How do I know if I am overfeeding my newborn?
Every newborn eats different amounts at different times in different quantities. Just like us, sometimes our baby is more hungry for dinner than they were for breakfast. Recommendations are just that, recommendations. If you feel your baby is still exhibiting hunger cues (smacking their lips, turning their head side to side with their mouth open, “chewing” on your shoulder, wide awake for longer than usual despite being clean, warm, fed, and burped) then they may still be hungry, even if they’ve just had the maximum recommended amount of ounces or time on the breast. Below are signs of overfeeding and strategies for pacing your newborn on the bottle.
Here are some signs of overfeeding in a newborn (a baby under 12 weeks):
Spitting up large amounts after feeding
Crying after feeds
Distended tummy
Struggling with gas
Note: These can also be signs of reflux. Please consult your pediatrician if your baby is struggling with any or all of the signs above.
How do I prevent overfeeding my newborn?
Burp more often (every half ounce or when switching from one breast to the other)
Burp longer (try setting a timer for 5 minutes and do not stop burping even after a successful burp, there may be more)
Burp differently (try rubbing their back in circles, tipping them back and forth like a teapot, holding them under the arms while sitting on your lap and moving them around in circles)
Did the hospital send you home with recommendations for how much to feed your newborn? Do you feel like your baby is eating more than recommended? Are you worried that you are overfeeding them? Maybe you’re sitting in the dark right now, falling down a rabbit hole on google with searches like: ‘newborn overfeeding’, ‘newborn eating too much?’ “baby eats more than recommended” “signs of overfeeding in newborn”. Hiring a postpartum doula or newborn care specialist may be for you!
