What If Your Baby Hates Breastfeeding? (Or So You Think)

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When it comes to breastfeeding, most pregnant moms imagine themselves blissfully nursing a baby with a cup of steaming hot tea, just like in the movies. So when you’re suddenly landed with a red-faced screaming infant who seems to hate your breasts and does not want to do anything with it, it can be quite shattering. But don’t worry, you’re not the only mom out there who’s baby seems to hate being breastfed. Most of us, at some point or the other, have ended up searching for the issue on the internet. The first part of solving this issue is to understand why the baby is not enjoying being breastfed. This could be tricky because our tiny cherubs have not learned to communicate yet. Here are a couple of reasons why your baby may not like being breastfed:

In This Article

Latching Troubles

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If your baby is still an infant and is under two weeks old, then he/she could be experiencing trouble latching. You’ll know if your baby has a good latch if their mouth is wide and they are sucking on your entire nipple. If your baby has not latched on well, then it will hurt when they suckle. A good latch will not leave your nipples feeling sore.

Insufficient Milk

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Another reason why your baby may hate being breastfed is that they are not getting enough milk. It might take a while for your milk supply to become regular. Once your milk supply has been established, watch and see if your baby is putting on weight. If they are, then they are getting a good feed and are receiving enough milk. A doctor will be the best person to help you out with this as they can weigh your baby when they do a before-and-after ‘weighted feed.’

Evening Fussiness And Cluster Feeding

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It’s quite common for babies to become fussier during the evening and wanting to feed more during the day. Whereas some babies would want to feed in clusters, meaning every 30 minutes or so. Babies often tend to do this during the evening time to probably make sure they are full and get long hours of sleep. This does not mean that your milk supply is less(1). Other factors could also play a role in upsetting the baby and making them cranky.

Excessive Supply Or Faster Flow

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If babies experience a growth spurt, then they might become cranky and fussier than usual. They might also be hungrier and may feed more. We know that this can be quite tiresome, but we promise it will only last a few days. Growth spurts generally occur when the baby is about 2-3 weeks old, six weeks old, three months old, and six months old (2). It is important to note that it is not necessary for your baby to undergo a growth spurt at this exact time. Each baby is unique.

Another reason why babies could fuss and cry at the breast is if they are experiencing a tummy upset. When their tummies are hurting or when they’re experiencing gas they will cry at the breast.

Distraction And Tiredness

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If your baby is over 4 months old, then chances are they get tired and are easily exhausted. Sometimes, they can also be distracted, and that’s why they’re not feeding. The best way to handle a distracted baby is to take them into a quiet room free from distractions and then try and feed them.

You can tackle other issues by changing the position in which you feed your baby and by calming your baby before feeding them. Some skin-to-skin contact and soothing cuddles are bound to calm your baby down. Feeding your baby in a familiar soothing environment may also help. Most importantly, the mother should remain calm. Babies pick up on energy and if the mother isn’t calm, then the baby will have a hard time calming down. But if your baby’s fussiness while breastfeeding continues to bother you, consult your doctor for reassurance.

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