Can you overfeed a breastfed baby?

If you're breastfeeding your baby, it's easy to wonder if they're getting all the milk they need. And on the flip side, you might also be wondering: Am I overfeeding my baby?

The good news? "Most of the time it is just the right amount of milk for your baby, since the process is supply and demand," says Dawn Rosenberg, M.D. , pediatrician and BabyCenter Medical Advisor. "Your body adapts to your baby and usually produces just the right amount.”

Of course, the complete answer is a bit more complicated. Read on to find out what experts say about how you can tell how much milk your baby is getting – and how you can tell if it’s the right amount.

Can you overfeed your breastfed baby?

It is unlikely that you'll overfeed your breastfed baby. “Typically your body produces the right amount for your baby ,” says Dr. Rosenberg, and "at around two weeks old, babies should be able to self-regulate during breastfeeding," she adds. “They know when to eat, how much to eat, and when to stop feeding if they are full."

Granted, it is unlikely , but not impossible . “Overfeeding could happen if you are encouraging your baby to breastfeed more than they are asking for or offering bottles of expressed milk or formula in addition to breastfeeding,” says Dr. Rosenberg.

Every baby is different, depending on their weight, age, and other health factors, so there's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to breastfeeding and exactly how often to do it. However, there are some guidelines that can help you figure out what works best for you and your baby. In general, these are the basics, says Monica Murphy , a lactation consultant and BabyCenter Medical Advisor:

• Newborns feed on the breast about 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period.
• After one to two months, it may trend toward 7 to 9 feeds in a 24-hour period.

As far as how much babies usually need, breastfed babies who are around 1 or 2 months old, for example, usually need about 4 ounces per feeding. This will usually take around 10 to 20 minutes per feed (although everyone is different). If you're unsure of how many ounces your baby is getting, you can always weigh them before or afterwards to make sure. Here's a full list of baby feeding schedules that can help .

What causes overfeeding?

While it's not super common to overfeed, it can happen. Here are some of the reasons why your baby might get too much milk:

• You may be producing an oversupply of breast milk. If you’re experiencing clogged ducts or noticing your breasts are engorged, you may be overproducing breast milk, which means your baby is likely getting too much, too. There are things you can do to help, like only feeding when your baby is hungry or pumping less frequently. A lactation consultant or your baby's provider can help you figure out what might work for you.

• You may have a heavy letdown. The biological reflex that helps your milk flow is called a letdown, and if your baby is coughing or gagging while they're nursing, it could be that you have a forceful letdown, which means it comes out pretty fast. You can try expressing some milk before putting your baby on the breast to lighten the flow, says Dr. Rosenberg. Another thing that can help is changing up your nursing position, says Murphy. "Breastfeeding positions such as the 'laid-back' or 'football' can help babies handle a faster flow and have more control during a feed." Discover more about the best breastfeeding positions here .

• Your baby is eating when they’re not hungry. In those first few months, you’re still getting to know each other and learning about your little one's cues when it comes to hunger and satiety. Cut yourself some slack as you discover the difference between your baby’s “hungry” and “tired” cries. However, so that you don't give in to every little cry, here are some ways to tell if your baby is actually hungry:

  • They're making sucking sounds with their mouth

  • They're smacking or licking their lips

  • They're bringing their hands up to their mouth

  • They're sucking on their fingers or fists

And as far as cries go, a hungry cry is usually long, low pitched, and repetitive, broken up by long pauses. As your baby starts to get hungrier, you may notice their cries building up and becoming louder and more frequent. On the other hand, cries that continue no matter what you do and sound tired and weak, may mean your baby is sick. And colic cries typically start around the same time each day and continue for an hour at a time. As the days go on, you will begin to tell the difference between your baby's cries.

• Your baby snacks and sucks outside of feeding times. There are times a baby just wants to nurse. Continue to try and follow a schedule to help them understand boundaries because they could be getting too much milk if they're sucking on your breasts around the clock. If your baby keeps latching on between feeds, try a pacifier (if you get the okay from your pediatrician). A sample breastfeeding schedule in the first month , for example, can look something like this:
• 6 a.m.: 4 ounces of formula, then falls back to sleep.
• 8:30 a.m.: Wakes up, has playtime and tummy time.
• 9 a.m.: 4 ounces of formula.
• 9:30 a.m.: Playtime on the activity mat or tummy mat.
• 10 a.m.: Naptime.
• 12 p.m.: Wakes up, has 4 ounces of formula.
• 12:30 p.m.: Walk in stroller and playtime.
• 2 p.m.: 4 ounces of formula, then naptime.
• 5 p.m.: Wakes up, has 4 ounces of formula.
• 7:30 p.m.: Bath time and bedtime routine.
• 8 p.m.: 4 ounces of formula.
• 12 a.m.: 4 ounces of formula, then back to bed.
• 3 a.m.: 4 ounces of formula, then back to bed.

Here's a full list of baby feeding schedules that can help.

Signs a breastfed baby is done nursing

To calm your worries about overfeeding your breastfed baby, there are a few telltale signs that your little one is done drinking milk that you can look for. “When the baby is full, they will slow down, stop sucking, and release themselves from the breast,” says Murphy.

Other signs your baby is ready to stop eating for the moment? They tend to turn their head away from your breast, unclench their hands and relax their hands (enjoy those little balled fists while you can!), or close their cute little mouths.

Your baby’s signs of satiety might be a a little different – they might blink a few times or squeal. Every baby is unique, so continue to watch your little one for signs, and eventually you’ll feel more confident when they’re telling you that they're full.

How to tell if your baby is getting too much breastmilk

Even though it's pretty unlikely your baby will fill up too much on breastmilk, there are some things to look out for because it isn't totally impossible. Here are some signs they may have nursed too much:

• They may cough or gag. If your baby starts coughing, choking, sputtering, gagging, spitting up, or trying to pull off the breast, they may be getting too much, says Dr. Rosenberg. “It's time to remove them from your breast, keep them upright, and try to burp them,” she says.
• They may spit up a lot after they eat. If you're noticing your baby is spitting up a lot of milk after every feed (it may even come out forcefully from their mouth and nose), it may mean they took in too much milk, says Dr. Rosenberg. If your baby is spitting up a lot, she also recommends for each feeding, you focus on one breast only rather than both (and then switch to the other at the next feeding).
• They may show signs of being uncomfortable. If your baby is overfed, they may have some abdominal discomfort right after their feed. “Sometimes their belly looks swollen or bloated from being too full,” Dr. Rosenberg says. “Keep your baby upright, and burp them to help relieve the discomfort." And if that doesn't help much, a nice warm bath, while gently moving their legs in a bicycle motion may help, she adds.

It may take time to find your groove

Breastfeeding is a journey, and it may take a little time to find your rhythm – that's normal!  While you may never know exactly how much milk your breastfed baby is getting, try to trust the process. Breastfed babies are capable of self-regulating, says Murphy, making it unlikely they'll get too much. Not to mention, breastfeeding usually gets easier as your baby grows and you learn more about each other. And even if they do get too much at times, it will not cause any serious issues, says Dr. Rosenberg.

That said, if you do feel like something isn't quite right, or you're noticing certain issues or patterns during or after feeds, like extreme fussiness, you can always talk to a lactation consultant or your child's pediatrician to figure out what might be going on.