Winding 6 week old

[belindarose]

How do you wind a 6 week old bf baby? Very fussy and difficult to feed in the evenings - he pulls off and cried a lot and doesn't burp easily, unlike in the morning. Okay during the night, much calmer.

Definitely not offended. You may well be right, the evenings are certainly stressful, with toddler teatime, bedtime etc. I didn't think I was stressed but I see that I probably am, and anticipating problems too! I love night feeds (won't be saying that in a few months time I bet!).

And I definitely don't manage to eat and drink enough. Must make more flapjack.

Fussy evenings are part and parcel of having a new baby for the most part. They often get faffy and cluster feed in the evenings - there are different biological/evolutionary theories about why this is ranging from them topping up on bm for the night ahead/putting their order in for the next day; to them being fussy so you keep them close to protect from perceived predators; to them reacting to your prolactin (milk making hormone) being more active at night. It's probably a mixed bag of all of the above!

It's hard to say, but perhaps it's not a 'wind' issue. BF babies tend actually to be very good at bringing their own wind up. It's a bit of a western obsession and not always necessary.

If evenings are hectic with toddler etc, try wearing DS in a sling to keep your hands free, but him close. If you can nurse him in the sling even better.

Hi Belinda, I too was worried about wind at this stage, but to be honest I think it was more fussyness than wind, and even if it was wind it was more likely botty wind which was hard to do anything about. I also wondered if with milk volume (for me anyway) being lower in the eves, that he prob took in less air then anyway as there was less gulping. To answer your question though, I find swapping positions the most effective - i.e. start sitting up on knee, then onto shoulder, then walk up and down stairs. Sometimes lying him down to change his nappy and then he does big burp on sitting up. I sympathise with eve fussyness - just posted about it myself !!

I'm just clutching at straws, I know! MIL is here for a few nights so is helping out (toddler DD poorly!) and I can see that there's nothing in particular 'wrong' with him. Not stressful tonight as DH is at work (that sounds horrible but I'm really aware of how much he hates the crying). I just worry that I'm not feeding him enough as he won't feed during this fussy time. I want to cluster feed!

Just too hot for a sling these last few nights - that has helped a lot sometimes.