Baby Latching and Unlatching Repeatedly While Nursing? What To Do?
Why does my baby keep latching and unlatching repeatedly? Is your newborn latching and unlatching repeatedly, and you are worried about unlatching during breastfeeding?
Do you ever have this frustrating experience when your baby can’t latch on to you and cries even though you have plenty of milk? Learn why your baby latches and unlatches repeatedly during nursing and how you can get your baby to focus while nursing. While breastfeeding, latching is the way the baby attaches to the breast. Having a good latch contributes to an abundant milk supply.
I think it is heartbreaking to watch a baby latch, unlatch, and cry while nursing despite the fact that she is hungry. You’ve always brought your baby to your breast for comfort and food, but now he won’t latch on and cry.
You start worrying about both the health of your baby and your milk supply when your baby does this. A baby’s bite on the nipple may also be painful if they suddenly pull their head off while nursing.
Breastfeeding mothers are less likely to experience discomfort if their latch is good, such as nipple sores and cracks and low milk flow due to poor latching.
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There is no simple solution to this problem, and many mothers are frustrated. A problem can only be solved after understanding the underlying causes and how it started.
Why Does My Baby Keep Latching And Unlatching
Isn’t it frustrating when your baby won’t latch on and cries despite having plenty of milk in his belly? Find out why your baby latches and unlatches repeatedly while nursing and how you can help your baby stay calm while nursing.
It is possible for a newborn to realize that he does not have enough milk flowing and unlatch and latch in order to improve feeding. When a baby has a fast flow, he or she may come on and off several times before it subsides. When a baby feels the latch in his mouth isn’t right, he starts unlatching!
1 Your Baby Is Unwell
Baby squirming and unlatching while breastfeeding: A baby keeps latching and unlatching for several reasons. And one of them can be that the baby is unwell. This could be the reason why your baby wants to unlatch to catch her breath if she is sick and is having difficulty breathing through her nose. It may be easier to breastfeed her if you have her seated or somewhat upright to allow all congestion and mucus to drain downward.
2 Slow Flow
Why does baby latch and unlatch? Check if your milk flow is too slow for the baby that she cannot latch and get fed properly. She might be very hungry and needs some more milk but cannot have patience. Just try switching the sides to see if she can feel better with latching as she might find better flowing milk to calm her down.
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3 Too Much Milk
Especially in the first few weeks of breastfeeding, you might feel like you are producing too much breast milk. What can you do if you have too much milk?
Most commonly, babies latch, unlatch, and get frustrated while nursing because of either too fast or too slow milk production. When your baby is not latching on or cries at the breast, you may be able to discover the reason for the behavior.
If your baby latches and unlatches while nursing, this may lead to your baby starting with a deep latch and then switching back to a shallow latch.
4 Developmental Milestone
The way a baby feeds at the breast can also be affected by developmental milestones. Baby’s attention is diverted more often during feeding, while others are more willing to nurse.
As your baby breastfeeds, you may notice he or she fumbles and is crying more than usual. When breastfeeding your baby, you may also find that she becomes cranky and fussy.
If you feel that your baby gets distracted quickly, it’s better to breastfeed her in a separate room that is not noisy and you can breastfeed her without any disturbance.
5 Colic
Why is baby latching and unlatching while breastfeeding and crying uncontrollably? Baby unlatches because she may be suffering from colic. The condition of acute colic occurs when a normally healthy child cries for long periods of time.
If your baby is suffering from colic, she may not feel comfortable getting latched on the nipples. She will keep latching and unlatching due to the discomfort she feels due to colic. See how to calm a colicky baby here to learn more about colic in babies.
6 Stuffy Nose
Your baby might be unlatching to catch her breath if she can’t breathe easily through her nose because she’s sick. Make your room humid before breastfeeding your baby. You should run a baby-safe humidifier or vaporizer before you breastfeed your infant. This may help her breathe better and latch happily.
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7 Baby Teething
If your baby has started teething, she must be in a lot of pain already. Those little sprouts hurt her badly. And also the sore gums are not less painful for your little one. Make her feel comfortable with a teething necklace or with pediatrician prescribed teething medicines so that she can get relief from the discomfort of sprouting teeth.
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8 Acid Reflux
The reason a baby spits up is that food moves up from his stomach. It could be another reason that baby latching and unlatching repeatedly. If a baby has an acid reflux issue, she will not stay calm at the breast and will latch and unlatch with discomfort.
As a baby gets older, the condition becomes less common and rarely serious. But you definitely can see a pediatrician get her instant relief from acid reflux and help her breastfeed happily.
Why does my baby keep pulling off during nursing?
If a newborn baby latching and unlatching repeatedly it is something to worry about. Because milk is constantly produced by the breast, your baby may be able to drink again on that side. Baby fusses when the milk is flowing too quickly and pulls away from the breast. As a result, your child may pull away shortly after starting to feed, and just as the milk is draining.
What To Do If My Baby Latches and Unlatches Frequently
If none of the above conditions are true about your breastfeeding baby, you may have to take a help of a lactation consultant. It is helpful to have a lactation consultant who can answer questions, offer advice, and help troubleshoot breastfeeding challenges.
Lactation consultants offer assistance to families and babies in learning how to breastfeed and can ease the latching unlatching problems with practical solutions.
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Baby Latching and Unlatching Repeatedly at Night
Your baby may be continually unlatching for various causes, including gas, illness, teething, or being preoccupied. Find out if your infant is constantly latching and unlatching due to inadequate latching, insufficient milk flow, or an excessive milk supply.
If your baby is latching and unlatching repeatedly at night, there could be several reasons behind this behavior. Your baby could be very sleepy or very tired and unable to sleep. She might need some comfort to soothe her tired body. Sometimes a warm oil massage can help instead of offering breastmilk frequently.
Make it a nighttime routine to massage your baby with a good baby massage oil. This will help your baby to feel relaxed and latch without fussiness.
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Why does my baby latch then pull away?
If your baby keeps pulling away while breastfeeding, you need to find the reason. Either your milk supply is too fast or too slow. Or there is a possibility that you are not making enough milk for her needs. She latches in the need for milk but is disappointed to get nothing out of sucking on the nipples.
If this is the reason, you need to eat foods that boost your milk supply. Here is a list of 21 Best Super Foods For Breastfeeding Mother To Increase Milk Supply.
Final Thoughts on Baby Latching and Unlatching Repeatedly While Nursing
Adding to the challenge of breastfeeding, your baby keeps unlatching. There are numerous reasons why your baby latches and unlatches repeatedly while nursing.
Is your baby squirming and unlatching while breastfeeding? While nursing, your baby may latch and unlatch frequently for a variety of reasons. Understanding the reason for the problem is the key to resolving it. We have added a few common reasons why a baby latches and unlatches while breastfeeding, if you still do not find a solution, you should see a lactation consultant or a pediatrician at the earliest.
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