Nursing frequency at 10 weeks

[zannster]

I have a question about nursing frequency. My 10 week old DD is nursing about every hour on average. This seems like a lot to me, because DS was down to every two hours when he was a week old! Can I still expect DD to get more efficient? She doesn't seem to still be hungry at feedings. She's gaining weight. I'm tempted to take her in for pre/post weighings just to see what she's getting.

[Llyra]

My DS was a very, very frequent nurser at that age. Well, at any age, really! I think at that age he probably nursed nearly continually when he was awake, with one two hour stretch in the evening, and then every hour or so all the rest of the night. Some kids just are. They prefer smaller meals, more often. Consider, too, that babies nurse for more than just food-- the breast is their comfort in a big world that's often scary. And that's fine, and the way it should be. They nurse because they're hungry, but also because they're thirsty, tired, overwhelmed, frightened, lonely, sad, or even just snuggly.

FWIW, DS did space out a bit, but it didn't happen until he was about four months old. At that age, we saw a really marked decrease in his nursing frequency, down from about 20 feeds a day to more like 12. He would go back to the old pattern sometimes, still, though, when he was feeling especially needy or vulnerable, when he was getting teeth, and when he was struggling to reach a new milestone.

As long as you're confident baby is gaining weight at a reasonable rate, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Katie T]

My DD2 was like that, and honestly she wants to nurse every 30minutes now and she will be 2yo this month. I think your baby knows what she needs. I think my DD2 nurses/ed so often because she was/is a huge comfort nurser.

I wouldn't hesitate to get the before and after feeds weight checks just for piece of mind but If she is peeing, pooping, happy after feed and growing I think you guys are doing great!

[Bebe's Mom]

DD nursed almost constantly from the day she was born until she was about 5 months. Sometimes non-stop for over two hours at a time! She would go through cycles where she would nurse non-stop for a week or so, and then the next week she would nurse less frequently. She is now 9 months old and nurses about every two hours on average. She is mostly bF, with some solids. I just started giving her some water as well.

[alegna]

Both of mine were likely to nurse that often when there wasn't a lot else going on.

-Angela