Baby Not Settling After Feeds? Here’s What’s Really Going On
You’ve fed your bub, burped them, rocked them, and yet they’re still crying. If that sounds like your average night (or every night), take a breath because you’re not doing anything wrong.
A baby not settling after feeds is a common concern raised with maternal health nurses and GPs across Australia, and an unsettled baby after feeding almost always has an identifiable reason.
The good news is that most of those reasons are manageable once you know what to look for. Our guide will walk you through the usual culprits – like baby wind and digestion, as well as formula sensitivity – and when it’s worth considering a change.
Why Babies Get Unsettled After Feeds
A newborn’s digestive system is still developing through the first few months of life, so it’s normal for little tummies to need time to find their rhythm. Around one in three babies experience colic, and baby colic symptoms are fairly specific – crying for more than three hours a day, at least three days a week. If that’s your bub, know that it’s common, and it does pass.
The most usual cause of an unsettled baby after feeding is wind. Babies swallow air during every feed, breast or bottle, and a baby who’s already crying gulps down even more. Getting your head around baby wind and digestion is the first step to a calmer evening.
Signs it might be wind:
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Drawing the legs up towards the belly.
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An arched back and a visibly bloated tummy.
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Lots of passing gas.
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Crying that ramps up soon after a feed ends.
To help your bub move that trapped air along, keep them upright for 10–15 minutes after each feed, gently work their legs like a bicycle, try a slow clockwise tummy massage or sit them upright on your lap with the chin supported while you pat their back.
Could It Be Formula Sensitivity?
Sometimes the discomfort runs deeper than trapped air. If you’re formula feeding, it’s worth asking whether the formula is contributing. Discomfort from formula sensitivity mostly shows up as a persistent wind and bloating feeling that doesn’t ease after winding, loose or mucousy stools, frequent spilling, or a bub who stays uncomfortable long after the feed.
A few big signs that your baby can’t tolerate formula are the ones that hang around no matter what you try. Persistent baby wind after formula feeds, in particular, can be a good clue that a gentler option is worth exploring.
It helps to know the difference between formula sensitivity – general discomfort from the proteins or fats in the milk – and a true cow’s milk protein allergy, which is much less common and needs a medical assessment (signs include blood in stool, weight loss, skin reactions, etc.). Before changing anything, always speak with your GP or maternal child health nurse first, because not every unsettled moment is formula-related.
Why Protein Structure Matters
The type of protein in formula actually has an impact on how easily your baby’s immature gut can process it. Most standard cow’s milk formulas predominantly contain two beta-casein proteins, A1 and A2, and some research suggests the A1 beta-casein may contribute to digestive discomfort in sensitive infants.
Goat milk is naturally high in A2 beta-casein protein, which is important because A2 protein creates a softer, looser curd in the tummy, which takes less effort for a developing system to break down. Goat milk also has smaller fat globules – similar in size to those in breast milk – which again makes them easier to process. That’s the heart of A2 goat protein digestion; gentler protein, gentler on tiny tummies.
Practical Steps To Try Right Now
Before changing anything, here are a few small tweaks that could make a big difference:
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Feeding position: Keep bub fairly upright, so milk flows gently.
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Paced bottle feeding: Let bub set the pace and take natural pauses.
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Check the teat flow rate: Too fast means more gulping and more air.
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Winding positions: Revisit the techniques above after every feed.
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Smaller, more frequent feeds: Especially if bub regularly seems overfull.
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Keep a simple feeding diary for 5–7 days: Any negative patterns should reveal themselves.
The non-negotiable? If you ever notice things like bloody stool, unusual weight loss or a rash, see your GP as soon as possible.
When To Consider A Gentler Formula
If you’ve ruled out wind, worked through the steps above, and your formula-fed bub is still showing signs of digestive sensitivity, it might be time to switch to a formula for sensitive tummies. There’s no single best formula for unsettled babies, but a gentler, A2-based option is a sensible place to start, like Bubs Goat Milk Formula. Our Bubs Easy-Digest Goat Milk formula range was made with exactly your little one in mind.
If you’ve been searching for an A2 protein baby formula that’s Australia-made and tested, this is one to know about. For many parents, a goat milk formula for sensitive tummies is the gentle baby formula they wish they’d found sooner.
An unsettled baby after feeding is exhausting, but it’s very rarely a sign of anything seriously wrong, and it almost always improves over time. If you remember one thing, let it be the following: rule out any wind first, watch out for signs of sensitivity and, perhaps most important of all, think about the protein type if you’re formula feeding and symptoms persist.
When in doubt, your GP or maternal child health nurse is your best first call. From there, you can read more in our feeding guides or check out whether a formula for sensitive tummies, like our Easy-Digest Goat Milk formula, will make a difference for your bub.
