question

[natty529]

i was just curious how long everyone's babe nurses at each breast per feeding... it seems that Ari is more of a snacking kind of guy and i was just wondering about everyone else

[Naomismom]

Snacker here too. I'd say he nurses on and off for about 15 minutes every 2 hours or so during the day. This kid is a barracuda though. Ouch!

ETA: I stick with the same boob per 2-3 hour period.

[NatureMama3]

I can't say as I've timed it... less than his brother did at this age though, that's for sure.

[1babysmom]

My first DD would nurse for maybe 5 min. at a time and be done for a couple hours. She was my "efficiency" nurser. This little one eats a lot more often...not necessarily for longer periods of time (although she will when DD wouldn't) though.

[saslewis11]

This baby eats about the same way as my first ds did...5-7 mins on one side, then the next side 1 1/2-2 hrs later...

[battymama]

I find that she will have an hour where she is on the breast non stop and then she will sleep for a couple of hours. But i am pretty sure that a lot of that is comfort nursing.

[amyaebi]

Mine nurses for about 5-10 minutes on one side. I offer the same side again if he wants to nurse in the same two hour period. I've done this with all three and it works well. My first was a real snacker, always fell asleep while eating. When he got to about six months I started doing more scheduled feedings rather than on demand, and that helped him eat more efficiently and helped his tummy. I wouldn't recommend that for a younger baby, though.

Amy

[tallulahma]

mine was nursing 5-10 min on one side then the other an hor later... we ended up with a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance with colic symptoms.

now i do block feedings and everything is sooooooo much better.

[merry-mary]

Depends, really. Sometimes, she'll nurse for just 5-15 minutes on one side. Sometimes, she will nurse for another 5-10 on the other. She pops herself off the first breast when she is done, and I always offer the other breast. Sometimes she takes it, othertimes she does not. Unless we are going through a growth spurt (and we're due for the 6 week biggie in 2 weeks ...), she nurses every 2-3 hours during the day, every 2-4 at night.