how long and how many feeds for 3 month old?

Hi, I have been BF my baby who is now 13 weeks old. She is sleeping through the night apporx 8 hours and has about 5 feeds now in a 24 hour period. I just wanted to know is this enough. I am happy to fed her more often but she either doesnt wake for it or isnt interested. Also how long should she been on the bbs for? She used to take 40 mins when newborn then changed to about 20-30 mins and now it seems is done in about 5 mins each side so 10-15 mins total a feed. When I try and put her back on she refuses.
So She is now having less feeds and they take less time in a 24 hour period. Is this normal? Thanks

It's confusing when things change all the time isn't it.

It is very normal for the duration of feeds to shorten as the baby gets more efficient at sucking. It is quite possible that she is drinking enough in 5 minutes per side. 5 feeds in 24 hours is on the low side for that age but again, it is possible that it's enough. If she is having at least 5 heavily wet disposable nappies (or 6 - 8 clear wet cloth nappies) in 24 hours, is doing soft poos and is gaining weight over a 3 - 4 week period (remembering that this is about the age when weight gains slow down), then she is getting enough.

Hi

FWIW my little one who must only be a few days older than yours is probably spending the same amount of time on the breast these days. Like your little one he started off with feeds taking 1+ hr and then dropped down to probably 15-20 mins each side and now will do between 5-10 each side. Time on the 2nd breast is even shorter than the time on the first. What I have started to do in the last day or so is re-offer him the 2nd breast just before I put him down so he gets a little extra each feed (thanks Taurean for that tip). A lot of the time he will then do another 5 mins or so. I am still counting this just as one feed though Barb or Manta Ray may tell us differently from counting point of view?

I also am waking him at present around 10ish or so for a last feed. Until I am comfortable with his weight gains I want him to have at least six feeds in a day. If I didn't do this I would struggle to be able to get six in as like yours he doesn't really seem to be interested in more. When he has this he will then normally sleep through to between 5-6am. (Though he was a littl darling this morning and slept until 7.30am !! He must have known his mummy had a late night last night :))

Don't know if these tricks will work but thought was worth sharing.

GL

When my DD's were babies I would have them fed, changed and back in bed within 15 minutes. They put on weight and had plenty of wet nappies.
DD's boys both had about 5 feeds a day and slept through pretty early.
Every child is different when it comes to feeding. As long as you are happy with the amount of wet nappies and weight gain, don't worry.

My bubs is also just at the 3month mark and I thought that something must be seriously wrong.

She is feeding for 5 minutes on one side and then i will be lucky if she will take the other side at all. Sometimes she might feed from one side for just over 5 minutes but anything over and she usually just goes to sleep at the breast (x 3 times already today)

So maybe its a new phase in their lives and eating every 2 hours is just not what they do..

But you all seem so lucky, my DD has NEVER slept through the night!!!!!! She will wake anywhere from 1 - 3 times for a quick suck.. grrr

Thanks heaps girls for your insight! Just wanted to make sure it was normal at this age. She still weeing and pooping lots so I guess thats a good sign!!!

Hey Ery

DD is doing similar here and the same age as Ella, having 6 feeds a day have gone from 20- 25 minutes in the beginning to 10- 15 minutes each feed. 9 hours over night. I assume their sucking ability is getting much stronger and they can vaccum down more mik in less time- just my opinion though.

If you are getting those heavy wet nappies then apparently its all good.