11 month old will not take mothers feed

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Updated on Oct 22, 2013
Hi All, My 11 month old son got cough and cold a while back and since then he does not take my feed but starts crying hysterically if i try While he still has a bit of stuffed nose, i am unable to understand this behaviour and don't know what to do. Please guide

| Oct 22, 2013
Dear Payal. I had the same problem when my son was 10 months old. He was suffering from cough cold and fever and suddenly stopped nursing. He would cry if I tried to feed him. We took him to the doctor. He was diagnosed with a ear and throat infection, which explained his difficulty in eating or drinking. He was given a course of antibiotics. It could be that your son is uncomfortable when nursing. You could check with the doctor to see what is stopping him from taking your feed. Sometimes the problem could be deeper than it looks. The best option is for the doctor to rule out any other ailments. Hope this helps :)


| Oct 22, 2013
Dear Payal! We use nose for breathing . When' a child's nose is blocked, he will breathe from mouth. Since during nursing child's mouth is engaged in sucking ,child feels uncomfortable. So the best solution would be to express milk n serve it thru either spoon. It is advisable to unblock child's nose using lukewarm water n a pinch of salt. Put a drop in each nostril n child might sneeze thereby relieving stuffiness. u cud do this 3-4 times in a day before nursing. The child should be at an angle of at least 45 degrees or more while nursing which can be done by putting a hand or pillow underneath. U cud try giving hot soups, dal water as the child mite have difficulty in taking solid food. Hope this helps!

| Oct 22, 2013
No Payal, my son too did not go back to nursing. I had to start him off on formula. I wonder why they do that? How long did you try to nurse him for? I tried for about a week and several times off and on after that but he just would not want to even go to the nursing position.


