9mth protest vs. Self-weaning?

I've got another topic here about dropping the dreamfeed and mentioned my son is less interested in milk during the day while breastfeeding at night.

I haven't feed him today and it's 1:30pm since last night sometime - maybe around 2am and he has been refusing the breast all day. I thought he must be thirsty and my boobs were so sore and I'm afraid of mastitis because I've had it before. So I expressed 50mls (can't do much anymore - it takes soooo long) and gave that to him in a sippy cup and he drank the lot (usually has no more than 20mls of water - obviously doesn't like it as much!!)

Some have mentioned a 9mth old protest - he's just over 9mths old. What makes them do that? Is he self-weaning or should I wait it out? In the meantime I'm a bit worried I'll either get mastitis or my supply will dry up.

Would appreciate some suggestions!

Edited by nathansmummy

I have heard that it is very rare for a baby to self-wean before 12 months. Much more likely to be a nursing strike.

Check out the site Kellz mentioned or contact LLL - both were invaluable when DS went through a nursing strike.

It could be either. But babies CAN self wean before 12 months, mine did at 8.5 months totally self weaned there was no way he wanted anything to do with breastfeeding. Which was really hard as he fed so well from birth and loved breastmilk. I kept offering and still do ( still have milk) but i'm not forcing him to feed off me, that's not right.

So it could be a nursing strike but he could be self weaning. It does happen. It is rare though.