No Result
View All Result
BellyBelly
  • Home
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Articles
    • Pregnancy Week By Week
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Pregnancy Calculator
  • Birth
  • New Mothers
  • Baby
    • Baby Articles
    • Baby Week By Week
    • Baby Sleep Articles
    • Your Baby’s Starsign
  • Breastfeeding
  • Toddler
  • Child
  • Men
  • Parenting
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Recipes & Cooking
    • Relationships
    • Family Travel
    • Men
  • Home
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Articles
    • Pregnancy Week By Week
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Pregnancy Calculator
  • Birth
  • New Mothers
  • Baby
    • Baby Articles
    • Baby Week By Week
    • Baby Sleep Articles
    • Your Baby’s Starsign
  • Breastfeeding
  • Toddler
  • Child
  • Men
  • Parenting
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Recipes & Cooking
    • Relationships
    • Family Travel
    • Men
No Result
View All Result
BellyBelly
No Result
View All Result
Home Breastfeeding

Baby Nurses Constantly – Is It A Problem?

by Renee Kam IBCLC
Last updated October 19, 2016
Reading Time: 3 min
Baby Nurses Constantly - Is It A Problem?

When you have a young baby and you’re breastfeeding, it can sometimes feel as though you’re nursing constantly.

You might lose track of how long you’ve been feeding, or realise at 3pm that you’ve barely left your seat, due to nursing most of the day.

You might start to wonder, “Is this normal behaviour?” or “Am I making enough milk?”

You might even believe that you’re spoiling your baby by feeding too often.

But most of all, you probably feel as though all you do is breastfeed.

The truth is, it’s common for breastfed babies to feed 8-12 times every 24 hours, which means nursing approximately every 2-3 hours.

Now add these facts:

  1. A young baby’s waking hours can be almost completely taken up with feeding
  2. Your baby might not always settle to sleep easily and so you might breastfeed again, as a settling technique
  3. There are usually a couple of cluster feeding periods during every 24 hours

It isn’t really surprising why mothers feel they are constantly nursing!

When Your Baby Nurses Constantly

So, if a baby nurses constantly, is it a problem or not?

The answer is no, not usually.

The important thing is whether your baby is showing signs of getting enough milk.

Is Your Baby Showing Signs Of Adequate Intake?

If your baby is showing signs of getting enough milk, how often he feeds doesn’t matter.

It’s important, though, to use reliable signs and not unreliable signs, to determine if your baby is getting enough.

You can read more about reliable signs and unreliable signs of adequate breast milk intake.

Will Constant Nursing Lead To Bad Habits?

Mothers also worry that if their babies are nursing constantly, it will lead to bad habits.

For example, will it mean your baby won’t ever settle to sleep without a breastfeed through the night? Or will it lead to your child becoming a dependent, diffident individual?

The short answer to these questions is no. Find out more about breastfeeding to sleep.

How To Cope With Constant Nursing

The good news is, the period of time where you feel your baby nurses constantly is short lived. Most mothers find that after the first few months, things are a lot more manageable.

In the meantime, there are many things you can do to cope with constant nursing or cluster feeding.

See our article on coping with cluster feeding for more information.

How To Deal With Comments From Others

It’s common for a breastfeeding mother to have to deal with questions and comments about how often her baby nurses. Here are some things people often say, and some suggested responses:

“Your baby is feeding a lot, are you sure you have enough milk?”

Response: “Oh, most definitely.”

“You’re spoiling your baby and creating bad habits by feeding her so often.”

Response: “These are the best kind of habits to form, in my opinion.”

“Your baby will only get foremilk and not put on enough weight if you feed her so often.”

Response: “She’s growing just fine, thanks.”

“If she had a dummy/pacifier she wouldn’t have to use you.”

Response: “If she had a dummy/pacifier, she’d be using the dummy/pacifier as my breasts.”

“What, she’s hungry AGAIN?!”

Response: “Yes, sometimes she wants a snack, sometimes a 3 course meal, and sometimes she’s just thirsty. Just the same as you!”

“You must be tired. You should wean.”

Response: “Of course I’m tired! But weaning won’t help me, as I’ll still be busy, perhaps even busier, preparing bottles and sterilising. Breastfeeding is easy for me.”

“Just offer a bottle and don’t feed at night. He needs to wean.”

Response: “Breastfeeding is working for us. Thanks for your concern though.”

“You’ll be feeding him until he’s five!”

Response: “If that works for him and me, sure.”

…

You’re not alone if you feel your baby is nursing constantly. Be sure to seek support during these times. You could contact breastfeeding support organisations like the Australian Breastfeeding Association or La Leche League, or see a lactation consultant.

Recommended Reading: Comfort Feeding – 5 Reasons Why It’s Great For Mamas And Babies.

Previous Post

Risks Of Natural Birth – What You Need To Know

Next Post

Toddler Remains In A Coma After Choking On A Grape

Renee Kam IBCLC

Renee Kam is a mother of two daughters, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a graduate research student, a physiotherapist, and author of 'The Newborn Baby Manual'. Renee also has a Cert. IV in Breastfeeding Education (Counselling). In her spare time, Renee enjoys spending time with family and friends, horse riding, running and reading.

Next Post
Toddler Remains In A Coma After Choking On A Grape

Toddler Remains In A Coma After Choking On A Grape

Comments 2

  1. Swapna says:
    9 months ago

    Hi..
    My baby boy drinks only 2-3 minutes and sleeps and he getup every 1hr, I only decided to give breastfeeding for as he is premature baby..
    But what I worried every 1hr in that 5-minutes for cry after feeding I have to place him on my shoulder this takes half-an-hour does he sleeping properly and even I’m not getting proper sleep

    Reply
  2. Jane says:
    2 years ago

    I disagree with most of this . You really can form bad habits by breastfeeding all night.

    Reply

Recommended

hard spot in my abdomen

Hard Spot In My Abdomen – Is It Baby?

Last updated January 11, 2021
evening primrose oil to induce labour

Evening Primrose Oil To Induce Labour – Does It Work?

Last updated January 11, 2021
static electric shock while pregnant

Static Electric Shock While Pregnant

Last updated January 8, 2021

Trending

how to conceive a boy

How To Conceive A Boy – 6 Expert Tips to Have A Baby Boy

Last updated January 20, 2021
conceive a girl

How To Conceive A Girl – 9 Tips To Conceive A Baby Girl

Last updated January 20, 2021
cervix dilation

Cervix Dilation – 9 Signs You’re Dilating

Last updated January 20, 2021
BellyBelly

We’re passionate about women and men feeling informed, confident and prepared for pregnancy, birth and early parenting.

  • Home
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Articles
    • Pregnancy Week By Week
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Pregnancy Calculator
  • Birth
  • New Mothers
  • Baby
    • Baby Articles
    • Baby Week By Week
    • Baby Sleep Articles
    • Your Baby’s Starsign
  • Breastfeeding
  • Toddler
  • Child
  • Men
  • Parenting
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Recipes & Cooking
    • Relationships
    • Family Travel
    • Men
  • Pregnancy Symptoms
  • Pregnancy Week by Week
  • Baby Week by Week

OUR NETWORK


  • bellybelly.com.au

  • www.aroundtheworldpluskids.com.au

  • www.doula-training.com.au
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise

© Copyright 2002–2021 BellyBelly, All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Getting Pregnant
  • Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Articles
    • Pregnancy Week By Week
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Pregnancy Calculator
  • Birth
  • New Mothers
  • Baby
    • Baby Articles
    • Baby Week By Week
    • Baby Sleep Articles
    • Your Baby’s Starsign
  • Breastfeeding
  • Toddler
  • Child
  • Men
  • Parenting
  • Health & Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Recipes & Cooking
    • Relationships
    • Family Travel
    • Men

© Copyright 2002–2021 BellyBelly, All Rights Reserved.