clubNutricia Australia > Feeding and Nutrition > Pages > my_babys_still_hungry_after_a_milk_feed.aspx  
Member's Login

Your pregnancy

week by week

Sign-up for our free emails
Pregnancy Calendar:
Calendar

My baby’s still hungry after a milk feed

Elisabeth  Pedersen, Advisory Dietitian

Lots of parents feel concerned about whether their baby is getting
enough milk especially if their baby still appears to be hungry
after a feed. Surprisingly the answer may not be to give them
more milk. The information below will help you to work out why
your baby is still hungry and our team are on hand to help you
if you have any questions.

Elisabeth Pedersen, Feeding and Nutrition Advisor

1800 258 268

Could it be a growth spurt?

 

How can you tell if you have a hungry baby? Unfortunately there is no hard and fast rule but generally hungry babies tend to cry for a feed more often and will feed longer when you do offer them their milk.

 

At around 6 weeks of age, many babies go through a growth spurt which can mean a hungrier baby for a few days so the feeding routine you had may have just gone out the window! It’s worth bearing in mind that this may occur so you can just increase the frequency or amount of the feed and then allow the pattern to settle back after a few days.

 

Too early to introduce complementary foods (solids)

 

Lots of mums wonder whether a hungry baby means that it’s time to start introducing solids but this should only happen around 6 months. Your babies’ guts are not developmentally ready for complementary foods before 4 months and introduction to solids prior to this should be avoided. Breast milk or infant formula will give your baby all of the energy and nutrients they need.

 

Some babies aren’t as hungry as they seem

 

Some babies also like to suck for comfort and seem to be demanding milk when actually a cuddle or some other response would work just as well.

 
 
 
 
Poll

Did you find your baby’s hunger was because of a growth spurt?

Yes
No