Breastfeeding can have many challenges. But one challenge you see coming up for new mothers, again and again, is the lack of knowing how much milk their baby is getting. Questions ranging all the way from “how can I tell if my baby is getting enough milk?” to “can you over breastfeed?”.
Bottle feeding can be reassuring for some parents because it’s measurable. However, there are also ways to know how much milk your breastfed baby is getting. In this post, we’re going to go over if it’s possible to overfeed your breastfed baby, what’s normal, ways to soothe your baby without breastfeeding if you’re concerned, and more.
How Often Does My Baby Need to Breastfeed?
Babies should breastfeed 8-12 times in a 24-hour period. It is highly recommended to breastfeed on demand. Meaning whenever your baby is showing hunger cues, you should feed them.
Early hunger cues include:
- Rooting (turning their head and opening their mouth)
- Opening and closing their mouth or smacking their lips
- Sucking on anything nearby
- Moving their hands to their mouth
Late hunger cues include:
- Fidgeting or squirming
- Fussing
- Agitated movements
- Crying or turning red
Babies have a self-regulation system that helps them to know when they’re hungry and when they’re full. Feeding on-demand is also really helpful for your milk production.
Can You Over Breastfeed?
Just like new parents wonder if their breastfed baby is getting enough milk, they may also wonder can you over breastfeed?
When breastfed babies nurse, they have to work to draw the milk out of the breast. Unlike a bottle, the milk coming from the breast doesn’t have a constant drip. This allows your baby to control how much milk they’re taking in, and are able to signal when they’re full. (Unless you have an overactive letdown which can cause the milk to come really fast)
Because of this, overfeeding isn’t very common and you usually cannot overfeed your breastfed baby.
However, if you’re bottle feeding infant formula or breast milk and they’re showing signs that they are full but you continue to coax them to finish the bottle often, this can cause symptoms of overfeeding. But oftentimes, your baby will be able to regulate themselves.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends practicing responsive feeding which includes learning your baby’s hunger and fullness cues and remembering that you provide and your child decides!
Expectations Versus What’s Normal
It’s important to check your expectations of your baby versus what is actually normal. As long as your baby is gaining weight, having the appropriate amount of wet diapers for their age, and their pediatrician is not concerned, then you and your baby are doing just fine!
Allowing your baby to feed on demand takes the stress away from having to be on a rigid schedule or limiting how many minutes they spend at each breast. As long as your baby is breastfeeding 8-12 times in a 24-hour period (averaging around every 2-3 hours), they can eat as they please.
It is biologically normal for babies to be wakeful at night. If your baby is still waking to nurse in their first year of life, this is totally normal! And you are meeting your baby’s needs!
Your baby may also request more frequent feedings when they are going through growth spurts.
Signs That Your Baby May Be Full
Whether your baby is nursing or taking a bottle, they show the same signs when they are full. Here are some common signs that your baby may be full:
- Baby pulls off or releases the breast
- Baby’s body becomes relaxed and their fists open
- Baby pops off and on the boob, not actively sucking
- Baby turns away from the nipple
- Baby starts to play or becomes disinterested in feeding
Following your baby’s cues can help you feel reassured that you aren’t overfeeding your baby.
Tips to Soothe Your Baby Without Breastfeeding
As a breastfeeding mother, using the breast to soothe your baby is seriously *magical*. However, there are other ways you can soothe your baby without breastfeeding if you’re worried about your baby spitting up too much or having other symptoms.
Oftentimes, new parents misinterpret tiredness for hunger. When a baby has persistent cries, they may just be ready for a nap. You can try putting them to sleep and see if that was the cause of their fussiness.
You can also try rocking, swaying, singing or humming, or moving to a quiet room away from all of the stimulation.
A pacifier may also help your baby. Just be sure to avoid using the pacifier if your baby is actually hungry, as this can affect your breastfeeding milk supply. The first few months of life are really important for establishing your milk supply.
If Baby is Having Symptoms – What’s Causing Them?
Here are some common symptoms that new parents may misinterpret as signs of overfeeding, when they can actually be caused by another problem.
- Spitting up/vomiting
- Stomach pains
- Excessive gas
- Greenish watery/mucus bowel movements
There are many common problems that could cause these symptoms such as gastric reflux, oversupply, overactive letdown, and lactose intolerance (or milk protein intolerance).
If you have an oversupply, you can try what’s called block feeding where you nurse your baby on one side only for each breastfeeding session. You would alternate breasts for the next feeding.
Or if you have an overactive letdown, you can attempt to hand express or pump off a little milk before latching your baby.
If you’re experiencing any of these breastfeeding problems or your baby has any of these symptoms, definitely consult your baby’s pediatrician and a lactation consultant! They can help you get to the bottom of what’s going on and give you ways to fix the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my breastfed baby is overfed?
Your baby will show you signs when they are full. Follow your baby’s cues. When they show hunger cues, feed them. And when they show fullness cues, end the feeding. As long as you follow your baby’s lead, it’s very rare to overfeed your breastfed baby.
Can you overfeed a combination fed baby?
It is easier to overfeed a baby when bottle feeding, due to the rate the milk comes out of the bottle nipple. Practice pace feeding and allowing your baby to feed on demand to follow your baby’s needs.
How long should I breastfeed my baby each time?
Unless you have a breastfeeding problem or your baby has a condition that prevents this, you can allow your baby to nurse as long as they would like. You can start by offering the first breast and letting your little one nurse as long as needed. When they release the latch or become uninterested, you can try offering the second breast.
They may nurse more or they may show signs they are full. Either way is perfectly fine!
I hope you feel more reassured to follow your baby’s lead by breastfeeding on demand! Of course if you ever have any concerns or if your baby is experiencing symptoms, follow up with your baby’s pediatrician and a lactation specialist!
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- The 2 Shirt Method for Breastfeeding in Public
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