How long should my baby nurse for?

Question

My baby is 10 days old am i am unsure how long he should nurse. We are breast and formula feeding. When he eats formula he eats 3-4 ounces- but i don't know how long he should eat for when i breast feed him. how do you know how much he's getting? And how long do most people breast feed for? I was thinkin 3 months.??

Answer 1

Is there a particular reason you are supplementing? Giving formula so early on can potentially damage your milk supply.

Basically, follow your baby's lead. Put him on the breast and let him nurse until he seems satisfied. (Unless he seems to be falling asleep on the breast quickly.....then you may have to work to keep him awake.) You don't need to know how much breastmilk he's taking in. DON'T obsess over ounces.....your breasts don't have volume marks for a reason. :-) Look at how he's acting and how many wet and dirty diapers he's having. What goes in must come out. :-) At this age, expect 3-4+ stools daily (at least the size of a quarter to count) and 5-6 wet diapers per day.

At this age, he should be nursing about every 2 hours around the clock. And he's probably hitting a growth spurt (period of frequent feeding) about now or within the next couple of days. This will usually last 2-3 days while he works to boost your supply to meet his new needs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for *at least* 12 months and thereafter as long as mom and baby are both happy. Every single drop of breastmilk you can give your baby is a benefit.....and the longer you breastfeed, the greater the benefits.

This is a great link on what is normal in the first 6 weeks:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html

Answer 2

If he eating 3 to 4 oz before you breast fed he is already full if he's 10 days old. you should breast fed first for about 10 to 15 min's then try the formula to finsh him off. It's best to breast fed for a year acording to doctors six months at least. I have a seven month and still am breast feding him and I let him eat as long as he wants. Make sure he eats off of both side though. My doctor told me to feed him ten mins off of each side to start with.

Answer 3

Breast milk is best for your baby, there is no question about it. If you want to know how much he is drinking, you should pump. Try more breast milk and less formula. The more you give, the more you will produce. Also, the longer you give breast milk to your baby, the better. I did it for 8 months, but since I had to go back to the office when my baby was 10 days old, I pumped.

Answer 4

They say u should breast feed for around 6 months but u should do it for as long as u can. there is no rule. even a few weeks will give ur baby a good source of building up there immune system. It is hard to know how much the baby is getting when breast feeding. I think u just have to go with the flow and leave baby feed when he/ she is looking for it.

Answer 5

Three months is a little short. Breast milk has DHA in it which boosts iq up until age 14. feed him as long as he wants to eat, never cut a newborns feeding short. Breast milk also helps him with fighting off allergies and more, the longer the better!

Answer 6

You can breastfeed as long as you feel comfortable. Some people breastfeed until there child starts getting teeth, others go all the way to a year or longer. I wouldn't suggest going over a year. There is never a way to tell how much your child gets when breastfeeding but my son normally feeds for 25-30 mins on each side.

Answer 7

There is a breast feeding association called Le Leche. It is a support organization for those who are breast feeding. It depends on one's circumstances, but there are people who breast feed for a year or longer. I breast fed my first child for 9 months, and my second one for 5 months. As far as knowing how much he's getting when he's breast feeding...you won't know. He will quit when he's full.

Answer 8

I never breastfeed, but I exclusively pump. So I don't know how long he should stay on the breast. As for the length of time that you breastfeed is completely up to you. My daughter is nine months old and I still pump and plan on pumping until a 12 months. I personally think that it is best to breastfeed for a year, but it is up to you. You know what is best for you and your baby.

Answer 9

hi my son is 8 months and is still nursing i have tried to stop several times but keep giving in ANYTHING for a quiet life !!lol my son also has formula and has 4-5 oz! i think the formula must fill him up more than my milk because he get hungry again pretty quickly after a breastfeed it up to you how long you want to go on nursing for at-least he has had the creamy first milk 'colostrum' .i let my son latch on then he latches off when hes had enough bit painful at mo cos hes teething!!! i would advise speaking to your health visitor about offering baby water as breastfed babies get all the hydration from their mothers milk but because our babies are formula fed also i offered my son water in a separate bottle especially in the hot weather,good luck and enjoy your son before you know it he will be walking and talking x

Answer 10

breastfeed for at least a year, ditch the formula unless you want to end your BF relationship. the child will nurse until they are full so let them stop on their own and you know they get enough by counting wet diapers....you should aim for 10 or 12 with a child that young.