Fussy at the breast

Visitor Question: My baby is now 4 weeks old and just in the past 3 - 4 days he will only breast feed for about 5 to 6 minutes from one breast.

After that, he still acts hungry and will latch on again, but starts to cry and pull away. I struggle to keep him on and eventually have to quit because he is so worked up. He will immediately take a pacifier and sucks on it as if he is still hungry.

On a few occasions we have offered a bottle to follow and he will take it, sometimes up to three ounces. He has taken a bottle since day one, but we try to use it only once a day and/or when we are out and about. It is frustrating and I would really like for him to continue to breastfeed.

Has he possibly developed a bottle preference or can he really be full after only such a short time at the breast?

Breastfeeding Magazine Response: Sometimes this may be a sign of an ear infection. Is he sleeping fine or waking at night? Are there other indications of an ear infection?

Other times, little ones become so efficient that they only need 10 minutes of feeding time and they are done!

The most likely reason is probably a growth spurt that will pass in a few days. He may just be needing to nurse more in order to signal your body to make more milk.

As long as you don't supplement and let him nurse on demand, your breast milk supply with even out to his needs quickly.

Good luck!