Crying after breastfeeding

[kt_11]

My little boy is 12 months old and was exclusively breastfed from birth. He’s now also on 3 meals a day. I still breastfeed him in the morning and evening but he has some formula during the day (it varies how much he will take) as he’s now at nursery 3 days a week.

Recently he’s started getting very upset after he’s been breastfed, really crying hard and taking quite a few minutes to settle and I can’t work out what the problem is?! He happily accepts the feed and seems fine whilst he’s feeding but it’s almost as if he’s got really bad wind or something afterwards. Has anyone else had this issue? It just seems odd for him to start getting such bad wind or reflux after every feed when he’s been breastfed for his whole life!

He’s also started to have tantrums when he gets his clothes or nappy changed but I think this is just him asserting himself, as he’s always fine straight after when he goes off to play. Maybe this is similar and he’s just getting cross that the milk is being taken away after the feed, even though he seems to stop when he’s finished.

It’s made me question for the first time whether he’s not getting enough and getting frustrated. He’s otherwise happy and I don’t think he’d be too fussed if I stopped breastfeeding him now tbh. Just wondered if others had experienced the same and whether there are any suggestions as to what might be the issue? Thanks x

[KittyK]

Our little one sounds about the same age and she has recently started tantrums when changing clothes or nappy. Think it's their age, like you say, asserting themselves also she is bottle fed and when she finishes her bottle she sometimes has a cry even though if we then make another one she doesn't want it. I truly think she just enjoys the comfort of the bottle and gets a bit disappointed when it's over, maybe your little one does the same thing? It may just be a phase. Do what you feel is best if you're ready to move on from breastfeeding or not if he seems otherwise happy maybe just see if it's a phase? Sounds like he is happy enough with the feed maybe he just misses it when it stops?

Is it only on a pre bed time feed he does it? Maybe he is just cranky? Sorry I can't be of more help but didn't want to read and run and wanted to let you know you're not alone xx

[kt_11 in reply to KittyK]

Thanks for the reply. Interesting to know that your little girl cries a bit after her feed now too. Perhaps it is like you say that they are enjoying the comfort. He isn’t really getting loads of cuddles at the moment because he just wants to be off playing and trying to walk, so maybe this is when he feels he wants that closeness. I try to cuddle him but although he’s very affectionate and gives me a hug and kiss, he doesn’t stay still for long and wants to be put down so he can pull himself up to stand, or brings me one of his books to read.

He doesn’t seem to do it after drinking from a bottle or cup but then he’s never really taken to a bottle very well anyway. Will see how it goes. I don’t like feeling that he’s getting distressed by feeding but am prepared to keep going if it is comfort that he wants xx

[claire16c]

I suspect it’s just his age and he can’t make up his mind what he wants sometimes as you say asserting independance but at the same time being young and not understanding everything.

Now he’s 12 months you could also save yourself some money and he can have cows/oat/almond milk at nursery as formula not needed anymore.

If you do carry on bf it can be very useful to help them get through any illnesses etc they tend to bring home from nursery! Well done xx

[kt_11 in reply to claire16c]

Thanks!

Reason I haven’t switched him to cows milk is because he struggles with constipation (which he’s had since he only had breastmilk so it’s not necessarily caused by formula, although I know formula is based on cows milk). It’s taken so long to get him to drink formula (he would never even drink expressed milk from a bottle) that I’m just going with keeping things consistent for a bit before trying to put him on anything different again.

He also has a paediatrician appointment this week so will discuss the possibility of intolerance and obviously if they agree that he needs testing for allergies, he could end up on an milk substitute anyway. xx

[claire16c in reply to kt_11]

How confusing for you! Yeah that is a strange one because formula can cause constipation.

If he is bf a couple of times a day you could always just give him water in the day time- which also helps with constipation actually so might help with that too? I think they usually prescribe special milks up to the age of 2 if a baby has cows milk protein allergy but obviously if he had that he wouldn’t be able to have formula.

So unless he really loves having milk at nursery you could always just stop it and not even worry about changing to another milk.

When my daughter was about 10 months I went back to work 2 days a week and she just bf before and after. She’s only had cows milk a few times to drink, when she was about 3!

If he’s getting calcium in things like cheese, various vegetables or yogurt etc don’t worry about the milk especially if you think he could have a problem with it xx