how often to bf four mth old???

[jem33]

hello, I need some guidance! My boy has always fed every two hours. I thought this was common until my friend said a 4 month old baby should be able to go 4hrs without a feed. What also concerns me is that he still feeds for 30 minutes in each feeding(he would stay on longer but I break him off by then). Is this an indication that I am not making enough milk?
Also at night he gets really upset so he will be on the breast longer, say an hour. I don't know if he is hungry or the breast is just giving him comfort.

[KerryS]

IT sounds to me like you're doing everything right. In my experience, an exclusively breastfed baby will eat pretty frequently, and it doesn't matter if the baby is 4 weeks or 4 months. It usually isn't until they're a lot older and eating a significant amount of solid foods that they're able to go for longer periods without breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding frequently paves the way for a healthy milk supply and a baby who will be less likely to wean prematurely.

[madelsmama]

Welcome!

Your friend is mis-informed. If a breastfed baby only ate every four hours, s/he would only be eating 6 times a day, which is not enough for a child that age. I'm not sure if your friend is formula feeding her child, but a breastfed infant will digest breastmilk very quickly, since it is so perfectly digestable.

Feeding for 30 minutes at a time is fine, and average. Some babies will feed for a shorter amount of time, say if moms has a fast flow, or longer if a baby enjoys comfort sucking. Feeding longer at night could be simply for comfort or for hunger. Many babies "cluster feed" in the evening, gearing up for the for what might be a longer stretch or sleep. Comfort sucking is also perfect acceptable, and what our breasts were designed for. Please don't have any worries about the time your baby feeds.

Is you baby having 5-6 wet diapers every day? Is he gaining wet, meeting milestones, generally happy after eating? If so, then he's getting enough milk!

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/enoughmilk-older.html
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussy-evening.html
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/comfortnursing.html

[Amy_G_]

yeah, what they said.
There's also this thing called, "every baby is different."
There is a possibility that her baby is doing well with so few feedings, she may have introduced a bottle of formula, solids or be using Ezzo's practices. there are a lot of variables.
parent your baby the way YOU know how, and when someone criticizes or gives advice, be sure to filter it thru your common sense--cause it sounds like you know what you are doing.

[newmominct]

Jem- It seems like your baby is doing exactly what a BD baby should be doing! my 3 mo old nurses ever 1-2 hours with longer stretches at night that follow some long lasting cluster feeds! :)
Heres my question: yeah, what they said.
There's also this thing called, "every baby is different."
There is a possibility that her baby is doing well with so few feedings, she may have introduced a bottle of formula, solids or be using Ezzo's practices. there are a lot of variables.
parent your baby the way YOU know how, and when someone criticizes or gives advice, be sure to filter it thru your common sense--cause it sounds like you know what you are doing. What are Ezzo's practices. I've heard them mentioned in the forum before, but am unclear as to what this is.

[ima062002]

What does your friend base her remark on? Personal experience? Formula feeding? What evidence does she have to support that?

Women differ in the amount of milk they are able to store and some babies will need to eat more often to get their fill than others (this btw is NOT related to breast size). Beyond that, every baby has its own style and some prefer to get full and then some while others prefer to snack all day.

So there are no rules.

With regard to the 30 min. it might help you to support your feeding breast and start gently massaging it whenever your baby slows or stops eating. Some babies also need a lot of comfort nursing and yours might be one of them. You can offer a paci but mom's breast is the *ultimate* comfort zone :) and there's nothing wrong in letting your baby have a good time and bond like that with you.

[hilmom]

To "newmominct" - "Ezzo's practices" is in reference to Gary Ezzo who authored "On Becoming Baby Wise" - his big theory is that babies should be on "parent directed feedings" and "scheduled" - he recommends getting them on a strict 2 1/2 or 3 hour schedule right away and you directing the daily feeding/playing/sleeping schedule. It can be a very strict way to parent for some babies. My kiddo couldn't adhere to it so I put the book away. My sister in law was able to adhere to the schedule with her 2nd son but not her first. You can read more about him if you just google his name. He's highly controversial.

[Amy_G_]

Ezzo puts babies on a strict schedule, the AAP has a policy statement against him and his books because of babies failure to thrive and weight loss over the strict feeding schedule. It's 2.5-3 hours for young babies and increased time for older kids. Even if a baby is able to grow eating on Ezzo's schedule, often breastfeeding is sabotaged, and baby is weaned to formula at an early age.

[jgassa]

My son will be 8 months on Sunday. He still breastfeeds every 2 hrs. Usually for 10 minutes at a time sometimes longer. Especially before bed and early morning.

[newmominct]

Hm... a strict schedule? I dont think I could ever deny my baby's natural cues of hunger because 'its not time'!

[hilmom]

Hey newmominct - our babies are the same age - my Daniel was born 6/12/08. Is your little guy in the three month growth spurt/feeding frenzy too? Good times! :)

[newmominct]

They really arent kidding when they say 3 month growth spurt... I read that the frequent feedings last 48 hours but hes been wanting to eat almost every hour for a few days now! PHEW! He is noticeably bigger though, and getting cuter every day :)

[monkeysmom]

My daughter was born on 6-6-08, and seems to be nursing less-but she was nursing for hours at a time, I think maybe she is becoming more efficient in her nursing. I'm waiting for the 3 month spurt, though. I would have to agree that you should go with her natural feeding cues. Everyone, even the pediatrician told me she should be eating only every 3 hrs from day 1, but my mom said, let her do whatever she wants, sleep when she wants, nurse when she wants,etc, so I went with my mom's advice and shes happy and healthy and has been sleeping at least 5 hrs at night until last night, when she slept from 1030 pm-630 am!!! Every baby is an individual and I've learned that no book or doctor can predict what will happen. I'm her mommy and I know best :)

[monkeysmom]

Also, my daughter definitely "comfort nurses" but she won't take a pacifier no matter what, and if being on my breast is what she needs for comfort, so be it. I sure need my mom (at 28 years old) to comfort me when I'm upset, so who am I to deny my DD comfort if the only way she'll get it is to nurse?