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Some people believe that overfeeding is the true cause of colic and prescribe putting colicky babies on a restricted feeding schedule to help the problem. Other people claim that babies cannot be overfed and urge mothers to feed on demand, no matter what. Of course, like most other situations, the real answer is somewhere in the middle. In some cases, babies can overeat, and it causes the same discomfort it does in adults and sometimes more.
Why Babies Overeat One reason babies may over eat is because they are receiving too much foremilk. An improper latch, oversupply, and overactive letdown can cause a baby to receive too much foremilk. Because this milk is watery, the baby doesn’t feel satisfied and eats until his stomach is overly full. Not only does the baby feel the discomfort of a full stomach, but the high lactose content of the foremilk causes further irritation. These problems should be addressed by using proper breastfeeding techniques. |
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Foremilk imbalances are often easy to resolve, but they are not the only reason babies may overeat. Babies with abdominal discomfort may believe they are hungry and try to nurse to relieve the pain, or they may just want the comfort of snuggling up in their favorite place while they are enduring the pain. To complicate things further, mothers often feel the instinctive urge to feed their babies when they cry. In this situation, determining whether your baby is hungry or not can be quite a challenge.
When to Feed and When to Wait Colicky babies typically fuss during certain hours. Mothers may find it helpful to watch the clock during their babies’ fussy periods. When doing so, don’t let the baby go longer than normal between feedings and be open to feeding your baby earlier than usual if you notice changes in your baby’s fussiness. Return to on-demand feeding as soon as your baby’s fussiness is reasonably under control. Keep in mind that there will be times when you don’t get it right and feed your baby too much or wait a little too long, but if you are trying your best your baby will be all right. |
Additional Information
Breastfeeding & Colic: How breastfeeding can affect colic. Oversupply: What to do when there’s too much of a good thing. Infant Allergies and MFPI: Why babies develop allergies and what to do about them. Infant Acid Reflux Disease: How to tell if baby is suffering painful reflux and how to help. Improper Latch: How improperly latching baby can cause colic and how to fix it. |