How long does it usually take for your baby to nurse?

[jd11365]

I ask because Kayla is clearly gaining weight...she is a little piggy...at 7 months she's about 18 lbs. But the kid only nurses for like 5-7 minutes...tops. I was wondering if this was normal.

[todzwife]

I think as they get older they get faster.

[TraciG]

I AM JEALOUS, Sydney takes forever, she's 5 weeks old & takes an hour & if I dind't stop her she'd keep going !!!!!!!!

[mharling]

Ds took a long time at that age too. As with anything else, it will probably change many times!

Mary & Lane 4/6/03
http://www.shutterfly.com/osnt.jsp?i=67b0de21b356c32425b2 - Halloween Pics!

[new_mommy25]

During the day it only take DS about 5-10 minutes but in the evening sometimes he'll go anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more. I let him go as long as he likes because I know milk production is not as high in the evening, because I like to know he is getting lots of hindmilk, because it's comforting to him, and because I enjoy snuggling with him as he drifts off to sleep. He has plenty of wet diapers and he's gaining weight so I'm not worried about his short times during the day. Makes it easier when we are out.

[ELTAZ]

Emily will eat for about 10-15 min, since she was born. Sometimes just for 5 min. And every now and then she'll actually eat for 30 min. But normally 10-15 min. I just call her "efficient"!

-Elizabeth
Emily 4-17-03

[momma_boo]

When DD was younger, she would nurse for 20 minutes per side. Around 4 months, she started nursing 10 minutes per side. These days, she is pretty erratic. Sometimes she nurses for 5 minutes on one side and is done. This morning, she nursed 10 minutes one side, 5 minutes on the other. But in the evenings, she will nurse for at least 30 minutes (definitely more comfort nursing involved. I like to think she missed me during the day).

Babies become more efficient at nursing as they get older. Simply put, they get better at it with experience!

[KGoes]

DD nursed anywhere from 40 minutes to over an hour until she was about 3 months old. Then, she gradually started getting faster and is now down to 20-30 minutes, although every so often she'll settle in for a long, comfortable, napping/nursing session.
The other woman in daycare who breastfeeds at lunch has a DD just about your DD's age, and she only nurses for 5-7 minutes per side.

Kelley
DD born 7/03

[jd11365]

I guess that all makes sense...the older they get the more "efficient" because Kayla used to take longer as a little baby. Thanks! And, yes...since I posted I can tell that she takes a little longer at night...I guess it's part snuggle time too!

Jamie
Mommy to Kayla
5-1-03

[toomanystrollers]

Neve is a quick snacker 5-10mins. tops. The only time she nurses for more than 10min is after her long afternoon nap or her first middle of the night nursing session. My other two kiddos were the same way. She's 5 months now - a little over 16 lbs.

[khakismom]

I'm not nursing anymore, but both my kids were fast eaters. Kathleen would be content eating 5 minutes on each side, and Ellen would take about 8 minutes each side. And at this rate, Kathleen went from 7.12 at birth to 9.2 at 2 weeks! And Ellen went from 7.2 to 8.6. My ped said that some babies are just very efficient eaters, which it sounds like you have! :)

[chlobo]

I"m in that close to an hour category (Isabella is one month). At night she'll nurse continually until I shut her down. But its the only thing that gets her to sleep.

[papal]

Leela is 7weeks old today and she nurses about 15-20 minutes on one side only. She was born weighing 6 pounds 7ounces and the other day at the ped she was 8 pounds 7 ounces so she is clearly gaining weight. She has plenty of pee and poo diapers (only very occasionally green poop, otherwise yellow) so I guess I should not be concerned. With my milk supply reducing (I had an over-active letdown and the LC prescribed cabbage leaves for 48 hours reducing the letdown and the milk), I hope she continues to gain weight. After reading all your numbers I was just wondering is it normal to nurse for so little time for a 7week old? Maybe she is just fast because she had to learn from the start to keep up with my let-down.

Rashmi
(mommy to Leela born 10.17.03)

[22tango]

Exactly!! It used to take 40 mins to an hour (10-14 times per day) to nurse Karenna in the beginning. Now at almost 15 months, nursing is 10 minutes or less (only 4-5 times per day)!

And it is sooo nice to have my busy toddler slow down and cuddle up to Mommy for some "nur nur" when she does! :)

[jd11365]

15 minutes on one side was where we were when Kayla was Leela's age. We still only nurse on one side per session.

Jamie
Mommy to Kayla
5-1-03

[papal]

Thanks, I guess we just have faster eaters (she must get that from dh!) than normal! I was timing her this morning and she was done in 12 minutes on one side. She then fell asleep while still latched on, and kept non-nutritive sucking for a few minutes before I took her off. She is gaining 1.5 ounces on an average a day (we went to the ped again today) so I am not worried anymore that she is not getting enough milk,

Rashmi