Blog - Why Do Babies Cry After Feeding

A baby might cry after feeding due to many reasons including illness. Here we discuss some of the possible reasons a baby cries after feeding:

It usually occurs in infants after a few weeks of birth and can go on up to 3 – 4 months of age . The primary symptom of colic is long bouts of crying despite no other signs or symptoms of illness or discomfort. Colic is usually believed to occur at a particular time during the day. If it happens to be after feeding your baby, then it will be every day. Although the exact reason for colic is unknown, most experts suggest that it could be caused by indigestion or wind. Since it is normal for all infants up to the age of 3 – 4 months, a medicated treatment is not recommended for colic. Simple measures such as gentle tummy massages and regular burping after feeding might help.

Infants usually spit up milk after feeding, which is quite normal. This is also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and occurs when the contents from the stomach of the infant wash back into the food pipe. But it is generally not a cause of concern. Some of the symptoms of GERD in your infant could be poor weight gain, lengthy feedings, vomiting, distress, excessive crying, etc. If your baby shows these symptoms, visit the doctor immediately. Reducing feed volume, feeding small but frequent amounts, burping in between feeding, etc., can all help in reducing spit-ups or gastroesophageal reflux in babies. You can also put the baby on the tummy or on the left side while awake after feeding for a short while. However, while sleeping, make sure you always lay the baby on their back.

Gas is a harmless condition in babies. But it can surprise you since the baby might cry a lot even though your baby might not be hungry. Home remedies such as moving your baby’s legs in a cycling motion, tummy time, burping, or even massaging the belly can help relieve the trapped gas. These are the most common reasons why your baby might cry after feeding. Some of them usually disappear on their own in a few months’ time. However, if your baby shows severe signs of distress, doesn’t sleep or is not feeding well and is losing weight, then see your doctor immediately.