There are many indications to look out for when your baby moves so much while nursing. Still, while these indications aren’t something you break a sweat for, they should be addressed carefully so they don’t grow into more complex, bigger problems for your baby.
No doubt, babies can perform various movements, whether nursing or not. For first-time mothers, some of the movements can be surprising for them. But as time passes, the mother will adapt to the UNCERTAINTY that comes with infancy.
Baby wriggling so much while nursing is part of that uncertainty to expect, especially as a first-time mother. These actions are natural; they might help mothers comprehend why infants act out when being fed. In addition, nursing becomes much simpler after identifying the issue’s root.
Because they would want to sleep, a tired infant might wriggle when fed.
One of the reasons your baby moves so much while nursing is incorrect milk flow. For example, a hungry baby may become irritated by a slow milk flow, while a fast one may be too much.
When nursing, comfort must also be evaluated because a fussy baby may be uncomfortable. Additionally, fussiness might be brought on by developmental phases and growth surges. Finally, if a baby has certain medical issues, it may wriggle when nursing.
Is A baby wriggling a cause for alarm?
The good news is that this kind of behavior during breastfeeding typically doesn’t raise any red flags. However, speak with a lactation specialist or your child’s caregiver if you have any worries.
Here are a few indicators that the squirming might be more than just typical baby behavior:
- The fussiness of the infant lasts all day.
- Unhealthy weight gain
- Decrease in diaper output
- Regularly nodding off at the breast before consuming the entirety of a meal.
Here are a few questions to think about when trying to pinpoint the source of the squirming:
- First, does it occur at the feed’s beginning, middle, or end?
- Does it last the entire meal or only a portion of it?
- Will they continue to nurse?
- Does it occur in conjunction with some other fussy attitude?
Reasons Why Your Baby Moves So Much While Nursing
Tiredness
Understanding a baby’s behavior is necessary for taking good care of them. Babies must communicate their feelings to you in various ways because they cannot converse with you directly. For instance, crying is one of the primary means of communication for infants.
You can tell that anything is wrong when your kid is weeping & that they are asking for something specific from you. When the baby cries, you address their concerns by reviewing the standard list of possible explanations.
These issues can include hunger, exhaustion, discomfort, and more.
One typical explanation for your baby’s frequent movements during nursing is that they’re just exhausted.
They might not be as hungry as you first believed and prefer to nap instead of eating right now. A fatigued infant would understandably wriggle when fed because they don’t even wish to nurse.
Other signs of fatigue may be something to watch out for.
Babies who were tired frequently touched their faces or rubbed their eyes. Simply trying to put your infant to sleep would be an easy method to verify this. However, you’ve unraveled the case if they nod off right away.
Incorrect milk flow
You must be familiar with the let-down reflex if you plan to breastfeed. It refers to what makes the milk flow from the breasts. Certain nerves inside the nipple are stimulated when a baby sucks, stimulating hormones to start milk flowing out from the breast.
The milk release reflex is another name for this reaction that prepares milk for the infant. The let-down reflex ultimately regulates milk flow.
The reason milk leaks is a powerful let-down response. When something, like fabric, scrapes on a mother’s nipples, this occurs. A baby’s cry may even trigger a mother’s let-down reaction. Fortunately, some mothers have a relatively slow let-down reflex.
This implies that the milk flow isn’t immediately activated when the baby begins sucking. So, a hungry baby may become fussy due to a sluggish let-down reaction.
There are numerous causes of a sluggish let-down reaction. These explanations may involve discomfort, stress, coffee, or even certain drugs. In addition, insufficient milk production can cause moms to become anxious, exacerbating their sluggish let-down reaction.
If you need a faster, let-down response, you may do several things to aid yourself. For instance, you can have your infant undress to promote skin-to-skin contact while nursing.
To help your body grow and adapt, you must follow a breastfeeding schedule (i.e., same time, similar place, etc.). It’s crucial to maintain calm and ease while nursing. Some moms would practice deep breathing while nursing, listening to calming music, and closing their eyes.
On the contrary hand, mothers occasionally exhibit an excessive let-down reaction. Babies may also find it challenging to feed themselves when the milk flow is too rapid.
The rejection of the breast or trapped wind are indications of a quick reflex. Babies that experience a rapid flow may also swallow air, which may necessitate burping.
Mothers who experience this problem can fix it by expressing milk before feeding. It’s a terrific idea to pump milk to keep a supply on hand and control the milk flow so that the baby may nurse comfortably.
Discomfort
When breastfeeding, comfort is a crucial consideration. A cranky infant may indicate needing to be in the most convenient nursing position.
New mothers must understand the ideal nursing posture to help their infant latch on and feed effectively. In addition to facilitating adequate feeding, the correct position can prevent the mother’s nipples from breaking or becoming uncomfortable.
A woman eventually learns the infant’s nursing style, where the infant latches on to at least one inch of the areola.
Other aspects must be considered if a baby still moves around while being nursed. For example, another source of discomfort during feeding can be a damp diaper, exhaustion, or even pain.
A baby may be saying they’ve had enough if they start to wriggle at the end of a feeding. The situation can worsen when a baby is full and wants to nurse, but the milk keeps coming.
Even now, infants can have preferences for which breast they latch on to. This can be the case because the baby prefers the milk flow from one breast over the other.
Check if your baby is fussier while being fed from one breast instead of the other to see if they have a preference.
It’s crucial to remember that a baby and mother shouldn’t experience any discomfort during a good nursing session. Unfortunately, women often switch to bottle-feeding their kids because breastfeeding causes them pain.
While bottle feeding is entirely acceptable, a baby should be breastfed due to the many advantages.
Growth Spurts
Babies develop quickly, especially during the period of growth spurts. Parents may be shocked to learn how much the baby could grow in a year, given that they welcome them into the family like a tiny infant.
An infant experiences multiple growth spurts during a year. For example, a breastfeeding baby may move a lot during these growth spurts because they require more milk for their nutritional needs.
While every baby develops at their rate, growth spurts are usually seen at 2 months, 3 months, and 6 months.
You must act according to your gut feeling and the baby’s cues to accommodate a baby’s development spurt.
Your attention will be required more and more as the baby grows. More feeding sessions are therefore necessary to meet their needs. As feeding frequency rises, make sure to stay hydrated and healthy.
Furthermore, it is crucial to remember that babies begin to teethe around the six-month mark. As a result, they may feel a great deal of discomfort during this time, making them fussy during nursing.
In addition to physical growth spurts, the infant may go through mental maturation stages. During what is referred to as the “Wonder Weeks,” your baby becomes aware of its surroundings.
These times encourage the baby’s acquisition of new abilities. But unfortunately, this can make babies quite cranky and distracted. If you think your baby is experiencing this, nursing them in a peaceful environment free of distractions may be able to help.
Sickness
Last but not least, your infant’s excessive movement during nursing may be due to illness. Unfortunately, there are several illnesses that newborns might get that make feeding uncomfortable for them.
A common can be blamed for the infant’s wriggling during feedings. Clean your baby’s nose if you think they have a cold and it’s preventing you from nursing.
The baby may find it highly challenging to breathe and feed at about the same time if their nose is blocked.
Infection is another issue. For instance, A newborn could develop oral thrush, a fungal infection. By observing the signs, such as broken skin in the mouth corners and white spots in the mouth, you can start to recognize oral thrush. Your baby’s pediatrician ought to prescribe an antifungal drug for oral thrush.
It doesn’t hurt to check with your pediatrician to ensure your infant is okay if you fear something is wrong.
Gas
Excessive gas in the baby’s stomach is another frequent cause of squirming. In addition, the baby might occasionally feel uneasy or bloated, which might cause excessive wriggling.
Because newborns’ digestive systems are still developing, this is frequent in the early stages of nursing. It may also occur if the baby has a bad latch, which causes them to inhale much air from a quick milk let-down or due to dietary allergies or intolerances.
An excellent article on why a gassy newborn may be found here. However, there are occasions when all you have to do to help your infant with gas problems is to encourage a nice burp.
A baby may wriggle due to a wet or filthy diaper. A baby will wriggle and wail until you change their full diaper. You might wish to establish a routine of checking your baby’s diaper before feeding because some newborns are more susceptible to dirty diapers than others.
Disparate Breasts
The “slacker” side, which appears to flow more slowly or produce less milk, is present in most women. So, your kid may wriggle more to express their displeasure if they don’t enjoy that side as much.
Baby Positioning
Sometimes your baby moves so much while nursing to adjust their position because it is uncomfortable.
You can experiment with various postures and try them out. While newborn infant cannot communicate their discomfort, occasionally changing positions will solve the problem. For example, I like side-lying and cross-cradle hold.
Teething
When a baby is teething, it may begin to wriggle and wail. This is because a newborn may desire to discover a means to relieve teething pain, which can be uncomfortable.
Expected Movements Of Babies That Move So Much While Nursing?
Several parents are curious whether there are specific movements their babies should make while nursing. The following are movements to look out for if your baby moves so much while nursing.
- The baby is wiggling so much.
- The baby kicks while nursing.
- The baby touches your face while nursing.
- The baby sticks his finger in his mouth.
- The baby sticks his finger in your mouth.
- The baby hides his face. He could be shy. Lol.
- Baby swinging arm.
- The baby sometimes pinch.
- The baby kicks while nursing.
- The baby squeezes your boobs while nursing.
- Moving their bodies in a twisted fashion.
The movements will vary in diversity and frequency depending on your baby’s age and temperament.
Furthermore, if these actions annoy you, you do not have to tolerate them because they are common. You can always take measures to cancel out such behaviors.
Also, such behaviors do not point to a problem if your pediatrician says your baby is developing at a healthy rate.
How can I make nursing my infant more comfortable?
You can make breastfeeding for your baby more comfortable by taking a few simple steps. First, try some of the following:
- Opt for a different job.
- Eliminate all distractions
- Make direct eye contact
- Nursing in a bathtub
- Baby burp
- Pause, then retry later.
- Check the latch.
- Discover the root causes
What To Do If My Infant Cries Out While Nursing?
Consider consulting a doctor if your baby’s wriggling is accompanied by indications of pain and discomfort, such as increased agitation, backing away from the breast, or grimacing. Baby wriggling might occasionally be a sign of an inherent condition that has to be treated.
Consult your physician or a lactation specialist for assistance with your infant. They can collaborate with you to develop an effective treatment strategy and assist you in determining the underlying reason for the baby’s discomfort.
Numerous factors could be at play if your infant is wriggling a lot. But, much of the time, it’s just a typical stage that will pass quickly; perhaps, this piece has provided you with some suggestions on how to troubleshoot & alleviate the situation.
Always remember to speak with the pediatrician if you have any concerns regarding the health or welfare of your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does My Baby Wriggle And Kick While I’m Nursing?
There are several causes for a baby to kick and wriggle when breastfed. One explanation for the infant’s discomfort is that their diaper is either moist or soiled.
Alternatively, the infant can attempt to communicate with their mother that they wish to move from breastfeeding to bottle feeding. Finally, some infants may kick and wriggle as much as possible to avoid being restricted to one place.
Why Is My Infant Fussing So Much When I’m Breastfeeding?
There are several reasons why your infant may be restless while breastfeeding. They might not be getting enough milk, for example. In addition, your baby may be attempting to tell you that they will need more food if they squirm and repeatedly arch their back.
If so, you might want to try breastfeeding them more regularly or giving them formula as a supplement. Another option is that a poor latch is making your infant uncomfortable.
Is A Baby’s Frequent Movement During Feeding Normal?
While being fed, some newborns may shift around a lot as they search for a comfortable position and the ideal eating angle. This is very typical and shouldn’t raise any issues.
When some babies might be more still while being fed, this does not necessarily indicate that they are not getting enough food. To make sure your kid is eating enough, it’s crucial to pay attention to their indications.
Why is my nursing baby wriggling?
There are numerous explanations for why a baby could wriggle while being fed. First, the infant may be attempting to settle into a comfortable position.
The infant may also be attempting to increase milk production. Twiddling all the time could indicate that the infant is not receiving enough milk.
What if my infant strikes me while I’m nursing?
If your infant strikes you while you are nursing, he wants to get your attention. Babies frequently slap their mothers to obtain their mothers’ attention during breastfeeding.
It’s also likely that your infant is attempting to communicate his hunger with you. To ensure there isn’t another cause for the behavior, you might want to speak with your doctor if your kid is hitting you frequently.