My baby is hungrier than usual. Is this a feeding spurt?

Should you be worried if your baby suddenly becomes hungrier? Find out about feeding spurts in the first six months of your breastfeeding journey.

As babies gain weight, they should begin to eat more at each feeding and go longer between feedings. Still, there may be times when your little one seems hungrier than usual. This is called a feeding spurt and often occurs around 7 to 14 days old, two months, four months and six months. Be assured that your baby’s hunger may probably be a short-lived problem. Feeding spurts usually last between 2-3 days, but sometimes they could last a week or so. Feeding spurts are also closely linked to growth spurts, but may or may not occur during a growth spurt.

During feeding spurts if your baby seems especially hungry, follow your babies hunger cues. You may need to temporarily increase the frequency of feedings. During feeding spurts, your baby may nurse as often as every hour. Don’t worry if your baby is starving or if you are producing enough milk, the frequent feedings will signal to your body to produce more milk. If you’re really concerned, keep an eye on two things: diapers and weight gain. If your baby is gaining weight and soaking five or six diapers a day, he’s doing just fine.

If you are considering adding add cereal, rusk, or any other food to your baby’s bottle to quench is hunger, stop that thought. Breast milk is really all you need for the first six months. Adding food to your baby’s bottle will also make it much thicker and could be a choking hazard.

Some breastfeeding mums feel hungrier thirstier when baby is going through a feeding spurt. Listen to your body — you may need to consume more food or drinks during the time that your baby is nursing more often. You should also recruit extra house help and support during a feeding spurt, so you can get enough rest. It is very common for mums to feel overwhelmed during a feeding or growth spurt.

Need help during feeding spurts?

If you breastfeed and you’re overly worried that your baby is not getting enough milk, ask a lactation consultant for advice and extra support.

theAsianparent also has a Singapore Breastfeeding Mums Support Group that you can join for mum-to-mum advice on feeding spurts.

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