should a newborn nurse

How Long Should a Newborn Nurse?

Posted On Jul 20th 2018 , Pediatric Health
should a newborn nurse

Breastfeeding is a beautiful and intimate bonding experience between a mother and child that provides many benefits to both, emotionally and physically. There are many articles and books on the subject, and many recommendations differ from author to author. As such, many first time mothers find themselves wondering, “How long should a newborn nurse?”

In this article, we will discuss many aspects of nursing, such as the frequency of breastfeeding, the length of each breastfeeding interval, latching, and the age that newborns should be nursed until. Keep reading for common breastfeeding questions.

How Often Should I Feed My Newborn?

Newborn babies need to be nursed between eight and 12 times a day depending on the size of the baby. While this frequency may seem high compared to formula-fed newborns, breast milk is easier for newborns to digest. This means that they can process breastmilk easily, and as a result, they need to be fed more often in order to stave off malnutrition. When first starting out, newborns will typically need to nurse every one and a half hours to three hours. This frequency slows as the baby gets older, allowing for more time in-between feedings. A growing newborn will also develop a more consistent feeding schedule over time, so long as the mother can take time to make one.

Although nursing should occur whenever the newborn displays that they are hungry, a newborn should never go more than 4 hours without being fed. This also includes when a newborn is sleeping. If your newborn does not wake up on their own, you should rouse your baby in order to comply with this nursing frequency. 

It’s important to remember that your newborn will need to be taught how to latch onto the breast. They don’t know how to intrinsically, so guidance is crucial. A proper latch pattern may take time to achieve, but if you intend to breastfeed, it must be learned.

should a newborn nurseHow Long Does Nursing Take?

Most nursing sessions for newborns last between 20 to 45 minutes. These feedings become shorter as the newborn grows and becomes more adept at suckling and latching. At three months old, nursing time could decrease to as little 10 minutes. Meanwhile, a 6- to 10-month-old will be prone to distractions. More interruptions during nursing could cause the nursing time to increase. The nursing duration can also depend on how quickly your breast milk flows, how full your breasts are and whether or not your infant is suckling correctly. Milk flow can be increased by a number of methods.

There is no “ideal” amount of time that a newborn should nurse. It’s important to monitor your newborn’s weight gain and to pay attention to cues that they are full and satisfied. A breastfeeding woman’s body is incredibly proficient at recognizing a baby’s appetite, as it can increase or decrease breastmilk production as needed. Trust that your body will naturally respond to your newborn’s feeding habits. And allow your newborn to feed when they’re hungry.

A newborn’s appetite is closely tied to growth spurts which can affect how long a newborn will nurse. They will desire longer and more frequent feedings for high caloric nutrition to fuel their growing bodies. If the frequency or duration of nursing seems to have increased, do not worry about regulating or restricting their intake. These growth spurts typically happen between them being one to two weeks old, two months, four months and six months old.

How Long Should a Newborn Nurse?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding until the infant is at least a year old. However, they must absolutely be nursed for no less than six months. The breastfeeding period is crucial to a newborn’s development, and they require many calories as well as nutrients that are highly available in breast milk. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding well past this age, saying two years old (or beyond) is the minimum age for the ideal nourishment of your infant. There is no definite time when you should stop breastfeeding your child. Extended breastfeeding is a fairly regular occurrence.

should a newborn nurse When it comes to nursing a newborn, the body has many natural instincts that can accurately guide a new mother if they are aware of them and are able to act accordingly. Paired with the signs from your newborn, you will find that you’ll intuitively know when your newborn has been adequately fed with the mother’s milk and can begin to wean.

Need Help With Nursing Your Newborn? Visit UrgentMED Today

If you are unsure how long a newborn should nurse or are concerned that your baby isn’t gaining enough weight, visit a walk-in clinic that is part of the UrgentMED and located all around Southern California. Medical professionals will be able to quickly examine your infant on a walk-in basis at any of the 18 locations. Find UrgentMED network nearest to you to address all of your newborn’s health needs. We accept a variety of local and national insurance and offer affordable rates for families and mothers that are uninsured.


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