Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding On Demand

Worried about how often to breastfeed? About how long each feeding should take? Here is the best possible advice:

By breastfeeding your baby whenever she or he wants to, for as long as she or he wants to, you are doing two things. First, you are doing what's best to avoid milk supply problems--your breasts produce more milk when they are emptied. Second, you are showing your baby that she or he can count on you to meet her or his needs. This is the first step to becoming a secure and independent individual.
    Here is how demand feeding works. Try to be very strict in the beginning. After few weeks, your milk supply will be well established, and you'll also get used to your baby's signs. Then you can relax a little, act according to your baby's current needs, and start using distractions or even a pacifier (but only occasionally).

• Whenever your baby cries, offer her or him the breast first. If that doesn't work, you can try other things (like changing his or her diapr, cuddling, leaving her or him alone for a little bit to relax, or whatever works for your baby).
• Let your baby nurse as long as she or he wants to on the first breast. Then offer the second breast.
• After your baby is finished with the second breast, offer the first again. Maybe she or he will nurse a little more.
• Sleep with your baby. At least have your baby in your room. Demand feeding includes night time feeding too. A breastfed baby may get up to one third of her or his nutrition from night nursing. You are also less likely to get engorged or have mastitis this way.
• If your baby has not shown any interest in nursing for about 2-3 hours (up to 4 hours at night unless you want to increase your milk supply), offer the breast and try to get your baby to nurse.

These additional recommendations take you one step beyond demand feeding to natural breastfeeding:

• In addition to nursing your baby whenever she or he needs to, nurse her or him whenever you need to.
• For example, if you feel that your breasts are getting engorged, see if your baby is willing to nurse. This is a much nicer way of relieving engorgement than hand expression or pumping.
• If you start leaking milk, see if your baby wants to nurse. This is much nicer than pushing on your nipples to stop the milk flow.
• If you just feel like a nice cuddle and nurse with your baby, see if she or he is interested.
• Never force your baby to nurse, however (unless there is a milk supply problem).

Back to the breastfeeding main page

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