The management of a demanding breastfed infant

Infant crying is a common, distressing problem and the causes are multifactorial. In the management of a demanding or irritable breastfed baby, it is necessary to exclude a simple feeding problem first, even if the baby is gaining weight. Infants in this study were apparently well nourished and breastfed on demand, but the specific intervention was effective in resolving infant irritability. This was achieved by optimising breast milk taken at each feed by increasing milk supply, improving breast emptying and establishing an easier pattern of breastfeeding, which in turn helped the mothers cope better with the demands of breastfeeding.