It often happens that a mother, at some point during her breastfeeding journey, feels that her baby fights breastfeeding. This is a behavior of breastfeeding babies that can be found very often, and here we will try to answer all questions that can come up so you can be prepared for it or find out what is going on.

What does it mean a baby fights breastfeeding?

Suddenly, babies don’t nurse as they used to anymore; they seem to want to breastfeed very badly, but as soon as you put your baby onto the breast, they start arching back and crying angrily. In fact, they are actually fighting with the breast, give it head-butts, then pull back, and don’t want to be placed in a breastfeeding position.

At night, however, it is not such a problem, and when they are asleep, they breastfeed as normal, and during the day, they behave the same as always; it is only when they ask to nurse, and you put your baby into a breastfeeding position. It seems that nothing is right at that moment, and nothing comforts your baby.

Do I need to worry if my baby fights breastfeeding?

When a baby behaves in this way and is fuzzy at the breast, all alarms immediately go off, and there are a thousand thoughts you could have related to this behavior: maybe I don’t have enough milk, my baby doesn’t like my milk anymore, my baby rejects me or my baby doesn’t like it and so on.

A mixture of worries and common myths that we have always heard in our society can make you doubt everything when this happens.

What causes this behavior?

When a baby does not want to breastfeed or seems to fight breastfeeding, there are many different circumstances that can cause this behavior.

Here we offer you some ideas why a baby may refuse the breast, with additional information if you identify with one of them:

• Difficulties or discomfort with the baby’s latch: due to a tongue-tie, retrognathia, conditions of the baby’s oral structures, breast engorgement, previous use of nipple shields, inappropriate or forced positioning of the baby at the breast, hyperactive milk ejection reflex and so on.
• Baby is uncomfortable or in pain: from the position in the womb, from instrumental birth (for example, forceps), pain in the head or mouth (sores), ear infection, blocked nose, and difficulties with breathing.
• The baby was born premature or has neurological disorders.
• Baby’s disease: cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) or unmediated sensitivity
• Misinterpretation of the baby’s behavior
• Breastfeeding crisis and developmental leaps
• Nipple confusion or confusion due to the use of a pacifier
• Changes in milk supply or taste of breast milk due to weaning, low milk supply, return of menstrual periods, or a new pregnancy.
• Witching hour or tiredness

In addition to all of the above, remember that the person your baby trusts the most is you. Many times, those small and big things that may happen to them will show up in their behavior when they are breastfeeding; it might not be anything serious, but they just trust you.

If you download our free breastfeeding and maternity app, LactApp, you will find in the section ‘Latching difficulties’ information that can help you understand what may be going on.

Do you need more help?

You can directly write a message to our lactation and maternity experts through the Consultation Channel in the LactApp app, which you can download for free for Android or iPhone.