Not all of the information may be pertinent to your family's life-style. This information is general in nature, and not intended to be advice, medical or otherwise. If you have additional breastfeeding problems or concerns, you may want to talk to a La Leche League Leader directly. Please consult health-care professionals on any medical issue, as La Leche League Leaders are not medical practitioners. Information from different LLL Leaders is separated by horizontal rules.
Babies are as different from each other as are adults.
Some babies, like some adults, naturally prefer a regular schedule with predictable times of feeding, sleeping, and activity. Other babies and adults seem to thrive on less regular schedules. Newborns need to eat very frequently, since the have tiny stomachs and since breastmilk is digested very rapidly. In the first few weeks, babies need to nurse ten to twelve times per day, and their feedings will gradually space out as they grow older. Healthy full term infants need to nurse every 2-3 hours during a 24 hour period.