How Much and How Often?

My baby ate 2hrs on the clock....non stop. He is now 21mths and doing great! I did not start him on other foods until her was about 8 mths or so...although he wanted to. He was breastfed until about 1.5 yrs.

Both my boys were like that, they were hungry! I started solids at 4 months though, because they were both ALWAYS hungry. With three kids, by the third, I couldn't wait to have a bit of a break, and he ate like a champ. All my kids have a fast metabolism, and are on the lower side of the growth chart for weight,so I think they just needed extra food. I hate to say it, but until you start solids, you may just have to feed him as often as he's hungry!

Good luck!

Hi T.,

I also have a 4 month old and during the day she is all over the place. Sometimes she feeds every 3 hours, sometimes she feeds every 2 hours, and sometimes she decides to push it out as long as 4 hours. So at this point we don't have a routine going on. When you are breastfeeding it's around the babies clock not yours. It can be frustrating, but once they hit 6 months things should start looking better. They usually start to push the feedings out & most Mom's start their kids on cereal or fruits/veggies which will fill their tummies up even more. I would be concerned if your little one is feeding every 2 hours when he is 8-12 months old. Until then, good luck!!
A.

Hi T.,

My girl is 4 months old tomorrow and does the same, plus she still is up every 2 hours during the night to nurse. I am so tired! But, she is gaining weight well and is happy, so I think it is just a matter of time before this changes. I am going to ask our pediatrician about it, though. Maybe she is ready for solids already. Or I wonder if my milk is much less at night that she isn't getting enough? She only wants to eat from one side at at a time, and has always done that. Does your son nurse on both sides?

Avocado was a great first food for us. Not so sweet, loaded with good fat, and portable/easy to prepare. Check out the Super Baby Food Book for some great ideas for making your own food.

T.:

there is NO NORMAL...e very one is different/ every baby is different as are every person.

that said... understand that nursing is not just about eating.. it is nurturing...

P., RLC, IBCLC, CST
Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions

I thought the 3-4 hour thing was for formula-fed babies? My kids definitely nursed more frequently than that, until they really started eating solid food, especially if they were sleeping well at night. I'm pretty sure that even at daycare they got bottles more often than every 4 hours at that age (I seem to remember the logs having 4 or more bottles in an 8 hour day) He might be having a growth spurt, too.

It sounds like he will be quite eager to start solids! In a month or two, you should be able to ease off on the nursing sessions. Good luck!

What you describe, is the exact eating pattern of my almost 5 month old son. He is every 3-4 hours, exclusive breast milk. When fed the bottle at daycare, he is 4-5 oz, every 3-4 hours. I tried to start him on rice cereal, but he gags and spits it out. Because he is up every 2-4 hour at night to feed, I have now started to pump and give him a 4-5 oz bottle with 1 Tablespoon rice cereal in it to try and fill him up. Last night, he did a 5 1/2 hour stretch of sleep for me - I WAS THRILLED. He then nursed and slept another 3 hours. He is about 13.5 lbs, so he is not starving for food considering he was only 6 lbs 10oz when born.

I saw this on another message board and thought it was cute and made a lot of sense so thought I'd pass it along to you...

How many times did you eat or drink something today? Coffee break? Water fountain? Gum? Snack? TV nibblies? Most adults have an urge to eat about every 90 minutes while they're awake! Why do you eat or drink? Hunger? Thirst? Comfort? For social reasons? Just because? Are you trying to gain weight? If you had to double your weight in 6 months, how would you do it? Would you drink water? Chew sugarless gum between meals? Eat large meals at long intervals? Or would you do lots and lots of snacking, day and night? When it comes to food, babies are people, too. They're people plus, because they are trying to double their weight in about half a year, with a stomach that starts out no bigger than a golf ball. Of course they eat and eat and eat, especially in the early weeks. If your newborn is gaining about half a pound a week, he's doing well. If not, a breastfeeding specialist can help you find ways to help him nurse more effectively. Remember, if milk doesn't go in often, pounds can't go on fast. Here are some basics: Pacifiers are sugarless gum for babies - an imitation of what a baby really needs. You already have two of the real thing! Think nursing first whenever your baby seems unsettled - even if he just ate. He can always say no. If someone always analyzed our reasons before allowing us food, we'd go crazy! We don't want to have to demand our food, and neither do our babies. What would you think of a hostess who withheld the cheese dip, saying, "You can't be hungry; you just ate"? Why withhold food from a fast-growing baby? Nursing freely and frequently is actually easier than taking time out for big meals at long intervals. Your breasts won't feel uncomfortably full, and his stomach will probably be happier, too. Let your baby finish the first breast first rather than shifting him automatically after a set time. Each breast provides a changing "soup to dessert" menu. Would you like to have more soup put in front of you just when you were settling in with dessert? If Side 1 wasn't enough, he can go on to Side 2, and maybe even back again. If Side 1 was all he wanted, fine. Let your baby, not the clock, tell you when he's full. Imagine a dinner at which the maître d' bustles over and tells you your time is up! Nighttime is especially valuable nursing time. Don't be too eager for your baby to sleep through the night. Keep him conveniently close at night - in your bed is simplest - and know that you're helping him grow those brains and bones.

If your baby seems to nurse constantly and isn't gaining well, get help from someone who understands breastfeeding. A few simple changes are usually all it takes to get back on track. And when all is well again, you can forget about "feeding", and just enjoy nursing. Let your baby lead the way, and the pounds will take care of themselves.

Hi, T.. I have noticed that my kids all ate more during a growth spurt or when they needed extra mommy time. I also have seen with other mommies that when they are dieting while nursing, or forget to eat, that baby will nurse more to get the nutrition they need. As long as you are eating good with everything in moderation, baby should be fine. My youngest 2 kids were pretty much exclusively breast-fed until about 9-10 months old, then we started some fruits and vegetables. Good luck!

I agree that this sounds within the normal range.

Personally I would skip rice cereal. It has no nutritional benefits other than added iron. I would start off with a fruit or veggie which is more likely to be satisfying and taste good.

Yes, your instinct is right....once he starts on solids he will start going longer between feedings. That being said, you don't have to start with cereal. With him being 6 months, you could even try something a little chunky. Cereal doesn't have a lot of nutrition in it. I might try like a mushed up banana or something similar. Congrats on exclusive nursing for 6 months!

Hi T.,
My son was the same way - I don't think he ever went more than 3 hours between nursing when he was breastfed full time. Usually it was more like every 2 or 2.5. (he's also super-skinny, so clearly he just has a high metabolism - I guess our kids will be thankful for that later in life, right?) Anyway, I agree it's not worth forcing the issue - just feed on demand and be thankful that things are going so well. Sometimes if you have a trip planed (like to the store) and it's been 1-2 hours already, you can just offer him your breast before you head out instead of waiting for him to ask for it. This, at least, makes it more convenient :)

When he starts solids I suggest you feed him a solid meal an hour or so after you nurse him. At first it probably won't make much difference in his frequency, but as you gradually increase the number of meals he has he should start to space out his nursings. Plus, when you're out and about then you can try giving him a "real" snack instead of nursing him. This is sometimes more convenient (although sometimes it's just easiest to nurse them). Congrats on making it this far - it sounds like you're doing great!