How often do you breastfeed?

Cheri - posted on 10/20/2010

my lil guy will be a year on Monday. I started back to work on midnights two weeks ago, I tried to pump but he wont take a btl. so when we are together he gets booboo whenever he wants, but when hes with daddy at night and the babysitter we just push other fluids like water juice or homo milk. They can live without breastmilk now, but I think its still important till atleast 15 months.

Kassandra - posted on 10/20/2010

I just wanted to add that I'm a mother of three. My oldest is 7 1/2. He was not at all interested in eating solid food. I tried introducing a few things when he was 6 months. Not interested. I spoke with his pediatrician who basically confirmed my suspicion that the whole jarred baby food thing was a money making racket. Her recommendation was to wait until 9 months and then just give them a little tastes and experiments of whatever you're eating. This worked well with me for all three. None at very much the first year. Mostly just experimenting, tasting, etc... and after 9 months you really don't have to stress about allergies like you do before. My oldest was off the charts for height and weight and very healthy, so I never worried- I just nursed him when he wanted to nurse. Which often was for comfort as teething was very difficult for him. My daughters are average height and weight and very healthy. The older kids weaned right before three years of age. On their own, it was nice and gentle and gradual. I expect the last will do the same but as she doesn't have any one coming up behind her...well it will be interesting to see what happens.
I agree with follow your gut. It's worked for me. I think we tend to get ourselves all worked up over nothing. Listen to the child, they will tell you what's right for them.

Jael - posted on 10/20/2010

Wow, 2 minutes at a time? I feed my kids on demand to but they always eat for between 8 minutes to 25 minutes long. It's amazing that you can deal with that I think I would go crazy. Good job. And they are right you don't need formula at that age. At that age snacks and finger foods should replace most meals and you are allowed to introduce milk and dairy products. You can put milk directly into a sippy cup or use a bottle my 2 year old just went straight to a sippy cup. (I was forced to quit breastfeeding her because I was pregnant with my second daughter and was loosing too much weight) You are doing great. If you DO want to start cutting back on feedings (completely up to you ALWAYS) just take out one at a time.

Dayami - posted on 10/20/2010

my daughter just turned 1, I nurse before bed, and then in the morning. I cut it down because I'm pregnant so it is very painful. But she does well with that and she drinks cows milk during the day

Steph - posted on 10/20/2010

my son is 10 and half months and i still breastfeed him whenever he wants it wich is about evey 3-4 hours he dont always feed off me he likes it as a comforter aswell. he still wakes a few times in the night aswell and i feed him them. i also bottlefeed aswell tho just to fill him right up sometimes and to give me a break every now and again coz breastfeeding is quite tiring at times

Brooke - posted on 10/20/2010

My little guy is just like your girl!!Don't worry, that is totally normal and healthy :)

Kassandra - posted on 10/20/2010

I hate that question at the Ped's office because I don't count! I usually put, "whenever she wants to". LOL. She's 18 months and my best guess is... around 6 times during the day and once at night now.

Krissy - posted on 10/20/2010

My son is almost 11 months and he still nurses a few times during the day and throughout the night. He also is making or ahead of his milestones :) Also has never been sick. Even though my other 5 children all just got over severe colds. I have no intentions of cutting him off anytime soon. As with my children before him they have nursed anywhere from 10 months to 2 years.

Kelly - posted on 10/20/2010

My son is 26 months old and nurses at least 3 times a day. He nurses when he first wakes up, before nap, and before bedtime. Somedays he nurses a couple more times. I'm 8 months pregnant with my second child (a girl :D) and I'm hoping he'll wean himself soon. I don't think he'll be good at sharing LOL

Rachel - posted on 10/20/2010

Jayde, there are opinions, and there are facts. Scientific facts emerge out of controlled studies that take the guesswork out of things. When you speak about children under one not getting adequate nutrition from breast milk alone, you are plain misinformed.

Rachel - posted on 10/20/2010

My 13 /1/2 month old boy nurses a great deal, morning, noon and night, and I just go with it and don't really keep track. It seems like he has recently picked up the pace again, and I'm not sure if it's because he's growing or because he senses the colder weather coming, and therefore, just like mom and dad, has an increased appetite. It's wonderful to read here of mothers who are committed to extended nursing, and not planning to wean their babes, but rather let their babes wean themselves. What do you all think about the idea of a national "Nurse In" day where we nursing moms make a committment to nurse somewhere in public? I have heard stories of a local pediatrician trying to discourage moms of toddlers over a year from nursing. And yet my brother, who is in nursing school, tells me that breastmilk is uniquely designed to adapt to a growing child's changing nutritional needs. All the newest studies show that the longer children are breastfed, the more they thrive. And yet our 90210 tits-and-ass culture finds the boob in its natural role to be perverse.

Erin - posted on 10/20/2010

Our 2 year old nurses anywhere from 2 to 6 times per day. Our 4 month old nurses every 1 to 2 hours, but sleeps for 3-4 hour chunks for most of the night. She nurses more towards morning, but we cosleep, so I'm not really waking up for it. Both girls will be allowed to nurse full term, until they decide to wean.

Gloria - posted on 10/20/2010

my son is 17 months and i still nurse 2 times during the day m-f and 3-4 times during the day on weekends. we also co-sleep and during the night it's about 1-3 times.

Sheila - posted on 10/20/2010

I'm usually not home during weekdays but I nurse her often when I'm home with my 15month old, which is at night and over the weekends, roughly about 4 times at night and 5 times during the day.I try to cut down on the nightly feedings by stopping cosleeping but she always wakes up. I was beginning to get worried that she may never want to stop but seeing so many mothers now breastfeeding past two then I'm not so worried now. Though my goal is to cut back the day time feedings by two, because I know for a fact she can do without it because she is fine when I'm not home.she only fusses for the booby when she sees me...

Nicole - posted on 10/20/2010

Hey All,

My youngest is 8 months old and she feeds 3 times a day and not at all at night. But she also gets oatmeal twice a day which is mixed with breastmilk. This hasn't been a problem at all for her. She is very healthy. I think that every baby is a little different and there isn't one specific method that is right or wrong. As long as your baby is thriving and happy, and you and the pediatrician are happy then all is well. :)

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/20/2010

Jayde, my son has been over the 100% since around two months, lol, so I don't know about little babies. He was 23lbs before I started any baby food, but didn't really eat much until he was a year old at 26lbs 32 inches. My milk is quite sufficient for his growth!
I have never heard that a mom can have 'weak' milk. It's just that if a mom is dieting, exercising too much not drinking enough water etc then her milk might be lacking. But even moms who are close to malnourishment and only eat one meal a day of rice and beans or such manage to make milk good enough to keep their babies alive. So I think maybe here in 'advanced' societies we have a hard time trusting our bodies, we try to find problems, but really we are amazing creatures who are designed to breastfeed so it really shouldn't be scaring anyone that their milk may be sup par.
Meat is a good way to gain weight, but vegetarian children manage too! The boy I babysit for doesn't eat a bit of meat but he's quite nomad sized.
If my info is in fact incorrect I'd love to learn more, please post a link to where I can learn more of your info. I just want the best for my kids, and if I'm believing wrongly I want to know. So any links would be helpful

Oh and the 4 years thing, the average weaning age worldwide is 4 years. So I'm not comfortable giving my son any less then average! I have no reason to cut him short, so I won't be.

Jayde - posted on 10/20/2010

Hi Christel, thats wonderful that you b/f for that long. I agree with you that ll children are different and you cant compare them :D

April - posted on 10/20/2010

Lisa, did you wear Adelaide in a sling most of the day when she was a newborn? just wondering how she got to nurse that often?

Christel - posted on 10/20/2010

Hi there,

My little girl is now 5 months old. Before I came back to work from Maternity leave, I nursed her 5 times a day, 4 hours apart. I stuck to 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm. She slept through the night from 3 months old. Now that she's a little older, I've introduces solids. Cereal in the morning, Fruit in the afternoon and vegetables in the evening. Her 10am and 2pm feeds are also formula now that I am back at the office, since this is easiest for me. But I've been lucky, my breastmilk is very strong and she's always been a chubby baby. But all children are different and you can't really compare them.

Jayde - posted on 10/20/2010

Laura, Yes we have been told opposite things from our own trusted sources and I still stand by my information. I understand that you think it should be this way but just because it is different it doesnt mean that it is wrong when infact there is no right or wrong way. My daughter still gets breastmilk nutrients as well as nutrients from solids such as fresh vegetables and fruit. Aslo my daughter has a variety of meats which is essential for gaining weight. Aslo did you even think about children that are underweight and need more nutrition which breastmilk alone isnt efficient enough. (My child isnt underweight but every child is different and you need to be more open minded. Also some mothers dont have good quality b/milk or a great supply so other means of food is required, these should be taken into consideration. Im not saying your opinion is wrong everyone is entitled to their own and not every one wants to be feeding their children till they are 4. My daughter is still breastfeeding and there is no sign of her weaning early. Breastmilk nutirents are alone not enough for a growing child, it along with other forms of food is important for many different reasons.

Emily - posted on 10/20/2010

Hi janice, what s hedule did u go by? My little one will onlt have 2 feeds in the day, then come 7pm (bedtime) she wants it every 2 hours. I try to feed her but she pulls away. Sometime she will take some expressed milk in a sippy cup. I keep getting advised to leave her to cry it out at night cos im soo tired.

Fikile - posted on 10/20/2010

I also breastfeed. My baby has also turned 17 months. He goes out to play comes back and take a sip for almost 2 minutes, then he goes again. at night he wakes up 4 times to 5 times at night. I sometimes think that before we go to sleep maybe i should feed him enough. I am not complaining as i love to nurse my baby. And for us as blacks we don't have like to hide ourselves when we nurse our babies. I mean it's natural. All in all it is wonderful and it's a nice feeling.

Editor - posted on 10/20/2010

you can still breastfeed after work no problem you ccan give her fomula during the day

Editor - posted on 10/20/2010

mine is 15 months old but as soon as i come back from work she breastfeed like hell she dont stop you spoke about 3 hrs but i am tallking about every 10 to 15 mins so dont wory

Megan - posted on 10/19/2010

I am with Teresa, my two year would love to show you that babies can and do thrive on breastmilk only for the first year and then some. My little guy didn't touch solids until after he was a year and that was his choice. I wasn't going to shove food down his throat. Even now at almost two, he may have two or three bites of food at a meal or the whole plate, it is up to him. I am NOT going to deny him BM and make him eat food. He knows his body and what it needs. He is also big grazer through out the day but still relies heavily on breastmilk, the normal way to feed a baby. Breastmilk is not best, it is the normal biological way to feed a baby.
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/04/watch-you...
Formula does not even come close to breastmilk(which has over 400 components) and to say such a thing is absolutely appalling. Who is spreading lies?

He feeds at least every three hours and wakes ever three to four hours at night because he NEEDS to. Not because he has a bad habit. Do you ever need a drink in the middle of the night? You can get up and get it right, but if your baby is thirsty or needs a snuggle and a feed after four months that is just too bad. They just get to CIO and be ignored?! What a load.

It is NOT biologically normal for babies to sleep through the night until around the age of two. Frequent night waking helps to prevent SIDS, along with co-sleeping and night feedings. Telling someone that their baby should be sleeping through at four months is terrible advice. http://www.drmomma.org/2010/01/night-wak...


Babies have an open gut until around 8 months old and anything that is given to then before then can cross the blood barrier and cause an allergic reaction.

"One thing is for certain: Babies are not *designed* to be left alone, ignored all night long - and to have their tiny developing guts stuffed up with junk (decreasing immunity, increasing constipation and belly aches, raising cortisol and other stress hormones, causing an irregularity in respiration - an increase in SIDS, and denying them the human milk they were meant to consume)."

Maybe its you who should check you info.

Fiona - posted on 10/19/2010

Amy is 18 months old and still feeds on demand. I'm estimating about 5 times a day. Could be more or less. No overnight feeds. We cut them out when she was about 9 months old as I was pregnant with her little sister and she bit occasionally at night.
I'm also feeding her younger sister, baby Annalise, who is 5 months old but was 9 1/2 weeks early. When Annalise, who's not on solids yet, has her frequent breastfeeds on demand, Amy often climbs up on the couch to have the other side. Mostly, though, I feed them separately.

Sophie - posted on 10/19/2010

i have weaned my 14mth old but he had 4-6 b/f per day and maybe 1-2 o/nite. Maybe more often in hot weather or if he was unwell/needing comfort. i eventually replaced his mid morning and mid afternoon b/f with a snack which took some getting used to for both of us! he co-slept & fed on demand til he was 6mths old. hope this helps.

Loes - posted on 10/19/2010

My 2 year old still nurses 3 times a day :)

Katrina - posted on 10/19/2010

My son nursed every 2-3 hours during the day. I cut him off at night at 1 year as it was comfort feeding and not for nutrition and I desparately needed sleep.

Teresa - posted on 10/19/2010

Wow Chelsea! You couldn't be more wrong! If you don't want judgement against formula (which I won't personally give, by the way) then you might NOT want to give judgement against breastfeeding... especially on a breastfeeding board. As I've said once on this post.... I have an extremely healthy, active 2.5 year old that will 'argue w/ you' against the 'solids MUST be started at 6 months' statement.

Emily - posted on 10/19/2010

My 2-year old (27 mos) nurses once in the morning before we go to daycare and work and once just before he goes to sleep. Occasionally he forgets to nurse in the mornings but most of the time he asks for "may-may" when he wakes up. At 1 yr he was nursing about 4 or 5 times per day and rarely at night. I went back to work when he was 14mos and by that point he was down to two feedings per day.

Stacie - posted on 10/19/2010

My son just turned 18 months today and he usually nurses off and on for about two hours first thing in the morning then about every 3-4 hours after that.=)

Gretchen - posted on 10/19/2010

My 11mo nurses 3-4 times during the day, and 1-2 times during the night. Usually :)

Carrie - posted on 10/19/2010

my little guy is almost 6 months old,and i too, am lucky if i get 3 hours between feedings. We also co-sleep. (he eats often during the night). But like your girl, he is big and strong, and ahead of the curve on all his developmental milestones. I say keep it up!! it doesnt seem to hurt anything, and its such wonderful bonding :)

Danielle - posted on 10/19/2010

My daughter is almost 7 months and she nurses about 5 or 6 times a day. She sleeps 10-12 hours a night and does not wake up for any night feedings. I am also feeding her rice cereal and baby food.

Barbara - posted on 10/19/2010

I hope someone is not telling you that this is a problem. Mother's milk is the way most toddlers get their nutrition, even when they are eating a variety of other food. plus there'll never be this time in your life together again, and the short and long term benefits of that bonding are incredible. i never counted how often my kids nursed but they did so, day and night, until they were weaned, close to two years old. maybe in other circumstances I would have nursed longer. giving children the breast when they are hungry and letting them decide when they are full is a very important message in this day and age of childhood obesity. we let our kids know how to trust their bodies' messages about being nourished and we let them know that we trust their bodies too. I think what you and many others of us are doing is great, both for our families and for the culture as a whole.

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/19/2010

By that age felisha, many moms find they can just breastfeed when he is with you ad have him eat solids and drink water when you are at work. Some kids will start breastfeeding more at night to make up for the daytime but that's quite normal.
So you can breastfeed on the weekends as often as he wants, and holidays etc and on work days he will probably be just fine with solids during your shift!
Your milk production isn't as much at risk of going away by a year so you only would need to pump at work if you find yourself engorged. But it's very do able, and many moms are doing the same!
And if it helps, the world health recommendation is to breastfeed two years, so even if it's not what you see a lot, it's the healthiest!

Alana - posted on 10/19/2010

Have you tried different pumps? I tried manual and it was no good but when i switched to an electric one it worked a lot better. And the first few times I had to pump when my son was beside me..but eventually he did not need to be around. If it works then just leave the pumped bottles for him while you go to work. or worse case supplement with homoginized while you work :( Or mix the homoginized with the little breast milk you can pump.
Its so hard every baby/toddler is different, every situation is different. Whatever works for you - go with it!

Felisha - posted on 10/19/2010

My Son is 8 MO he nurses about 10 or more times a day and sometimes wakes up once ot twice at night to nurse but that is very rare, i am suprised to see how many people breastfeed after a yr my goal is to breastfeed until he is at least a yr i was only physically able to nurse my first until he was 2 1/2 months so i thought feeding my second until he was a year would be great, i would like to nurse longer but pumping is hard i dont get near enough when i pump compaired to what he normally eats and i have to go back to work in 2 1/2 months does anyone have any ideas/ advice or tips on how i can continue to nurse n still go back to work that would be great :)

Alana - posted on 10/19/2010

My son is 18month now. But at 12 months he weaned himself off daytime feedings and graduated to HOMOGINIZEd milk. He currently still wakes up every 2-4hrs at night time to breasteed. Also, when he's sick, overtired, teeting etc.. he'll want to breastfeed during the day.

Melanie - posted on 10/19/2010

well since my little "attachment" is only one week old, he is still pretty much attached to my breast. he doesn't really have a routine yet, his feeding times vary between 20 minutes and one hour. I guess we'll fall into a routine eventually!!!

Kate - posted on 10/19/2010

My baby is 15 months old and seldom feeds during the day anymore. I enjoy finding other ways to meet his needs as he always asks to nurse if he is hungry, thirsty, tired, bored, over-stimulated or feels sick. If I don't meet the actual need he'll come back to nurse all the time. He still nurses during the night and during the day if he needs the comfort.

Karen Aminah - posted on 10/18/2010

my baby is 8 months old and i feel he is on the breast all day. if he is busy he might go one hour or a little more but he uses breastfeeding as a pacifier and and to put himself to sleep and just to cuddle. he alos nurses several times a night but we sleep together so he finds my breast dirnks and stays asleep i barely even notice. lol. i love it.

Heather - posted on 10/18/2010

My daughter will be 1 in just a few days and we are still breastfeeding on demand. I have been supplementing her meals with solids, she eats just about everything I do while I'm eating (which I've noticed has helped me to maintain a healthier diet!) She eats rather frequently as well, it is unusual for her to go more than 2 hours without nursing, though she has gone up to 3 in the day a few times. Occasionally she will sleep through the night, but normally wakes up 1-2 times for a feeding. Originally my goal was to breastfeed for "at least a year" now that we are at the 1 year mark I've been hearing that the new recommendation is at least 2 years - but I think I will just continue to let her call the shots and see what happens! She hasn't met a food that she doesn't love, and I personally think that at this point she needs to be introduced to a variety of foods to help ward off picky eating later on in life, but at the same time I want her to nurse as long as possible as she has yet to get sick & I know that breastfeeding is most likely to be credited for that blessing!

Theresa - posted on 10/18/2010

my littlest one :) is just 12 weeks- and she nurses about every hour and a half. my son, now 3, used to nurse in the morning and before bed by that age, but was w a sitter during the day and was eating food I made at home. but you can sub in, if you want, food- I always used silken tofu and organic applesauce if I was in a pinch. or avacados and bananas are really soft too :) and someone asked about adding formula- unless there is a recc by your doctor, most babies do not need formula after 9 months- they can be on cows milk or soy milk- or whatever milk u choose..

McMichael - posted on 10/18/2010

In our society we are too quick to push babies off the boob. My daughter nursed every two hour or so up until she was 18 months old and then SHE shifted her nursing schedule because there was more interesting things she could be doing. She was walking and talking at that point so she'd come over for a sip here or there but basically her blocks and trains were way more interesting than nursing.

Crystal - posted on 10/18/2010

I nurse first thing in the morning, pump three times during my work hours, then as soon as I get home and two more before she goes to sleep. Then she just wakes up once in the night. :) The feedings are about 10-15 minutes sometimes less. She is 14 weeks old.

Rebecca - posted on 10/18/2010

My 16 month old still nurses on demand, which means sometimes once an hour, but he has never gone more than 2 hours without nursing. It just depends on the baby (toddler). He has always nursed like this, if not more frequently, since he was born. I think you are doing great!

Melanie - posted on 10/18/2010

Hi! we have the same problem should I say this a problem?my daugther is turning 2 years old this december until now she's a 100% pure breast feeding baby..when I go to work she doesnt drink milk she just eat rice,fish,chicken everything..Im a little upset because she doesnt like the taste of any milk

Michelle - posted on 10/18/2010

My daughter is 10 months and her longest nursing session has been 12 minutes. She is a busy-body and just very interested in everything else while she tries to nurse. She nurses at least every 2 1/2 to 3 hours... and 4-5 hours at night.