Breastfeeding - every 3-4 hrs or whenever baby wants it??

[Stephanie29]

Hi, I’m a new mum, my baby is just over 3 weeks old, I am breastfeeding but am confused re timings - I’ve been told to feed every 3-4 hours but I have also been told to follow his lead and feed whenever he wants so if he doesn’t want it yet is it ok to go past 4 hours and wait till he does want it?

[Seb9]

Hi I have exclusively breast fed my little girl for 9 months now, I fed whenever baby was hungry and followed her cues I. The best thing to go by though is by output and weight gain. If he's having plenty of wet and dirty nappies and gaining weight, you can be led their feeding cues, if they don't want to eat for over 4 hours then that's fine. However if you're not getting much output and not getting good weight gain, it's better to make sure that you feed a bit more regularly and not let them go to long between feeds, as the less they feed , the less energy they'll have to feed. There is a really good feeding support network on Facebook called UK breastfeeding and also the website La leche league and Kelley mom too for some really good information. Good luck, these really weeks are the hardest, I felt like my boobs were out constantly, but now I love it, my little one only feeds from me twice in the day time I love our time together feeding.

[Bakingcupcake]

Hi I agree with Seb9...go on babys cues...i bf for over 15 months...at the beginning baby could cluster feed every half hour or could be a couple of hours...all are different but i wouldnt leave it 3-4 hours if baby is looking for feed, thats normally something done by bottle feeding so they dont take too much etc xx