Breastfed babies 'are more cranky and cry more' (2024)

FAQs

Are breastfed babies more cranky? ›

New mums should be advised that it is normal for their baby to cry more if they are breastfed, say experts.

When your breast softens, the milk flow slows. The baby may fuss with this flow change and may indicate it's time to swap to the fuller breast. Some mothers struggle with milk production, and their baby's fussing is a frustrated response to a slow milk flow.

Your baby could be fussy because he is not getting enough milk. In this case he may not show steady weight gain. As weekly weight gain can vary, average your baby's weight gain over several weeks. Check he is well attached at the breast, and offer both breasts at least 8–12 times every 24 hours.

Controversially, the study found that babies who are bottlefed cry less than babies who are breastfed. “Samples which included babies who were bottle-fed or mixed-fed (breast and bottle) had significantly lower fuss/cry durations,” the researchers wrote.

If your baby shows negative symptoms after drinking breast milk. Consider how your baby responds to breast milk after drinking it. If symptoms occur such as fussiness, irritability, crying, gas, increased spitting up and/or drawing their legs up due to tummy pain, write down everything you ate that day.

A growth spurt, also sometimes called a breastfeeding crisis, is a response by the baby to a clear increase in milk demand. Your baby will now ask to breastfeed at all times and may be nervous, irritable, and seemingly insatiable. Coincidentally, these demand increases occur around the same time for all babies.

If your baby is crying a lot after every feeding, it may simply be a buildup of air swallowed while eating. It's thought that bottle-fed babes in particular may be more prone to swallowing a lot of air during a feeding. This can trap gas in their stomachs and be uncomfortable.

Some children are content to nurse indefinitely. But others will give moms clues that they're ready to begin the process of weaning, such as: seeming disinterested or fussy when nursing. nursing in shorter sessions than before.

Your breasts will feel softer and less full as your milk supply adjusts to your baby's needs. This does not mean you have low supply.

Are breastfed babies more clingy to mom? ›

According to studies, breastfeeding is the most powerful form of interaction between the mother and the infant. Due to the physical closeness, the baby is more close to the mother than to anyone else in the family. As per a few studies, breastfed mothers are closer to their babies as compared to bottle-fed mothers.

A baby's hunger, the mother's supply, the rate the mother's milk is flowing from her breasts and distractions from what else is going on in the environment all play a part. Some breastfed babies prefer long, drawn out feed times where they stay sucking on the breast for ages.

The mothers in all three countries actually stopped breastfeeding much earlier (6.15, 4.58, and 7.46 months in average for Japanese, French, and American samples, respectively) than their reported ideal time (11.71, 7.27, and 11.42 months).

It is possible that some foods may affect breast milk and contribute to intestinal gas or other digestive problems. These problems may make crying episodes worse. Foods that often affect breast milk in this way include: Garlic, onions, cabbage, turnips, broccoli, and beans.

Researchers also found that Danish, German, and Japanese babies cry the least. Danish babies in particular cry the least and have the lowest levels of colic, which they believe is down to the Danish parenting style, and focus on the concept of hygge.

Breastfeeding aversion, simply put, is when negative emotions and feelings are triggered during a breastfeeding session. The emotions can span from irritability and frustration to rage or disgust.

Dysphoric milk ejection reflex, or D-MER, is a condition that affects people who breastfeed (chest feed) or pump milk. It causes sudden and intense negative emotions just before you “let down” or release milk. It's quick and lasts just a minute or two.