The Nursing Baby - Q&A

I have a healthy 7 week old boy who I am nursing. He nurses great except for one problem, he likes to snack like every half hour instead of having that full meal about every 2 hours. The reason for this is he falls asleep and is very troublesome to wake up sometimes. This causes me to not be able to start, let alone finish things I have to get done at home. Then there are times when he eats for a few minutes and then falls asleep for a couple hours. I am afraid that him doing this will somehow affect his health. How do I get him to eat regularly at a good amount?
Jennifer Burnside

Actually Jennifer, your son is nursing in a pattern thought to be natural to babies. Babies have very small stomachs, and an intense need for comfort. The steady flow of liquids with their anti-infective properties may also lower your son's chances for illness.

You will probably find as time goes by that your son will eat more and sleep in more of a pattern. But don't be surprised if he doesn't meet the standard model that routinely scheduled infants followed. Be assured that an infant given food and comfort on demand *is* the healthy pattern to follow.

Some tips for dealing with a frequent nurser include nursing baby in a sling (and letting baby fall to sleep afterwards - either in your sling or a safe place), which will free up your arms and give you more time.

Jennifer, the amount a baby nurses at one session is often difficult to measure. If your baby is nursed on demand and has 6-8 wet diapers per day, be assured that he is getting enough. You may be surprised to note that some babies can nurse 8 ounces or more in only 3 minutes. They tend to take in whatever they need.

Good luck with your new baby!

These tips are not intended to be medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have questions.

Back to Nursing Baby Page

Send suggestions to the Web Ms.