Are you confused because of lack of knowledge in breastfeeding questions: how long and how often should you feed your baby? Are you thinking whether you should feed your baby according to a schedule or upon his request? Should you awaken your baby to feed him?
Really, there are many questions, when we talk about birth of a first baby in a family. This article answers most popular breastfeeding questions.
How often you should feed your baby?
In general, children under 6 months should be fed from 8 to 12 times per day. As a rule, feeding time is chosen individually, i.e. you should not stick to some strict time schedule. Durability of feeding is also individual. On average, it lasts from 10 to 40 minutes.
Should you awaken your baby to feed him again?
During first several weeks after childbirth experts recommend awakening a baby every 2-3 hours to feed him.
What to do if a baby awakens before the moment of next feeding?
You should not expect until 2-3 hours will be over, if a baby awakens by himself, cries and starts sucking his finger. If a baby is hungry, and an interval of 2 hours is not over yet, you still should feed him. Remember there should not be any strict time schedule for a baby breastfeeding.
How long feeding should last?
Always give your baby a possibility to give a signal he is already full (when a baby stops nursing during several minutes, when he draws back from breast). There is no strict limit of time during which a baby should eat, the main is that this period would be at least 10 minutes and no longer than 45 minutes.
When you can stop awakening your baby for a feeding?
Several months after childbirth, after a doctor evaluates a baby’s development and you learned your baby, you can start feeding him only when he awakens himself and gives you signals he is hungry. You already should not awaken your baby every 2-3 hours per day.
How to understand when a baby is hungry?
When a baby is hungry, he usually starts sucking his finger, opening mouth widely and crying. Crying is the latest stage of hunger display, and it is better not to wait until a baby cries, as then you will have to calm him down firstly, and only then start feeding.
Is my baby getting enough milk?
It is baby development that can say whether he gets enough milk. A podiatrist will help you determining your baby development and growth. Diapers are another index of this fact. Remember that a baby in the age from 5 days to 6-8 weeks leaves at least 5-6 wet diapers per day.
