Baby Feeding Tips

Tips for feeding a Baby with Colic

A baby’s appetite is closely tied to blood sugar levels, just like in adults. When blood sugar drops, both babies and adults can become fussy, anxious, or physically uncomfortable, which can increase their desire to eat. Babies don’t regulate fullness by stomach volume but by blood sugar, so overfeeding can cause bloating, pressure, and even spit-up or vomiting. To help prevent discomfort and support healthy feeding:

Feed your baby only when they show signs of hunger.
Stop feeding when the baby slows down or seems satisfied.
Burp your baby regularly to release trapped air.
Use a pacifier to help soothe and calm the baby.
Pay attention to your baby’s body language and tone of cry rather than following strict feeding schedules.
Keep track of previous feedings in terms of timing and amount, but remember that hunger can vary day to day.

Reading Body Language

Knowing why your baby is crying is important—sometimes it’s hunger, sometimes it’s pain. Watch your baby’s body language to see if they are ready to eat. If you only feed your baby when they show signs of hunger it will help reduce bloating and frequent spit-ups from overfeeding.

Pain cues:

Kicking Legs and Flailing Arms The baby will kick harder and flail its arms more as the pain increases.
Arching Back, Head to the Side The baby will become stiffer and stiffer as the pain increases.
Scratching Face and Ears, Pulling Hair The baby is trying to minimize pain by distracting the body.
Wincing Facial Expression Eyes will be closed tightly with a wincing facial expression and a red face.
Hard, Distended, Bloated Abdomen Pressure builds up in the intestines causing a hard, distended, and bloated abdomen. Umbilical hernias are usually cause to suspect that a baby has colic.