Crying after feeding

Introduction

Crying after a feed is completely normal but understanding why can help you figure out how to comfort your baby. Is it trapped wind or reflux? Could it be colic or tongue-tie? Babies cry to tell us something, but it’s not always clear what.

From scrunched up faces to arched backs, or drawing their knees up to their tummy, once you know what to look for, it’s much easier to work out what’s upsetting them and how you can help them feel better.

Why does my baby cry after breastfeeding?

Common reasons for crying after breastfeeding:

• Trapped wind – swallowing air during a feed can leave your baby feeling uncomfortable – gentle winding or burping can help and holding them upright for a short while after a feed
• Reflux – this is when milk or acid travels back up the food pipe, causing pain and discomfort. Check out our helpful guide to reflux.
• Tummy troubles – some babies may struggle with certain foods (passed through breastmilk) or are simply adjusting to digestion. This may show as bringing up milk, bad nappies, and showing signs of discomfort. Check with your health visitor or GP if you think this might be the case.
• Just not feeling it – sometimes a feed will tie in with your baby feeling tired, overstimulated, or in need of a cuddle. Rocking them softly (in an upright position), creating a quiet environment, and gentle soothing can help settle them.
• Feeding technique – if their latch isn’t quite right it can make feeding stressful for your baby. Check their latch and try again. Your health visitor can help you with this if you’re unsure.

Try our feeding issues symptom checker for symptoms of common feeding issues.

Why does my baby cry after bottle feeding?

If your baby cries after their bottle – or cries during bottle-feeding – here are some reasons why:

• Trapped wind – is a common reason why a baby cries after feeding. Burping or gentle winding can help and holding them upright for a short while after a feed
• Reflux – when milk or acid travels back up the food pipe, causing pain and discomfort. Check out our helpful guide to reflux.
• Overfed or fed too quickly – too much milk too fast can overwhelm your baby. Make sure you’re using the right-sized teat – most newborns do well with a slow-flow teat, which prevents them from drinking too much milk too quickly.²
• Feeding technique – if the teat flow is too fast, or your baby is lying flat, it can cause your baby to swallow extra air, leading to trapped wind/gas.
• Cows' Milk Allergy or Lactose intolerance – if your baby is showing signs and you suspect an allergy or intolerance to the formula seek advice from your GP or Health Visitor.
• Just not feeling it – sometimes a feed will tie in with your baby feeling tired, overstimulated, or in need of a cuddle. Rocking them softly (in an upright position), creating a quiet environment, and gentle soothing can help settle them.

Could wind, trapped gas, or burping discomfort cause crying?

Sometimes your baby just needs to let it all out – a big burp (or lots of little ones) that is. If your baby looks in discomfort – they’re kicking their legs, have a swollen tummy, and a pained expression – it could be they’ve swallowed too much air. At this age, their digestive system isn’t mature enough to move that air through easily.³ Some gentle winding and holding them in an upright position after feeding can help.

Is my baby crying because of colic?

Colic and crying often go hand in hand, and it’s a common reason why some babies cry a lot after feeding. Affecting around one in five babies,⁴ colic doesn’t have a clear medical cause, but it’s defined as crying for more than three hours a day for three or more days a week, for at least a week. It can feel really distressing as a parent, but you’re not doing anything wrong. The reassuring news is, about half of colicky babies outgrow it by the time they’re 3-4 months old.⁵

Signs of colic:

• Sudden intense crying that seems impossible to soothe
• Crying at roughly the same time each day, often in the afternoon or evening
• Pulling legs up, clenching fists, or flushed face
• Crying for long periods – usually 3 hours or more a day
• Settling once they’ve passed wind, had a poo, or become exhausted⁶

How to soothe a colicky baby:

• Burp your baby midway and at the end of each feed
• Hold, cuddle, and comfort them
• Gentle motion like pushing them in their pram or rocking them can help⁷
• Giving them a warm bath can help your baby relax⁸
• For more help and advice, check out our colic article.

Is my baby still hungry or overfed?

Figuring out your baby’s hunger cues takes a bit of getting used to – knowing whether they’re still hungry or have had too much takes time. Like adults, your baby’s appetite will fluctuate from day to day, so tuning in to their feeding cues at every feed can really help.

Signs your baby is hungry (before they cry):

• Sucking on their fists
• Rooting around – turning their head towards your breast or bottle
• Opening and closing their mouth
• Becoming wriggly and more restless⁹

Signs your baby is too full (before they cry):

• They’re fussing
• They seem uncomfortable
• They’re turning away before their usual feeding time is up or the bottle is finished
• They’re gassy
• They have a tight or swollen tummy
• They’re spitting up – this is normal, but if they’re spitting up most of their meal, it could be a sign of overfeeding
• They’re vomiting¹⁰

Can tongue-tie affect feeding and cause crying?

Tongue-tie is fairly common in babies, and it can make both bottle and breastfeeding a bit trickier.

It happens when the small piece of skin under your baby’s tongue is shorter or tighter than usual, which can limit how much their tongue moves.¹¹

Signs of tongue-tie include:

• Struggling to latch on or stay latched
• Feeding for a long time or wanting to feed very often
• Lots of dribbling during feeds
• Coughing, choking, or making little clicking sounds while feeding
• Taking only small amounts of milk at a time
• Slow weight gain

If you’re breastfeeding, tongue-tie might be why your baby is crying after feeding. If you think this might be why, chat to your health visitor or GP.

You can also take a look at our baby tongue-tie article to learn more about how it can affect your baby and how it’s treated.

What if my baby cries during burping?

We all know how good a big burp can feel – and it’s the same for your little one. If they start crying while you’re trying to burp them, it could be that they’re uncomfortable. Trapped wind can be painful, and some positions might put a bit more pressure on their tummy.

If you want to try a different burping position, you could gently place them over your shoulder, sit them upright on your lap while supporting their chin, or lay them across your knees on their tummy.¹²

How can I soothe my baby after feeding?

Although it can be hard to see your baby upset, staying calm can help them feel more reassured.

Other things you can do include:

• Burping or winding them to release any trapped gas
• Giving them a cuddle (in an upright position), gently rocking them, or taking them for a walk in the pram
• Keeping them upright for a little while after their feed
• Creating a calm and relaxed environment

If you’re finding it hard to cope with a crying baby, chat to your health visitor or GP. You could also try Cry-sis – a UK charity that provides help and support for parents and carers with babies who cry excessively, have feeding issues like colic, or have sleeping problems.

When should I speak to a health professional?

Speak to your health visitor or GP if your baby:

• Is finding feeding difficult, struggling to feed, latch on the breast or stay on the bottle
• Seems in pain during or after feeding, frequently pulls away, arches their back or refuses feeds
• Is crying for long periods, and nothing seems to help
• Is suffering from persistent diarrhoea or constipation
• Is vomiting large amounts regularly (not just small spit-ups)

If you’re worried your baby’s crying might be due to illness or they’re not feeding well, contact your GP or call 111. And if their cry is very weak, unusually high-pitched, or just doesn’t sound like their usual cry, head to A&E or call 999.

Trust your instincts – you know your baby best.¹³

Why not try our Midwife live chat service, available to SMA® Baby Club members Mon – Fri 10am to 8pm.