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Home › Expert Q&A › Induced Lactation and Relactation › Is my baby just really hungry or not getting enough to eat at each nursing?

Expert Q&A

 

By Melissa Clark Vickers
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn.

I have a 7-week-old who lately wants to nurse every 1 to 1 1/2 hours from 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. He nurses for about 20 minutes each time. Is he just really hungry or not getting enough to eat at each nursing? He also nurses every 3 to 3 1/2 hours the rest of the day. One mom told me to start giving him cereal at dinner time to help hold him between feedings a little better. Isn't it a little early for that? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

You have a lot of things going on here with your baby and his nursing schedule – and most of them are normal, if that helps! First of all, human milk is so perfectly suited to human babies that it is easily and quickly digested, unlike formula that sits in the gut a long time. So feeding every 90 minutes is not that unusual for a young baby whose stomach is only as big as his fist. Also, at about 6 weeks, babies go through a growth spurt and will nurse more frequently to get in the extra milk and calories that he needs to keep up with his growth rate.

The other contributing factor to your situation is that moms typically have more milk in the mornings than they do in the afternoon. The afternoon milk tends to be higher calorie, but less of it. So it is not unusual for a baby to want to nurse more frequently. Unfortunately, this also tends to be the time of the day that is the most crazed in the typical household. It's mealtime, and other family members are home and making demands on your time and energy.

Remember, too, that breastfeeding is not just about food. Your baby may want to nurse more frequently then for social reasons, or even to escape if things are hectic in the house at that time.

You might try feeding him more frequently earlier in the day. If he normally goes 3 to 3 1/2 hours between feedings, try offering the breast every 2 to 2 1/2 hours in the morning or relaxed times. By getting in more in him at other times, he may be less interested in nursing so frequently during those late afternoon hours.

Another idea would be to wear him in a cloth sling or baby carrier that would allow him to be with you, and would allow you to do what you need to do. He can nurse in these slings as well. Most babies enjoy being close to mom like this.

One last comment – about the time you figure out a way to make his nursing schedule a little less hectic for you, he'll move into a new stage! Babies are great at teaching moms flexibility!

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