Newborn Cries When Nursing

Newborn crying can be challenging for any parent. Generally by 6 weeks of age, the time a newborn spends crying peaks and then the fussing tapers off gradually, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. If your newborn cries while nursing, explore the possible reasons behind this behavior to help your baby feed effectively.

  1. Impatience

    • When a mother puts a baby to the breast to feed, the sucking action stimulates the milk ducts to eject milk, a process known as ̶0;letdown.̶1; The time necessary for letdown to occur can vary for mothers. If a mother̵7;s milk letdown is slower than average, the baby may become frustrated and impatient as he sucks without receiving milk, according to the KellyMom website, a breastfeeding support source. This impatience may cause a newborn to pull off the breast and cry because he doesn̵7;t understand why milk isn̵7;t letting down. Kneading the breast gently may stimulate a faster letdown.

    Overactive Letdown

    • A baby may cry while nursing if the he experiences an overactive letdown, advise the authors of ̶0;The Effects of an Overabundant Milk Supply and a Forceful Letdown Reflex,̶1; published the Overactive Letdown website. When this situation occurs, the mother̵7;s body responds so forcefully to the stimulation of breastfeeding that milk flows too fast for the baby to handle, states KellyMom. A baby may cry when this occurs. Some mothers pump for about one minute prior to putting the baby to the breast to allow a slight moderation in letdown.

    Gas

    • Breastfeeding babies generally ingest less gas than bottle-fed babies, but babies who nurse may still ingest some excess air during feeds. If your baby gulps and swallows air during breastfeeding, he may experience discomfort from the trapped air, which could make him cry, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children.org website. You may resolve this situation by interrupting the feeding to burp your baby before allowing him to finish.

    End of Feeding

    • A baby may reach the point where she̵7;s satisfied and finished breastfeeding. Instead of simply pulling off the breast, the baby may cry to indicate that she̵7;s done. It̵7;s also possible that a baby may desire more sucking but is no longer hungry. The continued flow of milk may bother her in this situation. End the breastfeeding session and offer a pacifier instead to satisfy her sucking needs.

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