The Ultimate Guide To Newborn Feeding Times

Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience for both mother and child, and it is normal for new mothers to wonder how long their newborns should feed for. In the first few days, newborns may feed very often, perhaps every hour or even more frequently. After a few days, they will start to have fewer but longer feeds, and by the time they are 3 to 4 months old, they may only need 5 to 10 minutes on each breast. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding up to 2 years or more, and exclusively for the first six months.

Newborns should feed 8-12 times a day for the first month

Newborn babies should be fed 8–12 times a day for the first month. This is because breast milk is easily digested, so newborns are hungry often. Feeding this frequently also helps to stimulate milk production during the first few weeks.

Newborns should feed for around 10–20 minutes on each breast, but this can vary from 5–45 minutes. It's important to feed your newborn whenever they show signs of hunger, rather than sticking to a schedule. This is known as responsive feeding and it helps your baby get the milk they need, as well as stimulating your milk supply.

Responsive feeding can be emotionally and physically challenging for new mothers. Frequent feeding can be reassuring, but it can also cause worry. It's important to remember that a newborn's stomach is very small, so they need to feed little and often. This is normal behaviour for a newborn baby.

After the first month, your baby will feed less often as they get better at breastfeeding and your milk supply increases. By the time your baby is 3–4 months old, they will be breastfeeding well, gaining weight and growing.

Feedings can last 5-45 minutes

The duration of a feeding session for a newborn can vary significantly, ranging from 5 to 45 minutes. This wide range is influenced by several factors, including the baby's age, alertness, milk flow, health, latch, and milk supply.

Older babies can typically feed more efficiently, taking in the same amount of milk in a shorter time. Sleepy newborns, on the other hand, may feed slower or less effectively than their more alert counterparts. A fast milk flow and a strong let-down reflex can shorten feeding times, while a slow flow or delayed let-down may prolong them.

Premature or unhealthy newborns may tire easily during feeding, necessitating frequent breaks that can lengthen the overall feeding time. A good latch is crucial, as it enables the baby to extract milk more effectively and efficiently, reducing the overall feeding duration.

Additionally, a low milk supply or a growth spurt in the baby can result in longer feeding times as the baby tries to consume more milk. Newborns often engage in cluster feeding, nursing for extended periods of 25 to 45 minutes, which is entirely normal and expected.

While the average feeding session may last around 10 to 20 minutes, it's important to follow the baby's lead and allow them to nurse for as long as they need. The frequency of feedings, wet and dirty diapers, and weight gain are more reliable indicators of adequate milk intake than the duration of each feeding.

Newborns should not go more than 4 hours without feeding

Newborns have tiny stomachs and feed frequently. In the first few days, a newborn may want to feed very often, perhaps every hour or two. As a newborn's stomach grows, they will begin to have fewer but longer feeds. Newborns should be put to the breast at least every 2 to 3 hours and nurse for 10 to 15 minutes on each side. However, a newborn feeding session can last anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes.

It is important to ensure that your newborn is feeding enough. One way to do this is to weigh your baby before and after feeds. However, this method is not accessible to most people. Other signs that your newborn is getting enough milk include:

• Your baby has at least six wet diapers a day after the fifth day of life.
• Your baby is gaining weight well.
• Your breasts feel softer and less full after each feeding.
• Your child appears satisfied after each feeding and sleeps well between feedings.

If your newborn is not feeding enough, they may be having trouble latching. Ask your midwife, health visitor, or breastfeeding supporter to check your baby's positioning and attachment.

If you are worried about your baby's feeding habits or weight gain, speak to a midwife or health visitor. They can advise you on how to increase your milk supply and ensure your baby is getting enough to eat.

The first milk is called colostrum, a thick, yellowish liquid

The first milk produced by the mammary glands of mammals, including humans, after giving birth is called colostrum. Colostrum is a thick, yellowish or orangish liquid, also known as "liquid gold" due to its rich, golden colour and valuable benefits. It is extremely important for newborns as it provides essential antibodies and immunological components that protect them from diseases in their new environment outside the mother's uterus.

Colostrum is highly nutritious and packed with antibodies, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and protein. It is also high in white blood cells, which help to strengthen a baby's immune system. In addition, colostrum contains bioactive compounds, such as lymphocytes, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, complement and proline-rich polypeptides, which all contribute to enhancing a newborn's immunity.

Colostrum also has a laxative effect, which encourages the passing of a baby's first stool, known as meconium. This is important as it helps to clear excess bilirubin, a waste product of dead red blood cells, which can lead to jaundice if not eliminated.

Colostrum is produced for the first two to four days after childbirth, after which it transitions to transitional milk. During this time, a newborn should feed eight to twelve times in 24 hours to ensure they receive enough colostrum. This frequent feeding also helps to stimulate the production of colostrum and transitional milk.

Colostrum is crucial for the health and development of newborns and provides a strong foundation for their immune system.

Breastfeeding can be beneficial for up to 2 years

Newborns should feed eight to twelve times a day for the first month. This is because breast milk is easily digested, so newborns are hungry often. Frequent feeding also helps to stimulate milk production during the first few weeks. After the first month, babies will probably nurse seven to nine times a day.

Breastfeeding can be beneficial for up to two years and beyond. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for the first two years of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also supports breastfeeding for two years or more if desired by mother and child. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) agrees, stating that the health of mothers and babies is optimal when breastfeeding continues for at least two years.

The benefits of breastfeeding for this length of time include:

• Improved nutrition: Breast milk changes to meet the needs of the growing child. Even when the child is eating solid food, breast milk still provides valuable nutrients, including calories, growth hormones, vitamins, probiotics and enzymes.
• Improved immunity: Breast milk contains antibodies that help to fight off infections. It also provides special cells and antibodies that improve short- and long-term immunity.
• Fewer health risks for mothers: Breastfeeding for twelve months or more lowers the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
• Health benefits for the child: Breastfeeding may lower the child's risk of allergies, eczema and obesity, and boost their cognitive development. It also reduces their chances of developing childhood leukemia and lymphoma.
• Comfort: Breastfeeding provides reassurance and emotional support for the child, helping to ease their fears and make them feel more secure.
• Menstrual delay: Breastfeeding can delay the return of a mother's period.
• Weight control: Breastfeeding may help with weight management, especially when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.

Breastfeeding for two years or more is a great choice for many families, but it is not always accepted by society. It is often not talked about openly, and there can be a stigma attached. However, there is a lot of evidence to support the benefits of this choice.

Frequently asked questions