how long should baby be breast feeding on each side and should he be feeding on both sides each time?

Question

the baby is 3 weeks and 5 days old. i just need to know what other moms think because all the books say different things.

Answer 1

It all depends on your baby. My son nursed even on each side - ten minutes each for each feeding. My daughter nursed for however long she wanted to on one breast each feeding(alternateing each seperate feeding of course!) But in both cases they are as healthy as can be and neither one of them has any bad effects so far. My son was never sick untill he was a year and a half old and got the sniffles and my daughter has never been sick so far. Actually If you want to know the truth I followed to book with my son and he is small for his age and I did it my way with my dayghter and she is mabey a pound or two big for her age and healthier LOOKING!(rosier cheeks, less fussy, ect.)

Answer 2

most books say to fully feed on each breast each feed but that can take hours and baby falls asleep by then!

I could never manage to get my kids to feed on both sides for each feed but they would usually manage about 1/2 an hour on one side per feed and then, when they were newborns, maybe an hour later I would top them up for 10-15 mins on the other side and that would satisfy them for 4 hours before it started all over again.

Everyone does it differently and you just need to work out what works for you. Books don't come personally written for our bodies and babies so just trust your instinct. Just remember to start the next feed on the opposite boob you used last time and all will be well. 30-60 mins for a feed isn't unusual and feeding every 2-4 hours is also normal.

Best of luck and congrats on your new bundle

Answer 3

Number one rule: Watch the BABY not the clock.

At your baby's age, he can take between 10-30 minutes to nurse. This is normal. Don't watch the clock, however, watch the baby. Babies will usually fall asleep or pull off when they are done. I mean, think about it logically, clocks are a relatively modern invention, women nursed for thousands if not millions of years before there were clocks. Your baby is smart, he knows when he's done.

If you are concerned because baby has been nursing a long time, you can pull the baby off, give him a burp and see if he wants to latch on again. Sometimes a bubble can make them think they are not full enough, or that they are too full.

You do not have to feed both sides every time. In fact, in the case of my last baby, I fed only on one side per feeding, alternating sides with the feed. That corrected an oversupply of milk. You can offer the baby the other side, and if they take it, great, but your baby knows when he is full. If he doesn't want to nurse anymore, you can't make him.

Answer 4

I agree with all the other women, it is a baby thing not a time thing, and in the first few months it can feel like all you are doing is pulling your boob out AGAIN, I mean come on, lol. But my son fed every 2 hours on the dot, I couldn't get him to have both sides in one sitting but some babies can, so he would have one side then have a sleep and wake for the other side 2 hrs later, I just started to increase the time between feedings a little later when I was confident he wasn't starving as soon as he woke up.
Hope that helps.

Answer 5

I agree with the others. Don't set a time per breast. 'Empty' one first and then switch to the other one. If he doesn't want to nurse from the other breast, start him on that side the next time you feed him. Watch the baby, if he pulls away from the breast, squeeze the nipple (just behind the areola) and see if there's still milk coming out. If it's only dribbling the breast is probably close to 'empty'. Then you can switch him and repeat the process.

Up until a few weeks ago, my son would only nurse from one side at a time - he got all he needed from one breast so it's entirely possible for a baby to nurse only from one breast at each feeding.

Answer 6

Since day one my daughter usually takes 10 mins on one side. That's it. I've never had to switch sides. She is now a healthy 18lb 4 month old so I know she is getting enough!

It all depends on how fast your flow is. Every baby and woman is different. Just let the baby tell you. If the baby is still suckling and your breast is "flacid", switch sides. But dont do it too early or the baby wont get the fatty milk.

Answer 7

I nursed my babies at that age for about fifteen minute's on each breast. I also changed Their diaper before I put the baby on the other breast, so they would take more from the from that breast and sleep a little longer lol

Answer 8

till the toddler the two stops or not greater milk is comming out of the area your feeding on. you have hindmilk, and its necessary that toddler gets that so do no longer in basic terms supply the toddler a time decrease on the two area, enable toddler finished empty one breast in the previous moving to the different. If toddler is accomplished after the 1st then use the different area first for the duration of the subsequent feeding. Congrats!!!

Answer 9

I always did 15 min each side

Answer 10

feed for 10 minutes on one breast , make them burp and then feed for 10 minutes on the other breast.

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