It is recommended to breastfeed on demand and follow babies cues, but this should equate to 8-12 times in a 24 hour period. Breast milk is easily digested so newborns are hungry often. It is also important for frequent feedings to stimulate your milk production in the beginning. As babies get older they will start to go closer to 2-3 hours between feedings. Newborns should not go more than 4 hours including overnight feedings. You want to count the length of time between feedings from the time your baby begins to nurse to when the baby begins to nurse again.