Breastfeeding Newborns: How Long Is Normal?

Breastfeeding a newborn can be a challenging experience for many new mothers. It is completely normal to feel a range of emotions, from joy and elation to stress and anxiety. The first two weeks of a baby's life are the most challenging and important for establishing milk supply, especially for first-time mothers. Newborn babies should breastfeed 8–12 times per day for about the first month. This is because breast milk is easily digested, so newborns are hungry often. Frequent feeding also helps stimulate milk production during the first few weeks.

Breastfeeding frequency for newborns

Breastfeeding is a natural process, but new mothers often have questions about how long and how often to breastfeed their newborns. Here is some information about breastfeeding frequency for newborns.

Feeding Frequency

Newborns should breastfeed 8–12 times per day for about the first month. Breast milk is easily digested, so newborns are hungry more often than older babies. Feeding your newborn frequently also stimulates your milk production during the first few weeks. By the time your baby is 1–2 months old, they will likely nurse 7–9 times a day.

In the first few weeks of life, breastfeeding should be "on demand" or "baby-led", meaning that you should feed your baby when they show signs of hunger. This is usually every 1-1/2 to 3 hours, but some newborns may feed every 90 minutes, while others may go 2–4 hours between feedings. Newborns should not go more than about 4 hours without feeding, even overnight. If your baby is sleepy and doesn't show feeding cues during the day, you may need to wake them to feed.

Responsive Feeding

Responsive feeding, or feeding in response to your baby's cues, is important because a newborn's stomach is very small, so they need to feed little and often. Your baby can have a good feed and be hungry again quite quickly. Responsive feeding also means responding to your baby's need for comfort and reassurance. As your baby grows, their feeding patterns will change, and they will feed when they need to, ensuring they are content and getting the milk they need. Responsive feeding also takes into account your needs as a mother. You may want to offer a breastfeed if your breasts are uncomfortably full, or if you need to fit in a feed around other commitments, or simply if you want to spend some time with your baby.

Growth Spurts

During growth spurts, your baby will want to eat more often. These can happen at any time, but in the early months, they often occur when a baby is 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months old. During these times, follow your baby's hunger cues and breastfeed more often for a while.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has many benefits for both mother and baby. It can lower the baby's chances of diarrhoea, ear infections, and bacterial meningitis, or make symptoms less severe. Breastfeeding also protects children from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), diabetes, obesity, and asthma. For mothers, breastfeeding burns calories and helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state. Breastfeeding also lowers a woman's risk of developing conditions like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.

How long each feed takes

The length of each feed will vary depending on the needs of the baby and the mother. 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.

In the first few weeks, breastfeeding should be "on demand" or "baby-led", which means that the baby is fed when they show signs of hunger. This can be as often as every 1 to 3 hours. Newborns should not go more than about 4 hours without feeding, even overnight.

Responsive feeding is important as a newborn's stomach is very small, so they need to feed little and often. Your baby can have a good feed and be hungry again quite quickly. Responsive feeding also means responding to your baby's need for comfort and reassurance.

If your baby is sleepy and not interested in feeding, you may need to wake them to feed. You can try patting, stroking, undressing, or changing their diaper to help wake them.

If you are concerned about your baby's feeding, you should speak to a lactation consultant, your baby's nurse, or a healthcare provider.

How to know if your baby is hungry

As a new mother, you may be wondering how often and how much to feed your baby. Your baby will give you signs, or hunger cues, to let you know when they are hungry and when they are full. It may take some time, but you'll learn to recognise these signs.

Signs Your Baby is Hungry

• Fists moving to mouth
• Head turning to look for the breast
• Becoming more alert and active
• Sucking on hands or lip smacking
• Opening and closing mouth
• Puckering or sticking out their tongue
• Drooling
• Clenching their hands into fists
• Staring at you and following you with their eyes
• Making sucking motions with their mouth
• Turning their head to the side, as if looking for food
• Giving you a furrowed brow, distressed look
• Making the sound "neh!" just before a cry

Signs Your Baby is Full

• Baby releases or "falls off" your breast
• Baby turns away from your nipple
• Baby relaxes their body and opens their fists
• Baby is content and maybe even smiling
• Baby appears happily drowsy and ready to go back to sleep

Newborn babies should breastfeed 8–12 times per day for about the first month. Breast milk is easily digested, so newborns are hungry often. Frequent feedings help stimulate your milk production during the first few weeks.

Babies should feed at least 8 times every 24 hours during the first few weeks. They may want to eat as often as every 1 to 3 hours.

How to know if your baby is getting enough milk

It can be hard to tell if your baby is getting enough milk when breastfeeding, as you can't see how much they're drinking. However, there are some signs to look out for that indicate your baby is getting enough milk.

Feeding Frequency and Duration

In the first month, newborns should breastfeed 8–12 times per day, or every 1 to 3 hours. This frequency helps stimulate milk production. After the first month, your baby will probably nurse 7–9 times a day. As your baby gets older, the time between feedings will get longer, and they may feed every 2 to 4 hours.

Newborns may nurse for up to 20 minutes or longer on one or both breasts. Older babies may take around 5–10 minutes on each breast.

Baby's Behaviour

Your baby should seem content and satisfied after feeding. They may release the breast on their own and appear calm and relaxed during feeds. Their hands may be in fists before feeding and then relax and open.

Your Behaviour

You may feel sleepy and relaxed after feeds.

Baby's Weight

Your baby should gain weight steadily. In the first four months, weight gain should be around 155-240 grams or 5.5-8.5 ounces per week. Most babies lose up to 7% of their birth weight and then regain it by the time they're about 2 weeks old. After this, they should continue to gain weight. From birth to 5 months, babies typically double their birth weight.

Baby's Diapers

Your baby's urine output is a good indicator of milk intake. In the first few days after birth, your baby should wet 2 to 3 diapers each day. After the first 4 to 5 days, when your milk comes in, they should have at least 6 wet diapers a day. Their urine should be colorless or pale yellow by 1 week old.

Your baby's stools are also an indicator of milk intake. By day five, your baby's stools should be yellow with a loose and seedy texture. From birth to 4 days old, they should have one or two bowel movements each day, which will be blackish and tarry. On days three and four, they should have at least two stools, which will be greenish to yellowy mustard in color. By 1 week old, your baby should have at least 3 to 4 loose, yellow stools each day. As your milk production increases, your baby may poop after every feeding.

Baby's Development

Your baby should be alert and active when awake and meeting their developmental milestones.

Breastfeeding positions

Newborns may feed 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.

There is no right or wrong way to hold and feed your baby. However, here are some breastfeeding positions you can try:

Laid-back breastfeeding or reclined position

This is often the first position mothers try. If your baby is placed on your chest or tummy as soon as they are born, they will instinctively work their way towards one of your breasts and attempt to latch on – this is known as the ‘breast crawl’. Skin-to-skin contact helps stimulate feeding instincts, while gravity helps your baby to latch on well and keeps them in place.

Upright breastfeeding or koala hold

In this position, your baby sits straddling your thigh, or on your hip, with their spine and head upright as they feed. You can do this hold with a newborn if you give your baby plenty of support, and it’s also a convenient way to feed an older baby who can sit unaided.

Cradle position

This is the classic position most of us picture when we think of breastfeeding. It involves you sitting upright, with your baby positioned on their side, their head and neck laying along your forearm and their body against your stomach, in a tummy-to-mummy position. A pillow or cushion behind you and a breastfeeding pillow across your lap propping up your baby or your arms may give you more support, and avoid strain on your back or shoulders.

Cross-cradle hold

This looks similar to the cradle hold but your arms switch roles so your baby’s body lies along your opposite forearm. The aim is to support your baby around the neck and shoulders to allow them to tilt their head prior to latch. This is a great newborn breastfeeding position and is also good for small babies and those with latching difficulties. Because your baby is fully supported on your opposite arm, you have more control over their positioning, and you can use your free hand to shape your breast.

Rugby ball hold

In this position (also known as the underarm or clutch), you sit with your baby resting along your forearm. Their body tucks alongside your side, with their feet towards the back of the chair, or whatever you’re sitting on. This is another helpful early nursing position because it supports your baby well, while giving you plenty of control and a good view of their face.

Side-lying position

This is ideal for relaxed night feeds and breastfeeding in bed or on the sofa, side-lying can also be more comfortable than sitting if you’ve had a caesarean or stitches. You and your baby need to lie on your sides next to one another, belly-to-belly.

Frequently asked questions