Why my baby is always hungry is one of the common concerns of new parents. While most parents expect to feed their baby frequently, a newborn constantly hungry and crying can be confusing and worrying for new mothers. They more often doubt if their baby is eating sufficient or if they are producing enough milk to satisfy the baby’s hunger.
Most nursing mothers have been in this predicament at some point. Sometimes you feel the baby is always hungry at night. Many times, your baby refuses to release your nipples. It would make you question if your baby is getting enough milk, or if your baby is simply seeking comfort and nursing for the same.
This article helps to find some reasons that make you feel your baby is always hungry.
Is It Normal For A Baby To Want To Feed All The Time?
Yes, it is. The stomach of a baby at the time of birth will be too small. Even a couple of teaspoons of breast milk could fill it. And the rate of expense would be faster, so the baby would feel hungry often. That is why newborn babies are fed every 1.5 to 2 hours.
After a week the baby will be ready to take in two ounces of milk. At the same time during the first five months, the baby will be going through its first growth spurt.
By this time the baby’s weight doubles and she develops from newborn into an infant. All this growing process is strenuous than you think. It also needs a lot of energy. Breast milk or formula is the sole food they could have during this time.
At the same time, their tiny tummy can’t hold much milk as well. Now you can see why your baby is always hungry during the first 6 months. It is also quite normal the breast-fed babies want to feed more than formula-fed ones. This is because, unlike formula, breast milk digests quickly.
9 Reasons Your Baby Is Always Hungry
It can be overwhelming for a new mother when her baby wants to feed all the time. She might get help for all other chores like nappy change, bathing baby, etc. But when it comes to breastfeeding, she is always on her own.
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If a baby never seems to give a break to feeding can take a toll on the mother, no matter how special the breastfeeding sessions are. There are many reasons why a baby appears always hungry. Many of these reasons are healthy and normal. On the other hand, some reasons call for some attention.
Here are the top 9 reasons your baby is always hungry:
1. Not getting enough milk
One of the reasons your baby is always hungry is he is not getting enough milk to quench his hunger. Several reasons can affect breast milk production. Hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalance, and certain medication are some of the reasons that get in the way of breast milk production.
As already mentioned the nutritional needs of a baby takes an incredible high during the initial months. If a mother fails to produce enough milk to satisfy the nutritional needs of the baby, the baby will always be hungry and demands more feedings.
Most of the mothers are capable of producing enough milk for their babies. However, the amount they can store may vary. For example, small breasts even though make the same or more milk with respect to large breasts, might able to store a relatively small amount of milk. The child may therefore empty both breasts before their hunger is satisfied.
Some mothers complain “my breastfed baby is always hungry in the evening”. This is because milk volume tends to decrease in the evening as a result of the natural cycling of hormones throughout the day. This decrease in milk flow can make the baby fussy and wants to breastfeed more frequently during the evenings.
If your baby is not gaining enough weight even after frequent feeding it can be taken as a hint that the baby is not getting enough milk.
2. Inadequate hind milk supply
The foremilk is the first milk swallowed by your baby during a breastfeeding session. It has a lot of lactose and is quite watery. Hind milk is found at the back of the milk-producing cells and is consumed later in the feeding process. When compared to foremilk, this is fattier and denser. After a breastfeeding session, hindmilk is the one that makes the baby feel full and content.
If your milk supply is high, your baby’s belly is most likely being filled only by foremilk. As a result, she will be hungry frequently, cranky, and require frequent feedings.
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3. Your baby is always hungry because he is going through a growth spurt
Babies go through many periods of fast growth known as growth spurts. They need to eat more often and for longer periods of time during a growth spurt. More nutrients are needed to stimulate their fast growth.
Growth spruts in the first year usually happen around 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and around 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months (Source). Therefore around this period, many mothers find their babies unusually hungry at this time.
Growth spurts can occur in concurrence with the achievement of new skills. Your baby’s urging to feed again shortly after their previous feeding is a significant indication that they are in the midst of a growth spurt.
During growth spurts, the baby is always hungry and fussy than usual. They also might alter their sleeping patterns (may sleep longer than usual). You can see even formula-fed babies still hungry after feeding formula during growth spurts.
4. Cluster feeding can make your baby feel hungry all the time
Cluster feeding is another incident that makes the baby appears hungry all the time. Usually, mothers nurse babies in an expected pattern. When the babies are small they need to be fed every few hours. This pattern changes as the baby grows. But still, there will be a pattern.
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Cluster feeding or bunch feeding happens when the babies demand to be fed unusually more times in that typical window. They demand back-to-back feeding every hour or even every 20 minutes. More often cluster feeding occurs during the evening hours.
Cluster feeding is a phenomenon that happens only to breastfeeding babies. Cluster feeding has few purposes. It helps to ramp up the mother’s milk, boosts the baby’s growth, and also fills their tummy before bedtime.
Cluster feeding is more often comes hand in hand with growth spurts. Bunch feeding is one way that helps signal mom’s body to increase milk production to support the growth spurts.
Cluster feeding may not have a pattern. It can hit any time. This is one of those times your baby is always hungry. Your baby will be back to his normal hunger levels once cluster feeding and growth spurt passes.
5. Nursing for comfort
Sometimes baby goes for non-nutritive sucking. This means they are not demanding to feed as they are hungry. They find breastfeeding as a means to comforting themselves. Some babies require more non-nutrient sucking than others. These babies appear to be always hungry, even though that is not the real case.
You must recognize that sucking is a fundamental, natural reflex that newborns are born with. Breastfeeding not only offers nutrients to newborns, but also comfort, security, and relaxation.
One of the merits of this comfort sucking is that it can activate the let-down reflex and thereby helps to stimulate the breasts to make more milk.
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This nonnutritive sucking is totally fine as long as it does not exhaust the mother or cause pain. On the other hand, if the baby gets obsessed with comfort sucking, it might cause painful nipples, which is a concern for the mother. In this scenario, it is critical to seek medical guidance to determine how to proceed.
6. Latching issues can make a baby want to feed again and again
Breastfeeding is challenging for most women, if not all. If you’re in severe pain (dealing with cracked and bleeding nipples) and your baby is nursing constantly, it could be an indication you are having a latch issue. If your baby fails to latch properly, he or she may not able to extract sufficient milk. Likewise, if the baby has a tongue-tie, the baby will not be able to latch correctly. The end result will be a baby who is always hungry.
Many reasons could bring about latching issues. Therefore, if the baby is not gaining the needed weight and demands very long feeding sessions, seek help from a lactation consultant to find out if there is some lactation issue. The same should be attended to with the help of a lactation consultant.
7. Tiredness or illness can make a baby feel constantly hungry
Babies frequently want to feed when they’re tired. Feeding is one of the common sleep associations for babies. To them, feeding (breast or bottle) is the first step to sleeping.
When the baby is tired he wants to seep but according to the baby, he can sleep only if he could feed. Also, baby exhibit signs of tiredness in a different way than we expect- and more often these signs are misinterpreted as hunger.
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An increase in the frequency of feeding can be an indication the little one is unwell. Once your child is sick, he may want to spend the whole day on your breast. Hydration is always best when your baby is sick.
Besides, breast milk enhances the immunity of the baby and provides antibodies to fight infections. Moreover, nothing makes the baby feel better than warm milk and the mother’s warmth.
8. Thirst can make your baby want to feed frequently
Thirst is another reason the baby wants to be fed more often. This is relevant on hot summer days and if the baby is physically very active. The babies need to stay hydrated. Therefore offer baby the breast whether he seems thirsty.
Note: For formula-fed babies, make sure you’re preparing baby formula properly. The thicker the formula, the thirstier the baby will be.
9. Teething
Teething is another time the baby refuses to leave the breasts. Teething can be quite painful for babies; they prefer to be close to their mothers. Feeding to them is a comfortable way to sleep, relax and be close to their mothers. A lot of times, you may not be able to figure out why the baby is crying, an would involuntarily offer the breast or bottle.
Related Reading: 11 Things To Know If Your Baby Is Teething
Here, you think the baby wants to feed all the time, but actually the baby is just seeking comfort.
Conclusion
It is rarely easy to be able to translate and understand what your baby is trying to tell you. It can be difficult to know what your baby really wants. The important thing to do when this happens is to stay calm and patient. This will make it easier for you to find the reason your baby is fussing.
If you think your baby is hungry, you can try to feed them again, even if they have just finished a meal. However, do not try to force it. If the baby rejects the bottle or breast, they are probably not hungry.
There are several calming strategies you can try on your baby, but not all of them will work. Find one that works best for both you and your baby, and remember that there are many reasons your baby is fussing. It does not always mean they are hungry.