my baby is 12 lbs and I'm breast feeding. Sometimes he only eats for less then 5 minutes is this normal?

Question

He is 10 weeks old.

Answer 1

Babies don't eat 3 meals a day. They need many small feedings.

Answer 2

Yes, totally normal. My baby never ate for more than 5 minutes at a feeding. Initially I thought something was wrong and I would try to force her to eat more...since everything I read said that the baby should feed for 10-15 minutes on each breast at a feeding. My baby (now 9 months) is doing great, she's petite, but she has gained weight and the doctor said she's fine. He was never concerned with her weight, as long as she was gaining. I have talked to other mothers and learned that many babies only feed for 5 minutes at a time. If he seems happy and content, don't worry, he's probably getting all he needs and consider yourself lucky...more time for you to play with him.

Answer 3

If he nurses for five minutes, stops, then wants to nurse again in less than an hour, you should probably encourage him to nurse a little longer to give yourself some rest. Also, if you have a forceful let down, some babies will stop nursing for a bit until they are able to nurse more comfortably (my son would nurse to stimulate let down, then turn his head and let the 'spray' hit his blanket or bib, then nurse again). But if your baby is nursing for five minutes then not nursing again for 2-4 hours or more, then you probably just have a really good milk supply and he's getting all he needs in that five minutes. As long as he is having lots of diapers (usually 8 or more a day for this age, at least two of those poopy diapers), is gaining weight steadily, and seems happy and content, then all is well.

Congratulations on your new born!

Answer 4

12 lbs. at 10 weeks sounds average to me. At the moment, 12.5-13.5 lbs. is considered average for 12 weeks, so it sounds like your little is right on track.

Doctors will give you a time line (every 2-3 hours for 10-15 minutes each breast), but that is only an average. Some women have a fast let-down (it starts quicker than other women, and flows faster than other women) and some babies are able to gulp it down faster.

And since your little one sounds like he's thriving, you shouldn't have to worry.

Answer 5

Some babies are strong suckers, and their mothers have an excellent supply and great let-down reflex. Sometimes a baby (usually boys) are able to get all they need from 5-10 minutes of serious feeding.

So long as he's still gaining weight he's fine. He sounds healthy to me.

Answer 6

if he's getting the feeding alright and not hungry right away, than it's probably just an adjusting period for him. this will change a few times and is normal.
if the milk does not seem to be filling him, you might have to offer a formula along with his breast feeding to fill him. your milk sometimes is affected by your health and other outside influences. a call to a nurse will give you some advise on things to look for.

Answer 7

Are you switching breasts? Drinking lots of water? How often does the baby eat? Anytime you're concered...avoid Y! answers and talk to your peds nurse or visit the LaLeche website.