Why Is My Newborn Crying When Feeding & How to Calm

Author

Cristina BernardoExecutive and Parent Coach, Head of Partnerships

Medically Reviewed By

Dr. Hayley Guilkey, MDPediatrician

Last Updated:April 4, 2026Medically Reviewed:April 4, 2026

Newborn crying when feeding is usually caused by trapped gas, fast milk flow, reflux, or a poor latch. Overstimulation, hunger-related impatience, and being too hot or cold can also trigger crying at the breast or bottle. Simple fixes include feeding in an upright position, burping more frequently, checking nipple flow, and reducing distractions. Most cases resolve with small adjustments at home. Knowing why it happens is the first step to helping your baby settle.

Why Is My Newborn Crying When Feeding?

Crying is an essential skill for babies! They cry to communicate with their caregivers because they are hungry, tired, overstimulated, bored, or uncomfortable. Here are some reasons why your baby might be crying during feeds:

• Gas or wind:

Babies can swallow air while feeding, which can lead to trapped gas and tummy discomfort. They may begin to scream and cry, leading to a vicious cycle in which they swallow more air and become even fussier.

Signs of this discomfort can include:

1. Pulling their legs up
2. Arching their back
3. Clenching their fists

Burping a baby during and after feeds may help relieve gas-related discomfort.

• Reflux:

All babies experience some reflux. This is when milk and stomach acid travel back up the esophagus. Some babies may only spit up a few times in their lives, while others may spit up a few times with every feed. For some babies, reflux is painless; for others, it makes them fussy and uncomfortable.

Symptoms can include:

1. Spitting up frequently
2. Fussiness
3. Arching the back during or after a feed

Reflux usually starts before a baby is eight weeks old, can worsen up until around six months, and usually clears up by one year. ²

• Normal development and the gastro-colic reflex:

A newborn’s understanding of the world is still developing. Sensations of gas or fullness that an older child wouldn’t notice can be perceived as alarming or painful by a newborn.

For example, eating triggers the gastro-colic reflex (for grown-ups and babies!), causing the colon to move poop toward the rectum. This helps create space in the digestive tract for incoming food. Grown-ups hardly notice this reflex, but babies are still getting used to the outside world, including internal sensations. For an already sensitive baby, this can lead to crying.

• Food intolerance or allergy:

An allergy, particularly a cow’s milk protein allergy, can cause digestive upset.

Other symptoms include bloating, wind, poor weight gain, and changes in stool.

• Latch problems:

An improper latch can cause a baby to get frustrated and not receive enough milk, leading to crying.

• Slow or fast milk flow:

For breastfed babies, a slow milk let-down can make a baby impatient and frustrated, while an overactive let-down can cause them to choke or gulp air.

For bottle-fed babies, the nipple flow might be too fast or too slow, leading to similar issues. 

• Not hungry or overfed:

A baby may cry during a feed if they are not truly hungry, or they may cry midway through if they are full. Following your baby’s cues can help prevent this.

• Hunger Cries:

Early hunger cues include rooting, sucking on hands, or smacking lips. Waiting until your baby is already crying can make feeding more difficult, as hunger cries are a late sign of hunger. A sure sign that the cry was for hunger is that it stops shortly after your baby begins feeding.

Nipple confusion:

This can occur when a baby switches between breast and bottle, as the sucking mechanics are different. This can lead to frustration and refusal of one or both. A baby’s cries can indicate frustration or confusion during feeding transitions. If you are breastfeeding, waiting to introduce a bottle until your baby is three to four weeks old can help prevent nipple confusion.

How nipple confusion happens

• Breastfeeding: A baby must open their mouth wide to achieve a deep latch, and then use their tongue and facial muscles to compress the milk ducts and stimulate the milk let-down reflex. The flow of breast milk starts slower and changes speed over the course of a feeding.
• Bottle-feeding: With a bottle, milk flows more consistently and with less effort for the baby. The baby can often get milk by using less complex muscle movements, essentially just clamping down on the artificial nipple.

• Tiredness or overstimulation: Babies can easily become overstimulated and overtired. An overtired baby can become too fussy to focus on feeding. Conversely, too many sights and sounds can distract them from eating (especially when older siblings are running around the house!).
• Uncomfortable position:

A baby who is not adequately supported may feel uncomfortable and cry.

• Dirty diaper:

A baby may simply need a diaper change. Changing a dirty diaper can improve a baby’s willingness to feed.

• Oral thrush:

Thrush is a yeast infection (caused by Candida albicans) that leads to white or gray patches on the tongue, gums, inner cheeks, and roof of the mouth. These patches can look like cottage cheese and are not easily wiped away. This can make feeding painful for a newborn, leading to squirming, crying, fussiness, or refusal to eat.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of how oral thrush can cause feeding discomfort:

Sore and irritated mouth

The patches can also be quite sore and may even bleed if scraped. The sucking required for both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding can agitate these sores, causing discomfort or outright pain.

Difficulty with latching

The pain from thrush can make a baby hesitant to latch properly onto the breast or bottle nipple.

• Illness: If your baby’s cry sounds different or is accompanied by other symptoms like a fever or rash, it could be a sign of illness, such as a painful ear infection or a fungal infection like oral thrush.

A sick baby may have a weaker, whinier cry, and parents should watch for other signs of illness.

• Communication

Sometimes, babies pull away because they need a break or want to be soothed in other ways, such as cuddling or skin-to-skin contact.

A baby’s cry is a form of communication, and a baby may be scared, distressed, bored, or uncomfortable.

• Caregiver stress:

Babies are highly sensitive to the emotional state of their caregivers. If a parent or caregiver is feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed during feeding times, the baby may pick up on these emotions and become more unsettled or fussy.

This can create a cycle where the baby’s crying increases caregiver stress, which in turn makes the baby more distressed.

How To Soothe Your Newborn During Feeds

Here are some tips for soothing a crying baby during feeding:

• Adjust feeding position: For breastfed babies, try different holds. For bottle-fed babies, keep them upright for 20–30 minutes after feeds to reduce reflux and discomfort.
• Don’t worry about missed burps: It’s okay if your baby doesn’t burp after every feed, and there’s no need to stress over it. The trapped air will eventually find its way out.
• Burping is not harmful, but may increase spit-up: Trying to burp your baby is not dangerous, but be aware that it could increase the frequency of spit-up.³
• Check the bottle and nipple: If bottle-feeding, ensure the nipple flow is appropriate for your baby’s age and sucking ability. Try an anti-colic bottle.
• Paced bottle-feeding: This technique involves feeding your baby in response to their hunger cues rather than on a strict schedule or encouraging them to finish a set amount of milk. It allows the baby to control the pace of feeding, which can help reduce overfeeding and minimize fussiness during and after feeds.
• Recognize hunger cues: Use responsive feeding practices and watch for early signs of hunger, such as rooting or sucking on hands, and focus on feeding your baby before they become overly upset.
• Establish a calm environment: Feed your baby in a quiet, dimly lit space to minimize distractions and promote good sleep habits.
• Relax: Babies can sense a parent’s stress, which can make them more upset. As a parent, your calm presence is essential for soothing your baby.
• Look after yourself: Coping with an infant’s constant crying can be overwhelming. Ask for help, take short breaks when needed, and consider parent coaching for guidance and support. Always handle your baby gently and never shake them.²
• Use soothing methods: Try swaying, rocking, singing, or providing skin-to-skin contact as calming techniques. These can help your baby relax and fall asleep safely after feeding.
• Check for other needs: Ensure your baby’s diaper is clean and that they are not too hot or cold.
• Check milk temperature: If a baby is crying during feeding, checking the milk temperature is important, as it can contribute to fussiness.
• Use a cry diary: A log of when your baby cries, for how long, and what soothes them can help you identify patterns over time.

When To Contact Your Doctor

If the crying is persistent and nothing seems to help, or if you observe any of the following, contact your pediatrician: 

• Poor weight gain
• Excessive or forceful spitting up
• Decreased wet diapers

Still worried about your baby crying during feeds? With Avocado Health, you get 24/7 personalized expert advice, practical feeding tips, and professional parent coaching right when you need it most.

Conclusion

There are many reasons your baby may cry during feeding, especially in the first few weeks of life. Crying is normal baby behavior and can be as simple as a dirty diaper, poor positioning, or nipple flow. Pay attention to your baby’s crying patterns, and you’ll figure out the cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Severity and prevalence of ankyloglossia-associated breastfeeding symptoms
2. Diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in infants and children: from guidelines to clinical practice. Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.
3. A randomized controlled trial of burping for the prevention of colic and regurgitation in healthy infants