
Breastfeeding is a natural process, but it comes with its fair share of questions. One of the most common queries is whether newborns know when to stop feeding. This is a particularly pressing concern for new parents, who often worry about whether their babies are getting enough to eat. While it is true that newborns should feed frequently – about 8 to 12 times per day during the first month – it is important to recognise the signs that indicate when a baby is full. These include slowing down, spitting out the bottle or unlatching from the breast, closing the mouth, and turning away from the breast or bottle.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
How often newborns should feed | 8-12 times per day for the first month |
7-9 times a day when the baby is 1-2 months old | |
Feeding schedule | On demand (when the baby is hungry), which is about every 1.5 to 3 hours |
Maximum time between feedings | 4 hours |
Feeding duration | Up to 20 minutes or longer on one or both breasts |
5-10 minutes on each side as babies get older | |
Breast preference | Alternate breasts and try to give each one the same amount of nursing time throughout the day |
Burping | After the baby finishes on one side |
Hunger cues | Rooting around the chest, putting their fist in their mouth, smacking or licking their lips, fussing |
Feeding amount | 0.5 oz in the first days, then 1-2 oz |
Solid foods | Can be added at around 6 months old |
What You'll Learn
Breastfeeding benefits for newborns
Breastfeeding provides newborns with the ideal nutrition for their growth and development. Breast milk is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, ensuring that newborns receive the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein, and vitamins to support their development. It also contains antibodies that protect newborns from infections and strengthen their immune systems.
Breast milk is easily digestible for newborns, and its composition changes over time to meet their evolving nutritional needs. It promotes healthy weight gain and contains substances that naturally soothe the baby. Breastfeeding is also convenient and cost-effective, as it eliminates the need for preparing bottles or purchasing formula.
Research suggests that breastfeeding offers long-term health benefits for newborns, lowering their risk of certain diseases and infections, including lower respiratory infections, diarrhea, vomiting, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It may also reduce the risk of childhood leukemia, type 2 diabetes, asthma, obesity, and certain allergic diseases.
Breastfeeding also has emotional and physical benefits for both the mother and the newborn. It promotes skin-to-skin contact, boosting the mother's oxytocin levels and helping the newborn feel safe, warm, and loved. Breastfeeding facilitates bonding and helps shape the baby's early behavior by establishing trust between the caregiver and the infant.
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Breastfeeding benefits for mothers
Breastfeeding has a multitude of benefits for mothers. Firstly, it helps mothers lose weight gained during pregnancy. The production of milk burns calories, and the longer the duration of breastfeeding, the more weight a mother loses. Secondly, breastfeeding is good for a mother's long-term health. It reduces the risk of various diseases, including cancers such as ovarian, uterine, and breast cancer, as well as diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Breastfeeding also lowers the chances of mothers developing breast cancer, especially if they have had their first baby after the age of 25 or have had fewer than four children.
Thirdly, breastfeeding is cost-effective and convenient. It requires no preparation or sterilisation of bottles and formula, saving money and time. Breast milk is always fresh, clean, and the perfect temperature for the baby. Fourthly, breastfeeding helps strengthen the maternal bond. The physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact help the baby bond with the mother and feel secure. The hormones oxytocin and prolactin, released during breastfeeding, make mothers feel more nurturing and relaxed.
Lastly, breastfeeding may delay the return of fertility and menstruation. Exclusive breastfeeding can suppress ovulation, and the longer the duration of breastfeeding, the longer fertility returns can be delayed.
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How often should newborns feed?
Newborns should feed eight to twelve times a day for the first month. Breast milk is easily digested, so newborns are hungry often. Frequent feedings, about every one and a half to three hours, stimulate milk production during the first few weeks. Newborns should not go more than about four hours without feeding, even overnight.
By the time your baby is one to two months old, they will probably nurse seven to nine times a day. As newborns get older, they will nurse less often and may have a more predictable schedule. Some might feed every 90 minutes, while others might go two to three hours between feedings.
In the first few weeks of life, breastfeeding should be "on demand" (when your baby is hungry). You should follow your child's lead, instead of trying to stick to a strict time-based schedule, by looking out for cues that it's time to eat. These may include leaning toward your breast or a bottle, sucking on their hands or fingers, opening their mouth, sticking out their tongue, or puckering their lips. Crying is also a sign of hunger, but if you wait until your baby is very upset, it can be hard to calm them down.
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How to know if a newborn is hungry
Newborns should feed about 8 to 12 times per day during the first few weeks of life. This is because breast milk is easily digested, so newborns are hungry often. As newborns get older, they'll nurse less often and have longer stretches between feedings. Newborns should not go more than about 4 hours without feeding, even overnight.
- Moving their heads from side to side
- Opening their mouths
- Sticking out their tongues
- Placing their hands and fists in their mouths
- Puckering their lips as if to suck
- Nuzzling against their mothers' breasts
- Rooting around the chest, looking for a nipple
- Putting their fist in their mouth
- Smacking or licking their lips
- Fussiness that can escalate quickly
Babies know when they're hungry and will let their parents know. They will also let you know when they've had enough, so watch for signs that your baby is full, such as slowing down, spitting out the bottle or unlatching from the breast, closing their mouth, and turning away from the breast or bottle.
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How to know if a newborn is full
Newborns should feed about 8 to 12 times per day during their first few weeks of life. This will likely be every 1-3 hours, depending on whether they are consuming breast milk or formula. Breast milk is more easily digested, so newborns who are breastfed tend to feed more frequently than those who are formula-fed.
There are several signs that indicate when a newborn is full. These include:
- Slowing down
- Spitting out the bottle or unlatching from the breast
- Closing their mouth
- Turning away from the breast or bottle
Babies will also let their parents know when they have had enough. It is important to watch out for these signs and stop feeding when they appear.
As newborns get older, they will feed less often and have longer stretches between feedings. They will also eat more at each feeding.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns should feed 8-12 times per day for the first month. This is because breast milk is easily digested, so newborns are hungry often. From 1-2 months old, they will probably nurse 7-9 times a day.
Newborns may nurse for up to 20 minutes or longer on one or both breasts. As babies get older and more skilled at breastfeeding, they may take around 5-10 minutes on each side.
Signs that your baby is hungry include moving their head from side to side, opening their mouth, sticking out their tongue, placing their hands and fists in their mouth, puckering their lips as if to suck, and nuzzling against your breast.
Look out for signs such as slowing down, spitting out the bottle or unlatching from the breast, closing their mouth, and turning away from the breast or bottle.
Your baby is getting enough to eat if they have around 6-8 wet diapers a day, have regular bowel movements, and are alert when awake.