From birth to about 4 months of age, babies average 8 to 12 nursings in a day. At 4 to 6 months of age, the average is about 6 times a day. At 9 to 12 months, the average baby nurses only about 3-4 times a day, but is still taking in large volumes of milk at these few nursing sessions. Any amount of breastfeeding is good. Breastfeeding for the first year of life is best but, even a few weeks of breastfeeding is better than none.
Breastfed babies have fewer allergies, less constipation or diarrhea, and fewer stomach upsets.
It is especially beneficial to give the baby breastmilk during the first 6 months of life while the gastrointestinal tract is maturing. The breastfeeding mother also benefits. Women who breastfeed lower their risk of ovarian and breast cancer. Adults who were breastfed as infants, have less risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. Ideally, breastfeeding would continue throughout the first year of life.