Is it true that you cant overfeed a breastfed baby?

Question

just wondering. my baby eats forever.... yesterday he threw up a lot of it when i was burping him but its the first time he has done it...

Answer 1

Yeah, if they puke after being fed, they've had too much. Generally in the beginning they suggest 20 minutes per side. But as babies grow, they will become more efficient & need less & less time to nurse. Spitting up is normal, but you don't want them puking. How to tell the difference? If it comes out with some "force" (ie. it's projectile), it's puke. If it dribbles out their mouth, it's spitting up.

Answer 2

True. He is nursing for comfort and probably took in a little too much, but it can't hurt him. He'll just blarf it out.

Answer 3

You can't overfeed a breastfed baby. It's totally true.  They will only take in as much as their little tummies can hold, and sometimes if they get too much, it'll just come back up.

You'll notice when he's nursing that there will be some heavy activity (sucking and swallowing) and then that will taper off.  When he's not actively sucking, then he's not getting as much milk, so it's not like he's taking in tonnes the whole time you're nursing him.

Plus, we breastfeed for comfort and closeness too, so keep doing it!

As for the weight gain, totally normal! My daughter was 8 lb 15 and was 10 lb 7 at 3 weeks!!   (at her 6 week she was 11 lb 9.5 ounces!)

Here is a breastfed baby growth chart.  It is better for tracking than the regular growth charts as those include formula fed babies.  Breastfed babies grow differently, they grow quickly in the first 6 months or so, and then taper off.

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gro...

Answer 4

Technically, no, b/c they eat until they are full. But, he may be nursing b/c he loves the closeness of you two together, or maybe it's a security issue. I wouldn't be too concerned about it, unless it becomes the norm for him to spit up a lot (or projectile vomit) after each feeding. Then it may be a good idea to call the pediatrician, to see if he/she has any suggestions. GL! And congrats!

Answer 5

a baby can take in too much, but if its too much the baby will spit it up, my rule of thumb though, its better to have a fed baby, than a starving baby; thats why they made burp cloths