Babies can’t tell you if they’re hungry or full, so you’ll have to decide for yourself when to feed them. Learning your baby’s fullness hues takes time, and overfeeding is common, and our brief guide will help you recognize the common signs that your baby has eaten too much.
Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding
Overfeeding is more common when you’re using a bottle to feed your baby because they have less control over the amount of milk consumed. They’ll dictate their natural feeding needs when you’re breastfeeding them and pull away when they reach fullness, so it’s hard to overfeed them this way.
Physical Signs
Your baby will also exhibit certain physical symptoms as an effect of overfeeding. Frequent spitting up is the most common sign, but gassiness or burping, vomiting, fussiness, and irritability after meals can also mean your baby has had too much milk or formula.
Weight Gain
Your baby will show signs of weight gain if you’re feeding it too much. You’ll be visiting a pediatrician quite often during the first few months of your baby’s life, and they’ll help you make sure your baby is growing at a healthy rate and advise how to proceed if it’s gaining weight rapidly.