Is it normal for a 7 week old to still want to nurse every 2-3 hours?

Question

Sometimes it's even as frequent as 1 1/2 hours!!?? Is this common? I can't get him to nurse longer than 10 minutes....usually it's only about 5 and he's a really vigorous nurser and he never wants the other side just one breast per feeding. When do they usually start to go longer between feedings? Thanks for any help!!

I this common at night too. My pediatrician when we took him to his first appt. at 2 weeks said he should start to feed further apart. I guess because he had already gained 2 pnds in those 2 wks! And he thought he was gaining enough weight to be able to go longer?

Answer 1

yes, actually 6-7 weeks is a normal growth spurt so absolutely normal even for the increased frequency. It will taper back down in about a week or so - you should have increased supply by then to keep up with your growing baby's needs. that is the purpose of the baby going into these very frequent feedings during growth spurts, to give your body a signal to increase your milk production.

this is a really helpful site for nursing questions and will warn you when the next growth spurt will hit! lol! http://www.kellymom.com/

Answer 2

yes its normal. My first child nursed CONSTANTLY I asked my dr. repeatedly and they just laughed, lol. She would nurse sometimes 2-3times an hour. Then she just slowly let up. My son nursed every 2-3 hours for a few months, and would only do one breast at a time as well. Thats fine as long as you can remember which breast he had last so you don't get engourged on the other, its not a problem. By about 4 1/2-5 mos you can start giving cereal that will help a lot too. Odds are if he's only doing it for 5 min at a time, its more of a pacifier for him.

Answer 3

Yes, it's normal. Breastmilk digests in about 90 minutes. Your child's tummy is TINY, only the size of his little fist. And he has just gone through a bunch of growth spurts very close together in the first 6 weeks or so.

Have you tried doing breast compression while you nurse? This can help him get more hindmilk and might help him stretch his feedings a little bit.

Your doc is nuts. This is a NORMAL pattern for an exclusively breastfed infant. He is thinking of formula fed babies. Call your local La Leche League for some good information and support.

Answer 4

My daughter just hit 6 weeks, and I know what you mean. She nurses so often that when people are around, they ask "Is she eating AGAIN?"

I think it just depends on the baby. People have told me it's growth spurts, but my pediatrician said she could be like this for a few months. I've noticed though that if she's given a bottle (I've recently begun pumping) she won't eat for a couple of hours afterwards. Maybe it's just the comfort of being close to mom.

Answer 5

Yes, it is completely normal. He may be going through a growth spurt right now. It should change around 2-3 months.

He should be nursing a little less often at night, though. Hopefully you can help guide him into longer sleep cycles at night. Perhaps if he wakes more often than every 3-4 hours at night, try walking him or swinging him to get him back to sleep rather than feeding him.

You may want to pay attention to your baby's cries and cues to tell the differerence between hunger and tiredness. Many times a baby at this age wants to nurse for comfort or to get to sleep rather than hunger.

But your baby sounds perfectly normal to me.

Answer 6

You have a growing, healthy baby...they just keep wanting more and more....and it doesn't stop ! I weaned mine when he bit down on me and it HURT ! (at about 5 months ) Your baby is only 7 weeks, and he's just going to get hungrier ! Some people put a little rice cereal in the milk to thicken it. I know what you mean though, and I don't think your baby will slow down anytime soon !

Answer 7

yes its normal. not for a few months

Answer 8

DEAR
IT IS OK FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE GOOD LUCK TAKE CARE