How Much and How Often to Breastfeed, From Birth to 24 Months

Every baby is different: how much and how often yours feeds depends on your baby's needs. Here is what to expect in the first days, weeks and months.

The first days

A newborn's belly is tiny, so your baby does not need much milk at each feeding to be full. Your baby may want to eat as often as every 1 to 3 hours. Frequent feeding builds your milk supply and gives your baby practice sucking and swallowing — you may hear your baby swallowing.

Most babies who get breast milk should not be given infant formula in the first few days. If you are worried about meeting your baby's needs, talk to a lactation consultant, or your baby's nurse or doctor, who can help with breastfeeding problems.

The first weeks and months

As babies grow, so do their bellies, and they gradually take more milk at each feeding. The time between feedings gets longer: on average, most exclusively breastfed babies feed every 2 to 4 hours. At times some feed as often as every hour — often called cluster feeding — or sleep 4 to 5 hours at a stretch.

Your baby will breastfeed about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Feedings may vary with the time of day, some long and some short, and that is fine. Babies generally take what they need and stop when full; they should seem content and drowsy after a good feeding.

A sleepy newborn

Some newborns are sleepy and not interested in feeding. At first babies need to eat every 2 to 4 hours to get enough nutrition and grow, so you may need to wake your baby — try patting, stroking, undressing or changing the diaper. If you are concerned about how much your baby sleeps or eats, talk to their doctor or nurse.

Vitamin D

Babies fed only breast milk, or who get less than 32 ounces of infant formula a day, need extra vitamin D starting soon after birth, which they can get from over-the-counter vitamin D drops. Ask your child's doctor or nurse if you have questions.

6 to 12 months

How long and how often babies breastfeed changes as they eat more solid foods. Keep following your baby's cues and breastfeed when you see signs of hunger — sometimes called breastfeeding on demand. If your baby seems less interested in breastfeeding after starting solids, try breastfeeding before other foods: breast milk remains the most important source of nutrition.

12 to 24 months

How often toddlers breastfeed varies. Some want to only before bed or in the morning; for others breast milk stays a larger part of their diet. Keep following your child's cues.

If you have questions about your baby's growth or how much breast milk they are getting, talk with their doctor or nurse.

Sources

Based on "How Much and How Often to Breastfeed," Infant and Toddler Nutrition, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain. Two stock photographs are not reproduced.