Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding a Fussy Baby

We all fear fussy babies.

• When an exclusively breastfeed baby is fussy, everyone blames the mother:
• A lot of people will immediately conclude that you don't have enough milk, and try to give the baby a bottle. Be careful! It's more often than not a bad idea:
  • First, check the page on your milk supply to see if your baby really isn't getting enough milk.
  • If that is the case, call a lactation consultant and start working on increasing your milk.
  • Chances are you won't ever need supplements.
  • If you do end up supplementing, carefully follow the recommendations on the page on increasing your milk supply. Otherwise you might end up switching to total bottle-feeding and missing out on the great benefits on breastfeeding for your baby and yourself.
• Some people will conclude that your milk doesn't agree with the baby, and suggest bottle-feeding instead. This condition is extremely rare. Always consult your doctor before you jump to this conclusion. If your doctor says that your baby is allergic to milk, get a second, or even a third opinion.
• Sometimes, a baby may react to something that the mother has eaten. This is relatively rare. You might want to cut down on dairy products for a while and see what happens. If your baby ceases to be fussy, you can go on with your new diet.
• Sometimes, fussiness may result if you have too much milk and a hyperactive letdown reflex.
• See if there is another reason for the baby's fussiness, such as teething or illness.
• Some babies are fussy for no apparent reason. You'll have to live with that, although it's hard. It usually passes in a few weeks.
• Before you envy your neighbor who has a quiet and sleepy baby, remember that it is quiet and sleepy babies who most often don't get enough milk and fail to thrive--because they don't stimulate the mother's breast enough and don't get enough milk. Your fussy baby is more likely to be well-fed.

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