Why is my 3 week old son always hungry?

Question

My 3 week old son always seems to be hungry. Is this normal?

Edit: as in 15 minutes after he has been fed...

Answer 1

Absolutely! Growth spurt time! They usually have one in the first few days, then at 3 and 6 weeks, and 2, 3 and 6 months. Just feed on demand - it's tiresome, but will only last a few days.

EDIT: Yep - even as soon as 15 minutes after he's been fed is perfectly normal at this age. I recall staying up all night with my son (now nearly 8 months old), nursing for nearly 24 straight hours during his first growth spurt. He wanted nothing else. If you can do side-to-side nursing you should be able to sleep while he eats. That's what I did, and was sooo thankful for the much needed rest! It will get easier.

Answer 2

If you are breast feeding, (hope you are! It is sooooo good for the both of you!) then your son's increased hunger is natures way to try and build up your milk supply.
You may find that one week he seems hungry all the time and the next week it tapers off... just to start all over again in a few weeks. It is the natural flow of things. Babies have growth spurts, especially around 3 weeks, then again around 6 weeks.

Also, breast milk is very easy for him to digest, often making mealtimes more frequent than babies who are only formula fed. For the first few months sometimes my daughter wanted to eat as often as once an hour! Although sometimes I think she just wanted a "comfort suck".... but I think that's OK too. With time you will be able to distinguish whether your baby is actually hungry or just wants a comfort suck or is just in a complain-y mood and wants attention....

So, basically, yes, it is normal. If he is hungry, feed him. If you can discern whether he just wants a "comfort suck" you may want to try and give him a pacifier, however some experts do not recommend them.

Enjoy your little one, they grow so fast!

Answer 3

If you are breast feeding your son, it is perfectly normal for him to be hungry every 1-3 hours. At 3 weeks, your milk supply is still being established. Breast milk is produced on a supply and demand basis. The more your son needs, the more he will nurse thus signaling your body to produce more milk for him. As he grows, he will go through numerous growth spurts where he will nurse more often than usual. Breast milk is very digestible so it is common for the vitamins and nutrients to be utilized so efficiently by your baby's body, that his tummy gets hungry quickly. If your son is formula fed, then it may be that he needs additional ounce or 2 at each feeding. Is your baby a sleepy baby? Does he often fall asleep during feedings? If so, you may want to try undressing him a bit so he isn't too warm while feeding. If he falls asleep before you know he's had a complete feeding, try burping him by sitting him up. Rub his feet a little bit. Rub your finger against his cheek, this sometimes activates his "rooting" reflex. Babies do eat frequently due to their small tummies. Sometimes he may not be hungry but just needs to suck, try a pacifier to see if that keeps him happy if he just ate a good feeding. Also, gas on the tummy sometimes makes babies act hungry so try to burp him before feeding him again.

Answer 4

Yes it is.

He has a very tiny tummy. If you are breastfeeding I know it can feel like you just finished before you have to start agian, but it will pass, some of this is also because baby has to learn to feed as well. Remember he is only three weeks old

Don't give up! and ignore all the people that tell you to supplement with formula, every bit of formula you feed reduces your milk supply by that much, so you will end up feeling you aren't making enough..

Keep with it you're doing OK

Answer 5

if you are breastfeeding and this has been a recent change, i would say he is having a growth spurt. Go with it - feed, feed, feed, and within a day or two your supply will increase to meet this new demand, and it'll all calm down again. Alot of women wrongly believe they don't have enough milk when it is simply a growth spurt.

If you are worried talk to your Health visitor (they are not all supportive though and some will tell you to give formula, which WILL decrease your supply) or a breastfeeding helpline.

Answer 6

It is normal generally. My middle daughter was always hungry from the minute she was born. The midwife told me she had P. I. G. I thought it was a dreadful illness until I realised what she meant! It does even itself out though but if you are really worried then just take him to visit your local baby clinic and have the health visitor check him over.

Answer 7

Kids have growth spurts.

One week they suck down milk or formula like it was air. The next week they only take in a little. Babies know when they are full or hungry so just let the little bugger eat.

With my girls I would always make a 6oz. bottle and let'em eat half, burp them, and then top'em off. It helps to keep them from spitting up.

Enjoy!

Answer 8

Its very normal. He looks fully developed but hes not his brain is still and so are some of his internal organs. Hell be hungry all the time til about a year old give or take.

Answer 9

It's very normal...particularly if you are breastfeeding.
It takes about 90 minutes for a baby to digest breastmilk...so baby will want to nurse frequently. Adjust your schedule accordingly...after the 5 or 6th week, it becomes a lot easier and the baby is full longer.

Congrats on your little one!

Answer 10

my daughter did tyhe same thing, when they turn 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and so on, they go through something called a growth sprut, where all of a sudden they want more than usual. He is just growing up, and you going to see this more and more as he grows older.