Why is my baby kicking and screaming while breastfeeding?

Understanding Your Baby’s Fussiness While Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can be a beautiful bonding experience, but it can also come with its challenges. If your baby is kicking and screaming during nursing sessions, it’s important to understand that this behavior is not uncommon and can stem from a variety of reasons.
Normal Developmental Behavior
Around the age of 6 to 8 weeks, many babies begin to exhibit more active behaviors, which can include kicking, waving their arms, and even pulling away from the breast. This is often a sign of their growing curiosity about the world around them. As they become more aware of their surroundings, they may find it difficult to focus solely on breastfeeding, leading to fussiness and distractions during feeding times.
Sensory Exploration
Babies are naturally inclined to explore their environment through touch and movement. When breastfeeding, they may kick or wave their arms as a way to engage with their surroundings. This behavior is a normal part of their development, as they seek sensory input and interaction. It’s not unusual for them to pull on your clothing or reach for your face, as they are learning about their world and how to communicate their needs.
Discomfort or Feeding Issues
While some fussiness is typical, it can also indicate discomfort or feeding issues. Babies may cry or pull away if they are experiencing problems with latching, if the flow of milk is too fast or too slow, or if they are feeling gassy or unwell. If your baby seems particularly distressed, it might be worth experimenting with different breastfeeding positions or consulting a lactation consultant for personalized advice.
Overstimulation and Distractions
As babies grow, they become more aware of their surroundings, which can lead to overstimulation. Noisy environments, bright lights, or even the presence of other people can distract them during feeding. If your baby is kicking and screaming, it might be helpful to create a calm and quiet space for breastfeeding, minimizing distractions to help them focus on nursing.
Emotional Factors
Sometimes, a baby’s fussiness can be linked to emotional factors. They may be feeling overwhelmed, tired, or in need of comfort. In such cases, holding them close, using skin-to-skin contact, or gently rocking them can help soothe their distress and encourage them to settle down for a more peaceful feeding session.
Conclusion
In summary, if your baby is kicking and screaming while breastfeeding, it’s essential to recognize that this behavior is often a normal part of their development. However, it can also be a sign of discomfort or overstimulation. By creating a calm environment, experimenting with feeding positions, and being attentive to their needs, you can help make breastfeeding a more enjoyable experience for both you and your baby. If concerns persist, don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare professional for guidance.

Why does my baby get frantic while breastfeeding?

Sometimes, your milk lets down so fast that your baby can have trouble swallowing the amount of milk that’s being released. Because of this, your baby may act fussy at breast or choke and sputter at the breast, and he or she may be quite gassy.

Why is my baby aggressively nursing?

Baby Growth Spurts.
Your baby’s little body is growing and changing fast! If they happen to be going through a growth spurt, they’re going to want more nourishment and may begin cluster feeding. If that’s the case, you may find your baby wanting to nurse every 30 minutes to an hour.

Why is my baby kicking and crying while breastfeeding?

Baby’s fussing could mean “I’m not ready yet”. Perhaps the baby needs to burp or fill its nappy (or needs a nappy change) before he can relax and enjoy breastfeeding. Discomfort will distract him from feeding, and you may not realise what he needs to do until after the event!

Why is my baby screaming when feeding?

If your baby tends to cry during or after feeds, it’s worth checking whether this could be reflux. Our guide to reflux in breastfed babies has information on the signs and symptoms. If you’re not sure what’s wrong, it’s best to speak to your health visitor, call NHS 111 or see a GP to be sure.

Why is my baby aggressively latching and unlatching?

Oversupply and overactive milk ejection reflex are two reasons your baby may pop on and off your breast, while breastfeeding when there is too much milk coming at them too fast or faster than they can handle. Your baby may come off your breast choking and sputtering or need to burp more often.

How to tell if baby is comfort nursing?

Your baby is only nursing for comfort nursing when you see these signs:

1. Flutter sucking, slowing down, stop sucking, or making little sucks.
2. Still and looking into space while nursing.
3. Holding the nipple in their mouth but not sucking for milk.
4. Rooting and sucking lightly at the breast.
5. Arching and grabbing ears.

Why does my baby kick and flail while breastfeeding?

A baby that feels like they are unstable will do many things that make latch harder – flailing their arms, “breast boxing”, crying, head bopping, shaking their head back and forth, kicking their legs, arching away, and so much more.

Why is my baby thrashing around while breastfeeding?

Mine seems to do this for multiple reasons. Either he’s tired and just wants to comfort nurse but is mad that milk is coming out; he has gas pains and needs to burp; or he’s cluster feeding and trying to get another letdown/frustrated that milk flow has slowed down (in this case, switching sides helps).

Why is my baby so frantic when nursing?

Sometimes, your milk lets down so fast that your baby can have trouble swallowing the amount of milk that’s being released. Because of this, your baby may act fussy at breast or choke and sputter at the breast, and he or she may be quite gassy.

Why does my baby pull away while nursing and cry?

Sometimes babies will refuse or fuss at a breast when the let-down is slower or too forceful, or the supply a bit lower. They in turn will prefer the side which lets down more/less quickly and in which the supply is more bountiful.