What causes a Strike
Some reasons that are known to occasionally result in a strike are teething, illness, sores in the baby's mouth, a change in the taste of the milk, apprehension as a result of the mother's reaction to being bitten, prolonged separation between mother and baby, the frequent use of bottles or the pacifier, etc.

Some lactation experts believe that a nursing strike can many times precede the baby's mastery of a developmental skill such as crawling, standing or walking.

Offer him your index or finger nail-side down to suck on for several minutes, before you actually begin feeding. This suck-training teaches him to drop his tongue down as he must do with breastfeeding.

This is also a good way to calm the baby should he become upset as you offer your breast.

Breastfeed frequently as often as you can. Attempt to feed before the baby gets too hungry - when he is sucking on his fingers or rooting, but before he cries. If you can catch him early, he may be more willing to work with you.

Try nursing when he is a little drowsy. Some babies are more willing to take the breast when they are semi-asleep than when fully awake. Try nursing as he is beginning to get sleepy or just beginning to wake up. Some mothers find that their babies will instinctively nurse well once completely asleep.

Try different nursing positions. Nursing while lying down often helps minimize any distractions that may interfere with nursing.

Nursing in a quiet, dark room may also be helpful.

Nurse while in motion as you walk, sway, rock, bounce, etc.

Provide lots of skin-to-skin contact when nursing and at other times as you can. Undress baby to his diaper and remove your blouse if possible.

Drip expressed breastmilk over your nipple in the corner of the baby's mouth using an eyedropper or feeding syringe while he is at the breast.

Important
Nursing should not become associated with unpleasantness. If baby becomes upset while you are trying to feed him, stop and attempt to calm him before trying again.

Always Remember
You will need to express your milk as often as the baby was nursing in order to maintain your supply during the strike.

If the strike persists for more than a day or so, consider using a pump that will allow you to pump both breasts simultaneously. Doing so will increase the hormone that causes milk production.

If you must offer your expressed milk to your baby, do so with an alternative feeding device such as a cup, spoon, feeding syringe, medicine/eye dropper rather than a bottle. If you choose to use a bottle anyway, use a newborn or slow flow nipple so that they baby still has to work hard with the bottle.