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Question: How often does your baby nurse?

(Posted by: ~Kalel's Mommy~ on 2008-10-30 17:41:23)

Hello, my bub is 4 months and about a week ago started nursing every 2- 3 hours four around the clock and about 12 minutes total. i just wanted to know how often your babies nurse and for how long. i don't know if it is normal that he started this pattern again. also, why is it so easy for people to just say: "just give him formula "? its so ironic when the best thing to do is to breastfeed and some people just don't see the benefits of it. instead of cheering on they just turn down your bf ability. thanks!!! :- D

Posted by: mystic_eye_cda on 2008-10-30, 21:02:36

Around 4 months many babies nurse more frequently. kellymom.com/ parenting/ sleep/ 4mo-sleep.html Anyway my first had to nurse at least every hour during the day and every two hours at night or else he would spit up way more and be in pain. My second barely nursed 7 times a day until he was about 4 months. Then he started nursing a lot. He still does most days. Really if he's not unsettled because he's teething, he's unsettled because he's learning a new skill. And at about 10 months he started getting jealous of his older brother (2.5 years). So if one nurses the other has to nurse, some days its just never ending. PS its not really easier to formula feed IF you do it properly; particularly if you use powdered formula which while cheaper requires special handling because it is not sterile. Lets face it there is not really normal for a baby to get 8oz bottles, only 4 times a day. Many toddlers have four servings of milk AND two-three meals AND 1-3 snacks.

Posted by: melissa w on 2008-10-30, 17:46:52

My daughter nursed every 2-3 hours from about 2-3 months until 7 months when it changed to every 4-5 hours.

Posted by: NZ mother on 2008-10-30, 17:49:26

My daughter is 15 weeks old and i just saw the nurse yesterday and she told me at my daughter age she should only be having 5 feeds a day but my daughter feeds 3 - 4 hours she is breastfeed apart from one bottle and night so my partner ( her dad) can have some bonding time I think the day I stop b/ feeding I will be sad

Posted by: Fran on 2008-10-30, 17:50:13

My son is 3 months and a couple weeks old. He nurses for about 20 minutes at least and sometimes longer. He feeds at both breasts too. He eats about every 3-4 hours still but at night he can go for 5 hours without eating.

Posted by: Elyse's Mommy ♥ on 2008-10-30, 17:52:58

It varies every day. At four months she was eating every 2-3 during the day and had one big stretch at night. Now at 7 months old she eats every 4 hours from the bottle while I am at work and nurses ever hour or so when I'm at home! I think she has reversed cycled - prefers the boob to the bottle. I agree, so easy to say "just give them formula " - I heard it all the time when Elyse was a newborn. Even my mom asked whenever we went to the baby well checks - "did the doctor suggest a bottle of formula a day, it's good for them... " She has no idea... (I was formula fed...) EDIT: forgot to add, she feeds anywhere from 3-10 minutes.

Posted by: Alicia on 2008-10-30, 17:53:05

It is normal for your baby to have an erratic schedule. Babies go through growth spurts at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, etc. and during those times they need more milk. Often times right before a growth spurt your baby may try to "use you as a pacifier. " Your baby is not actually using you as a pacifier, your baby is stimulating more milk production, which he is about to need. Babies live in the moment and want to eat when they are hungry and all the research out there says that babies know how long to eat. You don't have to stop them (in fact stopping them can be very harmful). It is frustrating when you don't know what to predict and you are trying to schedule your day, but just do your best to meet your baby's needs.

Posted by: Brass Monkey on 2008-10-30, 18:01:02

I was just thinking about posting something like this today just for a whine fest - my daughter was down to 6 times a day for nursing, and now she's back up to 12-14 times a day! I thought we were done with that and was feeling a little discouraged every time I thought I could leave the couch and was just met with a hungry baby. She eats about ever 1 1/ 2 hours during the day and then goes 7 hours at night, then another 4 hours, and then back to the every 1 1/ 2. Kind of depressing, huh?

Posted by: Brittany M on 2008-10-30, 18:12:27

Well my baby is only 5 days so I real can't help with your first ? but I know what you mean about people having issues with breastfeeding my boyfriend and mother just will not let it go. She keeps telling me that I should have just got the shot to dry my milk up. He told me that its going to make him sorry but what ever I'm doing it anyways.

Posted by: Natalie on 2008-10-30, 18:36:33

My daughter is 2 months old and when i get home around 430... she'll eat every 2 hours but slleeps for like 6 hours in the night. Sometimes she;ll feed every hour but these r times when she only nurses for like 5 minutes and then goesback to sleep. I call them her lazy days. and I do agree, it is so much easier to give the baby formula. I was about to give up breastfeeding cause it was painful due to an improper latch n the nurse would act annoyed n say "it will hurt "... i would b in the hospital bed feeding her for 2-3 hours straight in pain. I really wanted to stop but the lactation specialist came n saved my life.. she told me the baby wasn't getting any milk n she doesnt care if women have had 5 babies and say it hurts to nurse... they're wrong! she was so helpful... my mom has also suggested to give the baby similac sometimes,,, n my sis just said "look at this butterball. u think she needs formula? " my sis did not mean it in a bad way... my boyfriend was also against bf since i think he saw it as a sexual thing but once he saw how she reacted tp formula.. he supported me