How long should I breastfeed my newborn for?

Understanding Breastfeeding Duration for Newborns
Breastfeeding is a deeply personal journey for new parents, and understanding how long to breastfeed your newborn can be both crucial and confusing. The recommendations from health professionals emphasize the importance of breastfeeding for both the infant’s health and the mother’s well-being.
Recommended Duration
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. This means that your newborn should receive only breast milk, with no additional foods or liquids, unless medically indicated. After six months, breastfeeding can continue alongside the introduction of complementary foods, ideally up to two years or beyond, depending on the needs and desires of both mother and child.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breast milk is uniquely tailored to meet the nutritional needs of infants. It contains antibodies that help protect against infections and diseases, which formula cannot replicate. The composition of breast milk changes over time to adapt to the growing baby’s needs, providing optimal nutrition during critical developmental stages.
Feeding Frequency and Duration
In the early days, newborns typically nurse frequently, often every 1.5 to 3 hours, which can amount to about 8 to 12 feedings in a 24-hour period. Each feeding session can last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the baby’s hunger and efficiency at nursing. As your baby grows, the frequency of feedings may decrease, but the duration can vary widely based on individual needs and growth spurts.
Listening to Your Baby
It’s essential to pay attention to your baby’s cues. Newborns will often show signs of hunger, such as rooting or sucking on their hands. Responding to these cues can help establish a healthy breastfeeding routine. As your baby becomes more adept at nursing, you may find that they can feed more quickly and efficiently.
Personal Considerations
Ultimately, the decision on how long to breastfeed should be based on what feels right for you and your baby. Some mothers may choose to breastfeed for a shorter duration due to personal circumstances, while others may continue well into toddlerhood. The key is to ensure that both mother and child are comfortable and happy with the breastfeeding arrangement.
In conclusion, while the general guideline is to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and continue as long as mutually desired, the specifics can vary greatly. Each breastfeeding journey is unique, and the most important factor is finding a rhythm that works for both you and your newborn.

How do I know when my baby is full breastfeeding?

How to tell if your baby is full:

• They are relaxed and content after a feed – if they are still showing hunger signs, they may not be full
• They push or turn away from the breast or bottle
• They close their mouth
• They are not interested if you offer more milk
• Their hands are relaxed and open

Should I let my newborn fall asleep while nursing?

“If you’re breastfeeding a newborn, they fall asleep shortly after latching on, and it’s clear they’ve not gotten very much milk during a feeding session, then I recommend waking them up to relatch on and try again.” In fact, you may have to do this a few times as both you and baby get the hang of breastfeeding, …

Do soft breasts mean low milk supply?

Your breasts feel softer
This happens as your milk supply adjusts to your baby’s needs. The initial breast fullness reduces in the first few weeks. At around 6 weeks, breast fullness is completely gone and your breasts may feel soft. This is completely normal and has no effect on your milk supply.

When do most moms stop breastfeeding?

But although 96% of children are breastfed soon after birth, only 15% of mums are still breastfeeding exclusively 5 months later. So, what’s preventing some parents from continuing to breastfeed, and how can they persist with longer-term breastfeeding, if that’s their wish?

When do most moms quit breastfeeding?

But although 96% of children are breastfed soon after birth, only 15% of mums are still breastfeeding exclusively 5 months later. So, what’s preventing some parents from continuing to breastfeed, and how can they persist with longer-term breastfeeding, if that’s their wish?

Should I let my newborn breastfeed as long as he wants?

Every baby is different. Some babies want frequent short feeds, and others prefer feeding for longer, or a mixture of both. Let your baby finish the first breast, then offer the second. If your baby feeds all the time and you’re worried, speak to a midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist.

How long should a breastfeeding session last for a newborn?

Newborns may nurse for up to 20 minutes or longer on one or both breasts. As babies get older and more skilled at breastfeeding, they may take about 5–10 minutes on each side.

What are the negative effects of breastfeeding too long?

For example, duration of breastfeeding experience has been shown to correlate negatively with parent-reported antisocial and aggressive behavior in children from 4 to 11 years of age [43]. These effects on antisocial behavior appear to extend well beyond childhood into adulthood.

How long does the average mom breastfeed?

Among those who breastfed, average duration was 6.9 months; when stratified by race, breastfeeding duration was longest among White mothers at 7.3 months, followed by mothers of other races at 6.3 months, while Black mothers had shortest average duration, with 5.1 months.

Do breastfed babies need to be burped?

Do breastfed babies need to be burped? In general, breastfed babies don’t need as much burping as bottle-fed babies because they tend to swallow less air when feeding. In fact, some very efficient nursers don’t need to be burped at all. But some breastfed babies definitely do need to be burped.