At What Age Do Newborns Nurse Less Often?

How Often to Nurse

• You should feed a newborn on demand. According to Parents.com, infants do not eat from boredom; they eat because they're hungry. If your newborn is crying, don't look at the clock to see how long it's been since his last feeding, simply feed him. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding on demand based on early cues like rooting, smacking lips, becoming squirmy or making sucking motions. Catching early cues can help you avoid getting to that desperate crying stage, which is a late cue for hunger. For the first two months, an infant will nurse approximately 10 to 12 times per day, generally every 1 1/2 to 3 hours. You shouldn't let a newborn go longer than four hours without a feeding. If you feel like you are nursing all the time, it's completely normal -- and healthy for your baby.

Slowing Down

• You will likely notice that around the 2-month mark, your infant will slow down on the number and length of her feedings. This is because she's become a more efficient nurser, usually taking only 15 to 20 minutes to feed. Likely, your milk supply is established at this point, too -- and you have a nice routine going for nursing on demand. Your baby is likely also becoming playful and alert, so the time between feedings might decrease. If your baby is content and gaining around 6 ounces per week, producing four to six wet diapers and has regular, soft bowel movements, she is nursing enough. Keep in mind that you can't nurse too often, but you can nurse too little.

Milk Supply

• As long as your infant continues to gain weight, you can assume your milk supply is good. If you're nursing often enough, and your infant is sucking effectively, you will make enough milk. According to the AskDrSears website, it's rare that a mother is unable to produce enough milk for her baby. Feeding your infant exclusively from the breast and nursing as often as possible helps stimulate milk production.

Growth Spurts

• When your infant goes through a growth spurt, he will want to nurse more frequently. According to the AskDrSears website, this generally occurs between 10 days and 3 weeks, at 6 weeks, and again at 3 months. Infants are growing rapidly and will want -- and need -- to nurse as if in a marathon. Even during these times, your body will produce enough milk based on the supply and demand principle -- the demand part comes first, followed by the increase in supply. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and maintain a healthy diet.