would a baby with a lot of gas feel as if they were hungry?

Question

I was wondering if anyone knows, when a baby has a lot of gas does this make them feel as though they are hungry causing them to eat more, maybe even over eat, or does it cause them not to eat as much.
MY mother in-law thinks I am over feeding my daughter, but I feed her on demand, cause she is breastfeed every 3-4 hours she is 4 months old and yes she is a little bigger than some four month old baby's I see, but like I said I only feed her every 3-4 hours, bum is dry, I make sure she is not to hot or cold, I hold her, do exercises to get gas out you name it put her to sleep ect and the only thing that stops her crying is because she won ts to eat, so all I wont to know if she is gassy can this cause her to feel hungry?

NW71206 · Accepted Answer

Yes she can be confused by gas what I found that I love is gas relief drops(I have tried walmart brand & Little tummies) they are wonderful. I wouldn't live without them!! Good luck :)

momtojullex · Answer

In the first few months- yes.  She's 4 months old, though...and by now her hunger cry should sound completely different than her pain cry.  Newborns don't know the difference between a hunger pang and a gas pain.  All they know is that something isn't right with their belly.

If you only feed her ever 3-4 hours, you're not over feeding her.  I promise.  Even if you fed her every hour, you wouldn't be over feeding her.  Breastfed babies cannot be over fed.  They have to actively suckle and WORK for their food.  

Don't listen to your mother in law.  Babies come in all shapes and sizes.  Just because your baby is bigger doesn't mean that you're over feeding her.  You're doing a great job.  Just keep doing what you're doing.

fastplayer37 · Answer

hi..firstly, i dont agree with your motherinlaw that you are feeding too much.  Babies should be fed on demand regardless whether on breast or formula.  They are constantly growing and are very thirsty too!  Bfed babies are always bigger b/c they can digest the milk better.  Keep doing what you are doing.  As far as the gas and hungry thing, my baby did the same thing.  When she was really gassy one day, she was alot more fussy and wanted to eat more.  I think its bc the gas may cause some stomach pain and sucking comforts them.  Babies love to suck especially when they are hurting, hungry, or want to just cuddle and use the booby as a soother.  Its soothing. So yes i think when they are gassy they suck more or eat more. Plus, when they fart alot they sometimes pass some loose stool and may feel more dehydrated so they perhaps get more thirsty.  I think it would be alot worse or scarier if the baby didnt eat and lost weight.  Theni would be super worried.

Holla · Answer

My son ate every 1.5-2.5 hrs.  He did that untill he was about 7 months old.  I always thought that I was feeding him too much.  But he was always average size and the doctors told me not to worry about it. Does your child use a pacifier?  Babies like to suck.  It soothes them.  It may just be that your son demands to eat because that is where he is most comfortable.   A pacifier may help with his need.  As for my son, I wasn't so lucky.  He refused the pacifier for the real deal

You should definately ask your doctor what he thinks.  Your mother in law may just being a typical mother in law.  :P

Amanda D · Answer

Yes, being gassy or having a tummy ache can make them want to nurse more.  Think about it.  When they are hungry, their belly aches.  You nurse them, and the "pain" is gone.  Makes sense that they would want to nurse for any stomach upset.  It makes the hungry pains go away, so they start to associate nursing with relieving stomach pains.

However, when my little one does this, he will usually pull away once he realizes nursing isn't helping.  So, I would say, if she's nursing and not pulling away, then nurse her, even if you think she might not be hungry.  Her nursing will help increase your supply to meet her needs, and it could also be that she's hitting a growth spurt.

27PurpleRoses · Answer

My girl friend and I both gave birth within days and both of us nursed.  Her son was gassy.  My daughter was not.  We both cooked from scratch and used whole food as much as possible.  She compared her diet to mine.  I used herbal teas, I even gave them to the kids when they were babies.  She drank pop - soda & coffee.  When she stopped the caffeine products, her son was no longer gassy.

Check your diet to see if you are drinking pop or eating foods that may be a little too strong for the baby's digestive system.  Another co-worker from another country had that problem and realized it was because of their spicy diet - that they used in their homeland.

domsmom · Answer

yes, that is normal! my son ate every 3-4 hours except he is on formula. my son is in the 90th percentile and no one on either side of our family it "big". its just your baby's schedule and that doesn't sound at all too much! sometimes a couple months ago before he ate solids he would eat every 2 hours. if your baby seems to be having an off-day, like eating more frequently and gas pains, she might be looking to you for comfort. but dont listen to your MIL alot of people like to put their 2 cents in. you are the mom. my baby's dad's mom actually asked me a couple days ago...so you still feed him by hours? omg wtf kind of question is that. yes, my son is hungry every 3-4 hours i cant freakin help it!...but that is normal eating svhedule for your baby..no worries

coralee · Answer

No being gassy would make her feel full you know how you feel when you have that problem so it would be the same for babies.

jolie l · Answer

They want to eat to help with their tummy. Nursing  soothes babies it makes sense right..

would a baby with a lot of gas feel as if they were hungry?

9 Answers