Crying | Health Care Provider’s Guide to Breastfeeding

New parents may need help to understand that crying is a normal behavior and the primary way newborns can communicate. As babies get older, they develop more ways to communicate their needs and will cry less. Parents often confuse crying as a sign that baby is hungry. This can cause mothers to question their ability to produce enough milk to meet their infant’s needs. When crying is used as a primary cue to initiate feeding, parents may use inappropriate feeding practices to ensure baby is well fed. (Heinig et al.,2016) This can include unnecessary formula supplementation to “top off” breastfeeding with the purpose of keeping the infant full for longer periods of time.

Provider Resources

Patient Resources

Management Recommendations

References

Brazelton, T. B., & Sparrow, J. D. (2006). Touchpoints: Birth to Three: Your child's emotional and behavioral development (2nd ed.). Merloyd Lawrence.
Campbell, S. H., Lauwers, J., Mannel, R., & Spencer, B. (2019). Core curriculum for interdisciplinary lactation care. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Fouts, H. N., Hewlett, B. S., & Lamb, M. E. (2012). A biocultural approach to breastfeeding interactions in Central Africa. American Anthropologist, 114(1), 123–136.
Heinig, M. J., Follett, J. R., Ishii, K. D., Kavanagh-Prochaska, K., Cohen, R., & Panchula, J. (2006). Barriers to compliance with infant-feeding recommendations among low-income women. Journal of Human Lactation, 22(1), 27–38.
Kent, J. C., Mitoulas, L. R., Cregan, M. D., Ramsay, D. T., Doherty, D. A., & Hartmann, P. E. (2006). Volume and frequency of breastfeedings and fat content of breast milk throughout the day. Pediatrics, 117(3), e387–e395.
Lawrence, R. A., & Lawrence, R. M. (2016). Breastfeeding: A guide for the medical profession (8th ed.). Elsevier.
Sadurni, M., Pérez Burriel, M., & Plooij, F. X. (2010). The temporal relation between regression and transition periods in early infancy. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 13(1), 112–126.
Sisk, P. M., Lovelady, C. A., Dillard, R. G., & Gruber, K. J. (2006). Lactation counseling for mothers of very low birth weight infants: effect on maternal anxiety and infant intake of human milk. Pediatrics, 117(1), e67–e75.
Stuart-Macadam, P., & Dettwyler, K. A. (1995). Breastfeeding: Biocultural perspectives (1st ed.). Aldine De Gruyter.
Woolridge, M. W., Baum, J. D., & Drewett, R. F. (1980). Does a change in the composition of human milk affect sucking patterns and milk intake? Lancet (London, England), 2(8207), 1292–1293.
Woolridge, M. W., Ingram, J. C., & Baum, J. D. (1990). Do changes in pattern of breast usage alter the baby's nutrient intake? Lancet (London, England), 336(8712), 395–397.

Breadcrumb

Provider Resources

Patient Resources

Management Recommendations

References

Texas Lactation Support Hotline 855-550-6667