Breastfeeding basics Breastfeeding basics - South West Health

38 B REASTFEEDING B ASICS
If baby is fussy
Many babies, no matter how often they are fed,
have a regular wakeful, fussy time when they
seem hard to settle and cry a lot. This most
often happens in the late afternoon or early
evening, especially at around three to six weeks
of age. It can last a few hours and can continue
for a few months. Some babies have fussy or
unsettled periods that are so regular that
parents can set their watches by them.
Here is some advice about what you can do to
settle your baby. See Year One: Food for Baby for
more ideas (see page 90).
• If you are worried that your baby’s crying
means you don’t have enough milk,
remember that the more your baby drinks
from your breast, the more milk you make.
You can keep track of wet diapers to reassure
yourself that you are making enough milk for
your baby.
• Your baby may be reacting to something you
are eating, but this is unusual. You can
experiment if you think a certain food causes
your baby discomfort, but don’t overdo it.
Remember to eat a balanced, varied diet. Try
reducing the caffeine you take in. Foods you
eat may take about two hours to affect your
breastmilk, but the time varies depending on
the food.
T HE E ARLY W EEKS AND M ONTHS 39
Carry baby in a soft baby carrier. Walk or dance.
Rock baby. Play soft music, sing, or hum. Give baby
a warm bath or wrap him in a light blanket.
Carriage or car ride. Give your baby a massage or
pat his back. Take baby into the bathtub with you.
Run a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer to create “white
noise.” You can also tape this “white noise.” Try
these holds for comforting a fussy baby:
Arm Drape Handstand
Dance Colic curl