

If you’ve ever experienced anything like this, you’ve probably gone through what’s called a nursing strike. 

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Now let’s talk about what a nursing strike is and what it is not. 

A nursing strike is a short and sudden period of time where infants refuse or resist feeding at the breast. 

A nursing strike does not necessarily mean that your baby is weaning or that your breastfeeding journey is over. 

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Why do nursing strikes happen?

We may not know why your baby in particular has a nursing strike, here are a few general reasons why babies may go through a nursing strike:

• Teething
• Infant illness
• New pregnancy
• Changes in mother’s scent (i.e. new shampoo, new lotion)
• Pain or discomfort (i.e. post-procedure, vaccines, ear infection).
• Changes in routine (mother returning to work, starting daycare, vacation)
• Negative experience at the breast (i.e. mother had a strong reaction to infant biting at the breast).
• Low or slow milk supply
• Environment overstimulation 

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Tools to survive a nursing strike:

 First things first, there are two “rules” for surviving a nursing strike

1. Feed your baby
2. Protect your milk supply

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Let’s break both of those ideas down, and then we’ll go over strategies to help baby get back to breast. 

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Feed Your Baby

Do not ever “starve” your baby back to the breast. Your baby is communicating to you that something is off, and it is our job to figure out what it is, and support Baby to gently come back to the breast. However you need to feed your baby - with a bottle, a syringe, an at-breast supplementer, or open cup. You can talk with your lactation provider about what may work for you. 

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Protect Your Milk Supply

Continue to stimulate and empty your breasts often. This can look different for every mom. In general, pump for each full bottle given. For example, if your infant drank 6 bottles in 24 hours, you will want to pump 6 times. 

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Strategies to Help Baby Come Back to Breast

As a reminder, we don’t want to force our baby back to breast. We want to support them gently in coming back, while trying to determine the cause for their nursing strike. 

1. Offer the breast frequently
   
   1. Try offering the breast even more than the times your infant often feeds. We want to prioritize opportunities over “successful” feedings. Try offering the breast while taking a bath with your baby, or nursing in a baby carrier. Even if you’re baby seems slightly interested, attempt to latch them at the breast, even if it lasts only a few suckles. 
2. Skin to skin 
   
   1. We want Baby to have a lot of access to the breast to attempt a feeding, even if it is “unsuccessful” (The more baby practices, the more successful attempts we may have). Start a feeding by being skin to skin before, or do some skin to skin after a nap. 
3. Offer the breast when infant is less inhibited
   
   1. Try offering the breast when your infant is drowsy and just waking up. Try a dream feed. 
4. Don’t force your baby to nurse
   
   1. Again, we want to avoid negative experiences at the breast. Avoid pushing on your baby’s head, or letting you or your baby get too distressed. Take a break for a few minutes, reset, then try again. Or move on, feed your baby another way, and try again later.
5. Manage your own worry about the nursing strike. 
   
   1. Babies can feel our tension. We want them to sense our confidence not our worry. 
6. Try different positions
   
   1. If you consistently use one position, try another! A great position to try is side-lying position. In my experience, this can really help both mom and baby relax a little more, and lead to a greater chance of a successful attempt).
7. Hand express or pump until you have letdown to decrease the infant’s work and frustration. 
   
   1. By giving our babies instant gratification, that can in theory keep them at the breast longer, with a greater chance for a successful feeding. Remember that this isn’t a forever thing, just a strategy to help your baby return to the breast. 

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Have you tried all this and breastfeeding is still not going well?

Nursing strikes can be tough, but you don’t have to navigate them alone! Reach out to a trusted lactation provider who can support you and your baby.

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Sydney White is a Registered Nurse and Certified Lactation Counselor providing breastfeeding support in San Diego County.

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References 

Fatemeh Nayyeri, et al. “Frequency of “Nursing Strike” among 6-Month-Old Infants, at East Tehran Health Center and Contributing Factors.” Journal of Family & Reproductive Health, vol. 9, no. 3, Sept. 2015, p. 137, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4662758/. Accessed 11 June 2025.

Ilkin Elif Günel Karaburun, and Sıddika Songül Yalçın. “Breast Refusal: An Analysis of Frequency, Onset Timing, Recovery Status, and Their Interplay with Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Maternal Depression.” BMC Public Health, vol. 24, no. 1, 23 Dec. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21023-5. Accessed 11 June 2025.

Lauwers, Judith, and Anna Swisher. Counseling the Nursing Mother : A Lactation Consultant’s Guide. Burlington, Ma, Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2021.

Llli.org, 2023, llli.org/breastfeeding-info/nursing-strikes/.

Wilson-Clay, Barbara, and Kay Hoover. The Breastfeeding Atlas. Manchaca, Texas, Lactnews Press, 2022.

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Disclaimer: This information provided in this blog article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, it is important to consult with your qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about supplementation or addressing concerns about your baby's weight gain. This information is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. For further information, please consult with a pediatric healthcare provider or visit reputable medical sources such as the American Academy of Pediatrics or the World Health Organization

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