6 wk old is hungry non-stop

Tara - posted on 12/30/2008

I believe that your baby is going through a growth spurt. They go through one right around 6 weeks and they eat more during growth spurts. It's their bodies way of making sure they get enough food and nutrients to grow. I read somewhere that the demands for feeding will last a few days until your milk supply catches up. Hang in there- my baby did the same thing around 6 weeks and it is exhausting I know. I wouldn't add cereal though- they don't have the digestive system for cereal right now.

Berni - posted on 12/30/2008

Yeah it's a growth spurt hon, it lasts from about 3 weeks to 6 weeks so you should hopefully see his feeding slowing down soon, don't add anything to his milk as it could upset his digestive system, it's not mature enough to cope with anything other than milk right now. Babies can't have cereal containing wheat or gluten until 6 months as their systems can't handle it, they can however have cereals that are recommended for 4 months + but the recommendation is not to start weaning until they are at least 16/17 weeks old, I started weaning at 15 weeks but ONLY with the go ahead from my health visitor.

Jen - posted on 12/30/2008

My son will only take a pacifier sporadically...

I usually try changing him, cuddling him, distracting him first...

My original plan was to exclusively breastfeed & pump for when out of the house, but because he is constantly eating, I wasn't having time to pump which I had a hard time with at first - there is so much that needs to be done when baby sleeps!!.. Finally I decided that my time was more important and now I always carry formula with me because even when I feed him right before we leave the house, by the time we get where we're going even if its just minutes away, he's ready to eat again!



We go to the doctor in a couple weeks for his first set of shots... so I'll talk to him then..but nice to know that I'm not the only one!!

Sandy - posted on 12/30/2008

my 12 week old has gone through those 'growth spurts'. It's so frustrating because you feel like all you are doing is feeding all day long!!!! He would nurse every hour or hour and a half for about a week and then he'd settle back into a 3 hour routine. Have you tried a pacifier? Sometimes my son just wants to be held like I'm nursing him but he just wants his pacifier. My pediatrician has told me not to give him any cereal or anything until he's at least 4 months old or even older. Their digestive systems aren't developed enough for anything but breastmilk or formula. When I was going through it, I just tried to be really patient and remember that it won't last forever.....someday he'll move out! :)

Nicole - posted on 12/29/2008

I have a 4 week old and have the same problem. The lactation specialists told me that they go through a growth spurt at 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks and will feed every hour/hour and a half but my baby has been eating like this since the begining. I also wonder sometimes if I'm misinterpreting her cries for hunger when she really needs something else. I'm breastfeeding exclusively and she'll take to the breast no matter what but I wonder if it's she's really hungry because she'll fall asleep and then when I take her off she's fussy again. It makes it hard to leave the house when I feel like she wants to feed all the time! Sorry I don't have any advice for you because I'm looking for an answer just like you :)

Ashley - posted on 12/29/2008

i didnt think it was safe but i was breast feeding and supplementing with formula which they said was ok but he would always sleep through the nite til recently he is two months now they told me as long as he had his first set of shots to start him on cereal . u might ask ur pediatrician .