As a nursing mom, seeing your baby squirming while breastfeeding can be pretty worrying. It's actually quite common for babies to move around while nursing, and there can be several reasons behind all that movement—some perfectly normal, others that might need a bit of attention. Most parents notice these movements and wonder what's going on, so if you're concerned about your squirmy baby during feeding time, you're definitely not alone.
Is Newborn Grunting and Squirming Normal?
Absolutely normal. Most babies grunt, jiggle, and squirm in their early months—it is such a normal part of their development that doctors consider it normal newborn behavior. These little coos and squirms are the way your baby learns about how their body works, particularly as it starts using its developing muscles to learn basic functions, like breathing, eating, and digestion.
Newborns up to 3 months often grunt due to the process of learning to regulate breathing while eating and digesting food. They may also grunt when trying to pass gas or trying to have a bowel movement, as they haven't learned how to relax their pelvic floor while clamping down on their stomach muscles. These noises and movements are usually most noticeable at about 6-8 weeks of age and often begin to disappear as your baby gets better control of their body.
What Makes Your Baby Squirm During Breastfeeding?
You're sitting down for what should be a peaceful nursing session, but your baby starts squirming, turning, and sometimes even pulling away. These movements can be frustrating and might make you question if something's wrong. While every baby is different, there are several common reasons behind these squirmy feeding sessions.
- Fast or Slow Breastmilk Flow: A forceful letdown might overwhelm your baby, causing them to pull back and squirm to manage the flow. On the flip hand, if your milk is flowing slowly, your baby might squirm and fuss because they're working harder to get enough milk.
- Gas Bubbles: Gas bubbles are what make your little one uncomfortable when feeding. You may see him arch his back, pull away, or kick his legs as he tries to relieve the pressure in his tummy.
- Sore Gums From Teething: Your baby might already be feeling painful gums, even before those teeth have broken through. That may be the reason he gets fussy with feedings because of tender gums.
- Getting Full or Losing Interest: Some babies start to squirm when they're full—it's their way of saying "I'm done!" Others might simply lose interest in feeding, especially if they're getting distracted by their surroundings.
- Environmental Distractions: As the babies become more aware of their surroundings—usually around 3-4 months-they may easily get distracted by sounds, movements, or other interesting sights around them. This may cause unsettled feedings as they try to look around while eating.
- Wrong Nursing Position: Sometimes, the position of nursing might just not be perfect. Your baby may squirm simply because they are trying to find a better way to latch on and feed.
What Other Signs Come with Squirming During Nursing?
When your baby becomes restless during feeding time, they usually show other signs that can point to what's bothering them. By watching these behaviors closely, you can better understand if your baby is dealing with gas, teething, or other common issues that might need attention.
- Back Arching and Pulling Away: If your baby pulls off the breast and arches his back, it generally means he has reflux. They may even be turning their head away or pushing against your chest while feeding.
- Mouth and Face Signs: Drooling more, putting fingers in the mouth, and biting while nursing are symptoms that have more to do with teething. Some babies make faces that look very like they are grimacing, while others rub their cheeks on the surface of your breast while feeding.
- Body Movements: Drawing the legs up to the tummy, clenching fists, or showing tension in the body usually is an indication of gas pain or discomfort related to digestion. Your baby may kick his or her legs or squirm more violently when gas bubbles bother him or her.
- Feeding Patterns: If your baby latches and unlatches repeatedly, repeatedly looks in different directions and turns his head from side to side, suddenly loses interest during feeding, the baby may be distracted from or be unhappy with the feeling and amount of the milk flow.
- Crying and Fussing: If your baby becomes increasingly fussy during feeding and starts to cry, they might be overwhelmed by milk flow, dealing with gas, or experiencing discomfort from reflux.
How to Tell Normal Grunting from Constipation
Every baby grunts and makes noises during digestion, but sometimes these sounds can signal constipation. For new parents, telling the difference between normal digestive sounds and constipation signs can be tricky. The key is to watch how your baby behaves during and after feeding, along with their overall comfort level and diaper patterns.
| Behavior Area | Normal Digestion | Possible Constipation |
| Grunting Pattern | Soft, occasional grunts throughout the day | Loud, strained grunting with visible effort |
| Body Language | Relaxed body, gentle leg movements | Tense body, legs pulled tight to belly |
| Stool Type | Soft, regular bowel movements | Hard, pellet-like stools or skipped days |
| Belly Feel | Soft, normal belly | Hard, swollen belly |
| Feeding Behavior | Normal appetite and nursing patterns | May be fussy or refuse feeding |
| Comfort Level | Generally content between grunts | Shows ongoing discomfort or distress |
| Duration | Brief episodes that resolve quickly | Extended periods of straining |
| Mood | Happy and playful between episodes | Irritable and uncomfortable |
If you notice your baby showing more signs from the "Possible Constipation" column, especially if these symptoms persist for more than a day or two, it's worth discussing with your pediatrician. They can suggest appropriate solutions, from simple massage techniques to dietary adjustments, depending on your baby's age and specific symptoms.
How to Help Your Baby Stop Squirming During Feeding
When your baby becomes restless during nursing time, you've got plenty of ways to help them settle down. The right combination of environment, position, and comfort tools can turn a squirmy session into a peaceful one. Here's what really works:
1. Create Your Nursing Sanctuary
Set up a cozy nursing corner in your home with soft lighting—a small lamp works better than bright overhead lights. Keep a water bottle and your phone within reach, and try nursing in a room away from TV sounds or busy household activities. A quiet, peaceful space helps your baby focus on feeding instead of looking around.
2. Get Comfy with Support
The Momcozy Multifunctional and Adjustable Nursing Pillow wraps around your waist and lifts your baby to the right height, so you won't have to bend or lean forward. This support is especially important during long feeding sessions when your arms get tired and your baby gets wiggly. Keeping good posture helps your baby latch correctly and prevents them from swallowing air.
3. Master Different Nursing Holds
Try the football hold with your nursing pillow for better head control—tuck baby's legs under your arm like a football, supporting their head in your hand. For cradle hold, keep the baby's whole body turned toward yours, using the nursing pillow to bring them to breast height. Side-lying works great for night feeds—lie on your side with a small pillow under your head and baby facing you.
4. Choose Comfortable Nursing Wear
Wearing a comfortable Momcozy Seamless Floral Push up Nursing Bra makes a big difference in your feeding routine. Its easy one-handed access and supportive design help you respond quickly when your baby's ready to eat, reducing fussy moments caused by feeding delays.
5. Beat the Gas Bubbles
Burp after every 5-minute of active nursing. Try this effective burping method: hold the baby upright leaning against your chest, support their chin with one hand, and pat the back with the other. Between the feeds, lay the baby on their back and move their legs in bicycle motion-10 soft circles on each side can help move along the gas.
6. Ease Teething Pain
Chill a clean, wet washcloth in the fridge-not freezer-for 15 minutes and let the baby chew on it before feeding. For gum massage, clean your index finger and gently rub in small circles on the area where you feel teething discomfort-about 30 seconds on each spot that seems tender.
7. Keep Everything Handy
Wear a nursing bra that easily unclips with one hand, such as Momcozy's, and keep your nursing pillow handy in all the places you commonly feed. The less time between when the baby's ready to eat and actually does, the less squirming around will be caused by impatience or hunger.
How Latching Position Impacts Baby Squirming
The way you hold your baby during feeding can significantly impact their comfort and behavior. A good latch and comfortable position help prevent the baby squirming while breastfeeding and ensure your baby gets enough milk while staying relaxed.
1. Proper Body Alignment: Your baby's ear, shoulder, and hip should form a straight line. This alignment helps them swallow easily and prevents neck strain that might cause the baby squirming while breastfeeding.
2. Tummy-to-Tummy Contact: Keep your baby's whole body facing yours, not just their head. This position supports natural sucking and swallowing while reducing the need to twist or turn.
3. Head Support: Supporting your baby's head without forcing it allows them to tip their head back slightly when latching. Too much head pressure can make babies resist and squirm to find a better position.
4. Hip and Bottom Support: Place your baby's bottom in the crook of your arm or on a nursing pillow, keeping their hips close to the breast. This prevents them from sliding down during feeding.
5. Elevation for Reflux: If your baby has reflux, try more upright feeding positions or slight elevation. This can help keep milk down and reduce discomfort-related squirming.
When Should You Talk to Your Doctor About Baby's Squirming?
Most babies squirming during feeding is normal; however, at times, it gives a signal that some problem requires medical attention. Knowing when to seek help ensures your baby stays healthy and helps resolve any feeding problems early on. The major concerns that require the doctor's attention include the following:
- Your baby regularly fights nursing sessions, turns away while crying, or shows clear signs of hunger but refuses to feed. They might seem frustrated or distressed when you try to nurse them, even when they need to eat.
- Your baby's weight gain has slowed down or stopped. You may also notice that your baby is making fewer wet diapers throughout the day than he or she did, and the length and frequency of feeding sessions are shorter than usual.
- Your baby spits up with a lot of force after most feeds, appears to be in pain while nursing, or arches their back drastically during or after feeding. You may also find them frequently gagging, choking, or seeming very uncomfortable with feeding.
- Your baby's lips or skin takes on a bluish color during nursing. Your baby coughs violently during feeding, appears to choke, or makes wheezing sounds while feeding that disrupt the nursing session.
- Your baby remains fussy and uncomfortable during most feeds, despite trying different positions or comfort measures. They show consistent signs of pain or distress at every feeding session, and changing nursing positions doesn't seem to help.
Make Breastfeeding Easier When Your Baby Squirms
Every parent experiences unsettled feeding sessions with their baby, and that's totally okay; usually, it is a normal part of their development. Most of the time, these squirmy moments have simple fixes, like finding a calmer spot to nurse or trying a new holding position that keeps your baby more comfortable. Pay attention to your baby's cues and try different solutions. Sometimes, this is as simple as burping them more often or changing up the nursing position. Remember, your pediatrician or lactation consultant is always there to help if you're worried. With a little patience and a proper approach—the restless feeding sessions can become far easier for both you and your baby.
