How often and long does a 4 wk old typically nurse for

Question

How often and long does a 4 wk old typically nurse for

Answer 1

Generally anywhere from every half hour to every 3-4 hours, and the lengths of feeds also vary from 2 minutes to 2 hours.

So pretty much anything is normal.

So long as they are having plenty of wet and dirty nappies there is nothing to worry about.

It's nice to use the time they want to feed for just relaxing, watching a movie, reading a book, doing a puzzle etc.

Answer 2

At one month, all four of mine were nursing about 8 times in 24 hours.  At about 2 weeks, I would space their daytime nursing to no more often than 2 hours from the start of one feeding to the start of the next.  They were all gaining and having adequate wet/dirty diapers at that point.  Given that, every two hours is enough to meet their nutritional needs.  If they wanted comfort in between, I would hold them.  Exceptions were made for illness or misery from teething.  But, I didn't want them to get used to nursing anytime they had any level of distress or desire for comfort.  So, at 1 month, they'd nurse about every 2-2 1/2 hours during the day and every 3-4 at night, for a total of 8 times in 24 hours.  I'd have nursed every 2 hours at night also if that's how often they woke up, but they didn't.

As for how long, typically mine have nursed about 12-20 minutes on the first side, and 8-12 on the second.

Answer 3

There is a pretty wide range of normal, but typically 10-12 times a day (8 should be the minimum unless baby is CLEARLY gaining well on less), for 30-45 minutes at a feeding. (Let baby decide.  Let him nurse on the first breast until he comes off, then offer the second.)

Answer 4

My daughter nursed every hour-hour and a half during the day, and every two hours or so during the night at that age.  Even when she was a year old she was still nursing every 2-3 hours during the day.

It's normal even when a baby wants to nurse every half hour.  Nursing is not purely for nutritional needs, but for comfort needs as well, and that frequent nursing will increase your milk supply to meet your baby's requirements.