![]() ![]() However, hunger is only one of many different reasons for babies to display these behaviors. Hunger is one of the first things we suspect when a baby fusses, cries, or looks like he wants to suck. While it's possible for there to be only one cause, generally there is a combination of the reasons listed below. ![]() Abdominal discomfort linked to overfeeding There are many reasons why parents might think their baby is hungry when he is not. Infant behavioral cues are not easy to read, especially before 3 months of age. If this is the case, it may be that one of the following reasons is mistaken as hunger. Surprisingly, it's typically babies who have no problems putting on weight that are the most difficult to satisfy. Needless to say, if your baby appears unwell or is not gaining sufficient weight, consult with his healthcare professional. Rule out the possibility of a feeding management problem such as lactose overload before assuming the cause is due to milk protein allergy or intolerance, as this is one of the most common reasons for healthy, thriving babies to have frequent, watery stools, extreme gas, and abdominal discomfort. Similarly, if he has frequent watery bowel motions as a result of a digestive disorder, for example milk protein allergy or intolerance, he may be losing nutrients and calories due to poor digestion, and hence demand more frequent feeding. However, it’s important to take care to avoid overfeeding because it’s one of the most common reasons for healthy babies to vomit. If your baby vomits often and hence loses much of the milk he receives while feeding, he may demand to feed more often. If a baby’s infant formula is accidentally diluted, perhaps due to using the wrong scoop or not accurately following the manufacturer’s instructions, this would decrease the calories he would receive, and he would want to feed more often. ![]() #Open hands full closed hands hungry baby how to(See our article on How to tell when baby is getting enough breastmilk.) 7. If a breastfeeding mother has a low milk supply, her baby may demand to feed more often. If a breastfed baby is unable to feed to satisfaction as a result of a poor latch, he will demand frequent nursing. Catch-up growthĬatch-up growth is a period of accelerated, compensatory growth (faster than typical for age) which occurs after the removal or resolution of a problem that previously caused under-nutrition or growth delay. He might also go longer periods of time between nursing or feeding sessions. On the flip side, during a growth plateau, your baby’s appetite will reduce and his milk volumes decrease. If bottle-feeding, he might drain the bottle and want a little more. If breastfeeding, he may demand nursing more often. During a growth spurt, your baby may appear to be hungrier than usual. Growth spurts (a period of accelerated growth) are separated by growth plateaus (a period of stagnant growth). Babies' growth occurs in a step-wise pattern. How quickly a baby is growing will influence his appetite. A breastfed baby could demand feeds every one to two hourly when cluster feeding. ‘Cluster feeding’, which is a pattern of frequent nursing in the afternoons and evenings, is an example of normal feeding behavior for breastfed babies. If it’s confirmed that he’s feeding more often or consuming greater volumes than expected for a baby of his age and weight, consider if any of the multiple reasons for the appearance of hunger, described later in this article, apply. The first step is to clarify your expectations about your baby’s feeding with his healthcare professional. If you’re a first-time parent, it may be that you are unfamiliar with the huge range of ‘normal’ infant feeding patterns and behaviors. There are several reasons why babies might be genuinely hungry and need to feed sooner or require more milk than you expect. In this article, I explain what causes healthy babies to act like they’re excessively hungry and what you can do to promote your baby’s contentment. The first step toward finding a solution that will satisfy your baby is to distinguish between the reasons for genuine hunger and the appearance of hunger. The ‘hungry baby’ phenomenon where babies act like they have an insatiable appetite is especially common in babies younger than 3 months of age. However, when parents express concern about their ‘hungry baby’ this refers to a baby that appears to be excessively hungry, who demands feeds more often than expected, or is eating well above the recommended volume of milk for a baby of his age and size. We all appreciate that young babies have tiny tummies and are growing at a rate that is faster than any other time in their lives. ![]()
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