Why Does Newborn Cry After Feeding

How To Cope With Uncontrollable Crying

Youre rocking a crying baby and wishing you were anywhere else but here. What can you do to cope? Bury your nose in that soft spot in the nape of your babys neck and breathe in that heavenly scent. Then try these tricks:

• Calm down. Okay, this is easier said than done. But its worth the effort. Promise. Why does it work? Its something called entrainment: Were programmed to fall in synch with an external rhythm. That means that your babys breathing and heartbeat will naturally follow yours. So keep them slow.
• Cluster feed. During the witching hour, your baby may want to nurse every 30 minutes or more. Thats perfectly okay. Hopefully, by filling up their belly with cluster feeding, theyll sleep for a longer stretch at night.
• Use a pacifier. All babies have a strong sucking reflex. You can try using a pacifier to calm your baby instead of offering your breast or a bottle. Not only will the sucking soothe your baby, but all that saliva that they swallow will help to break down the milk thats already in their stomach.
• Offer skin-to-skin time. You can soothe your baby by holding your baby naked against your chest so they can listen to your heartbeat.
• Check for tourniquet syndrome. Check that a hair hasnt wrapped itself round your babys fingers, toes or genitals. The hair could constrict the blood flow and cause redness and swelling. Its pretty rare, but keep your eyes open.

Baby Isnt Getting The Right Flow Of Milk

Some babies pull off the breast crying due to a fast or slow flow of breastmilk.

If your baby pulls off your breast soon after your let-down and is coughing or gagging, you may have an overactive let-down reflex.

Some babies get impatient if your milk is slow to let down, or when the flow slows down after the initial let-down. Your baby might pull off, knead the breast, arch her back and cry.

Breast compressions can help your baby to keep getting a flow of milk.

Once breast compressions dont help anymore, switch to the other breast. When she fusses again, switch her back to the other side, back and forth, until she loses interest in feeding.

Needing A Diaper Change

Alright, so you may think this one is easy. However, because a newborns poop doesnt have a distinct smell yet, it can be tricky . So, how can you tell when theyve done the deed in their diaper?

Your baby might look uncomfortable, restless, or even irritated. Having a dirty diaper can make them cranky and moody.

If your little one falls asleep while wearing a soiled diaper, they may wake up suddenly. Another clue is if its been a while since the last diaper change then its probably time to check.

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Understanding And Responding To Your Newborn Babys Behaviour

Your newborn baby is working out what the world is like. The way you respond to your babys behaviour, especially crying, tells your baby a lot about the world.

For example, your baby might find out that when they cry, someone comes to give them what they need. This might be a nappy change, a feed or a cuddle. If that happens, baby will learn that the world is a pretty OK place.

When you respond quickly to comfort your crying newborn, your baby might cry less often overall. Its absolutely fine to pick up your newborn baby when they cry. It helps your baby feel safe and know that youre nearby.

You cant spoil a newborn. If your newborn is crying, its because they need you to comfort them. If you respond calmly and consistently, it helps your baby learn that the world is a safe and predictable place.

What If The Baby Refuses The Bottle Completely And Cries

If your baby refuses the bottle completely and cries, your baby may not be hungry yet, or they may not be feeling well. If there are any other symptoms present such as a runny nose or a fever, the bottle may not be the reason why baby isnt eating. Just like we tend to lose our appetite when were sick as adults, your baby may not feel like eating if they are sick also.

Try to soothe your baby by rocking and swaying them gently, and then try to feed your baby again in a few minutes. Be sure to check the temperature of the bottle in case the formula or breastmilk is too hot or cold.

You may also try switching your baby to a different position.

If your baby is uncomfortable, that may prevent them from wanting to take the bottle.

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Food That The Little Stomach Cannot Handle

Too eager to make your little one taste mommy’s first-ever homemade baby puree? Or do you want to test the chewing capabilities of those cute pair of teeth that emerged last Thursday?

Your anxiousness to make those tiny taste-buds taste something that’s not milk and not white is understandable. However, if you don’t wait for the right time and the little tummy is not ready, you may end up getting yourself a surprise vomit!

If your baby is 4 monthsor older and has started solids, there may be foods that should have been pureed, chopped or made into a baby-friendly portion before serving these items to your baby. Failure to provide appropriate food sizes and portions for your baby can result in vomiting. This is because your babys stomach cannot process inappropriate food. Hence, the only way to get the food out is to push it back up through the mouth. Usually as the food remains in the stomach, your baby can feel acute discomfort. However, this discomfort is relieved as soon as vomiting occurs.

Are There Certain Times Of The Day When My Baby Will Cry More

There sure are. The hours when your baby is more likely to cry are called the witching hour for good reason. Youll probably notice the hours between 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. are most difficult for your baby.

These trying hours begin when your baby approaches 2 to 3 weeks of age. But, thankfully, they peter out when your baby reaches about 3 months old.

Theres no definitive answer as to why these predictable fussy periods happen, but most experts agree that a full days stimulation and lower maternal milk supply at night are big contributors.

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Soothing A Crying Baby

All babies cry, and some more than others. Crying is your baby’s way of telling you they need comfort and care.

Sometimes it’s easy to work out what they want, and sometimes it’s not.

The most common reasons for crying are:

• hunger
• a dirty or wet nappy
• tiredness
• being too hot or too cold
• boredom
• overstimulation

There may be times of the day when your baby tends to cry a lot and cannot be comforted. Early evening is the most common time for this to happen.

This can be hard for you, as it’s often the time when you’re most tired and least able to cope.

The amount babies cry tends to peak at about 7 weeks, then gradually tail off.

Signs Your Baby Is Actually Hungry

Once you know what to look for, your babys feeding cues are fairly obvious. Hungry babies might cry, but remember to look for other, earlier hunger cues, like:

• Bringing her hands to their face
• Rooting
• Making sucking motions and noises
• Sucking on their fingers or putting their fist in their mouth
• Flexing their hands, arms and/or legs
• Clenching their fingers or fists over their chest or tummy
• Fast breathing

Crying is a late hunger cue, so try feeding your baby when they show these early signs, instead of following a strict schedule. If your crying baby doesnt show signs of hunger, their cries are probably due to something else. If your baby continues to cry shortly into the feeding, they probably weren’t hungry. Rather than encouraging them to keep eating, try one of the soothing techniques mentioned above.

Still worried about your babys crying? Check with your pediatrician.

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They Need To Be Changed First

Some babies wont eat if they have a dirty diaper. They could have peed a tiny bit while you were making the bottle. Stop trying to feed them, and check their diaper.

Give them a quick change if need be, and then try to feed them again. If your baby cries during feeding after this, try some of the other solutions on the list.

Causes Of Unexplained Crying

• Hungry Baby. The most common reason babies cry is because they are hungry. They stop crying at the onset of feeding. By the end of the feeding, they are happy.
• Sleepy Baby. The second reason babies cry is they need sleep. They need their parent to put them in a comfortable position. It may be swaddled and on their back. Then they fuss a little and fall asleep.
• Fed Too Much. Some babies cry because of a bloated stomach from overfeeding. Unlike gas, too much milk can cause discomfort that lasts a short time.
• Caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause increased crying and trouble falling asleep. Breastfeeding mothers need to limit their caffeine intake.
• Clothing. Being too hot or too cold can make a baby cry. So can clothing that is too tight.
• Dirty Diaper. Stool is very irritating to the skin. If not cleaned off, it can cause pain and burning.
• Colic. Colic is the main cause of recurrent crying during the early months. All babies have some normal fussy crying every day. When this occurs over 3 hours per day, it’s called colic. When they are not crying, they are happy.
• Pain . Painful causes include an earache, mouth ulcers, or a raw diaper rash. An ulcer on tip of penis may also cause pain and crying. These babies cry a lot and are not happy when they are not crying. They need to see a doctor to make a diagnosis. Fever in this age group is serious until proven otherwise. Shaken baby syndrome is a concern.

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Drinking From A Bottle Is Different From Drinking From The Breast

When a baby drinks from the breast, she is able to both suck in a way where she gets the milk and suck in a way where she doesnt get the milk .

She may even be at the breast and not suck at all, or just come off.

But when a baby drinks from a bottle, she cannot suck in a non-nutritive way.

When she sucks, she gets a more continuous flow of milk, and has to keep sucking else shell be flooded with milk.

A baby likes to suck for many reasons, not just when she is hungry.

For example, she might want to suck to help calm herself down if she is overtired or has pain. If she sucks on a bottle teat, she has no choice but to get milk.

In these ways, a baby may drink more milk from a bottle even if she doesnt need it.

Is It Normal For My Baby To Spit Up After Feedings

Sometimes, babies spit up when they have eaten too much, burp, or drool.

Many infants will spit up a little after some or even all feedings or during burping because their digestive tracts are immature. That’s normal.

As long as your baby is growing and gaining weight and doesn’t seem uncomfortable with the spitting up, it’s OK. The amount of spit-up often looks like more than it actually is.

But spitting up isn’t the same as forcefully vomiting all or most of a feeding. Vomiting is a forceful ejection of stomach contents. Spitting up is a more gentle flow out the mouth or nose.

If you’re concerned that your baby is vomiting, call your doctor. Keep a record of exactly how often and how much your baby is vomiting or spitting up. In rare cases, there may be an allergy, digestive problem, or other problem that needs medical care. The doctor should be able to tell you if it’s normal or something of concern.

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Why Does My Baby Cry After Feeding Key Takeaways

If youre thinking, Why does my baby cry after feeding? hopefully this article is helpful for you. Knowing why your baby cries after feeding is extremely important for the health of your child. Some reasons why your fed baby cries after feeding can include acid reflux, food sensitivity/allergy, gas, formula, or colic.

You should not breastfeed every time your baby cries. Instead, its best to let the baby tell you when its had enough flow of milk.

Its also important to comfort your crying newborn when he/she cries.

Knowing how to answer the question why does my baby cry after feeding can help your breastfeeding experience and the health of your baby. Whether it is with bottle feeding, direct breastfed babies, your baby will be better off if you understand these basics.

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Formula Intolerance Makes Babies Cry During Feeding

If your little one is having a hard time digesting the formula theyre given, it can result in quite a few symptoms. These include:

• Increased fussiness
• Crying during eating
• Stomach pain

Some babies might need a different formula, such as one for babies with colic or for sensitive stomach. If your child is excessively fussy during and/or after eating, discuss switching formulas with their pediatrician.

Keep in mind that most pediatricians recommend switching formula to approximately ten days at a time. This gives you ample time to determine if theres an improvement in the babys condition. It can take babies time to adjust to new formulas.

Lactose intolerance is a common reason behind a baby not being able to tolerate formula. This is different than other formula intolerances.

Lactose intolerance means that babies arent able to digest one of the proteins that are commonly found in milk. Most formulas, including those designed for babies with sensitive stomachs, have this protein.

Common symptoms of lactose intolerance in babies are:

• Irritability

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