Why does my baby kick and punch while breastfeeding?

Understanding Baby’s Kicks and Punches While Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a tender and intimate experience, but it can also come with its fair share of surprises—like your baby kicking and punching during nursing sessions. This behavior, while sometimes startling, is quite common and can be attributed to several factors related to your baby’s development and their need for sensory engagement.
Communication and Attention-Seeking
One of the primary reasons your baby might kick or punch while breastfeeding is as a form of communication. Babies are naturally curious and are constantly exploring their environment, even during feeding times. If they feel that their attention is divided—perhaps because you’re multitasking or distracted by your phone—they may resort to physical actions to regain your focus. This behavior can be a way for them to express their needs or simply to engage with you more actively.
Developmental Milestones
As babies grow, they undergo significant developmental changes that influence their behavior. Kicking and punching can be a manifestation of these milestones. For instance, as their motor skills improve, they may start to experiment with their newfound abilities, which includes moving their arms and legs more vigorously. This is not only a way for them to express excitement but also a means of exploring their physical capabilities.
Sensory Exploration
Babies are inherently tactile learners. They use their hands and feet to explore the world around them, and breastfeeding provides a perfect opportunity for this exploration. Kicking and punching can be a way for them to seek additional sensory input, as they feel the texture of your clothing or the warmth of your body. This behavior is often seen as a natural part of their development, where they are learning about their surroundings through touch and movement.
Milk Flow Dynamics
Another factor that can contribute to this behavior is the dynamics of milk flow. If your milk is flowing too quickly, your baby might kick or squirm in response to the sensation of being overwhelmed by the rapid intake. This can lead to a bit of fidgeting as they adjust to the flow, trying to find a comfortable position to continue feeding.
Managing the Kicks and Punches
While this behavior is normal, it can sometimes be uncomfortable for mothers. To help manage it, consider providing your baby with a toy or a nursing necklace to occupy their hands. This can redirect their energy and keep them engaged without causing discomfort to you. Additionally, ensuring that you are fully present during feeding times can help minimize the need for them to seek your attention through physical means.
In conclusion, while it may feel a bit chaotic at times, your baby’s kicking and punching during breastfeeding is a natural part of their growth and exploration. Understanding the reasons behind this behavior can help you navigate these moments with patience and creativity, turning what might seem like a distraction into an opportunity for bonding and engagement.

Why is my baby kicking while breastfeeding?

For the baby, they feel like they are falling away from the person they most want to be next to – and then because they are unstable, they do things that make latch harder – flailing their arms, “breast boxing”, crying, head bopping, shaking their head back and forth, kicking their legs, arching away, and so much more.

Why does my baby fight me while breastfeeding?

If you are about to feed and visitors arrive, or your phone is not next to you, or you are anticipating pain or a struggle feeding, you don’t release the hormone oxytocin as quickly so the let-down is slower and the baby can get frustrated and pull away. This often leads to an upset baby and it can upset you too.

Why does my baby get frantic while breastfeeding?

Breastmilk flow could be too fast or too slow
Or do you have so much milk that the baby pulls off and screams as soon as your let-down starts? Your baby likes his milk to flow at a pace that’s comfortable for him. Too fast can be uncomfortable and frightening, and too slow can be frustrating.

How do you know if your baby is underfed?

Signs that a baby is underfed or underfeeding include:
He fusses when put down. He demands full attention. He has trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep.

Why does my baby move his hands a lot while breastfeeding?

The authors observed that infants use their hands to push and pull the breast to shape the breast and provide easier access to the nipple. Newborns and young infants also use their hands to push the breast away, possibly to get a better visual sense of the location of the nipple.

Why does my baby grunt and thrash while breastfeeding?

Sometimes, your milk lets down so fast that your baby can have trouble swallowing the amount of milk that’s being released. Because of this, your baby may act fussy at breast or choke and sputter at the breast, and he or she may be quite gassy.

Why does my baby hit me while breastfeeding?

Baby Hitting You While Nursing? That’s Actually A Great Sign Of Development At one point or another, fidgeting, pulling, getting distracted, and even flailing are all fairly normal behaviors for breastfeeding babies.

Why does my baby make a fist while breastfeeding?

If baby is clenching their fists while feeding, it’s part of their instinctive reflex. As mentioned, babies may clench their fists as a sign of hunger or when they’re starting a feed.

How to tell if baby is comfort nursing?

Your baby is only nursing for comfort nursing when you see these signs:

1. Flutter sucking, slowing down, stop sucking, or making little sucks.
2. Still and looking into space while nursing.
3. Holding the nipple in their mouth but not sucking for milk.
4. Rooting and sucking lightly at the breast.
5. Arching and grabbing ears.

Why is my baby thrashing around while breastfeeding?

Overactive letdown (known medically as hyperlactation) can make it hard for a baby to keep up with the steady stream of milk. As a response, they may twist and tug to try and make the milk flow slow down or stop.