DD eats every two hours still - even at night...

[aj's mom]

I am assuming this is normal for her age (1 month) but she only eats for about 10 minutes on one breast - never really takes the other boob - one is enough. This is fine with me and she is gaining weight very well and is satisfied after her feeds but she is still eating every 2 hours - even at night. Her nighttime is pretty easy - she will wake every 2 hours to feed and goes right back to sleep, but I would love to get more than 2 hours of sleep in a row... any way to increase her daytime feed times so that she might go longer at night? Even a feed ever 3 hours would be great - is this asking too much for her age?

She is not on an easy set schedule yet but I do follow the Easy model - she eats first, stays awake for activity, then goes back to sleep.  Her naps are not equal though - one will be two hours long, the next will be 20 minutes long... etc...  I am trying to still learn her pattern to adjust her to an easy schedule that will work for both of us.

[Samuel's mum]

I think that at 1 month this is certainly in the realms of normal. The first month is pretty much one big growth spurt and your milk supply is establishing.
To get a longer interval at night you could try some cluster feeding in the evening or offering the second side or using some breast compression (see FAQs).

It sounds like you are doing really well.

[clazzat]

Hi there

I was coming on here to post almost exactly the same question - my lo is 4 weeks tomorrow, and only ever feeds for 10 mins at a time.  After dd1, who would take 20-25 mins each feed, this has been something of a surprise.  I have been concerned that she is not getting enough, as she seems to want feeding every 2 hours, and I have been trying to get to a 3-hour EASY without any success.

We have recently started to manage some 3 hour stretches at night, though - during the day I quite often give her a second feed about half an hour after the first to try to persuade her to go for longer - maybe this could help you as well?

It's good to know that there is another lo out there doing exactly the same thing - even down to the completely unpredictable naps!

Good luck.
Clare x

[lashwish]

It may be asking too much...
I know I was still feeding DD every 2-2.5 hrs until 4 months & the only reason I stopped was Ped said I didnt need to. Even then I only switched to 3 hrs after several more weeks & did it very slowly.

I just assumed she needed it when she'd get fussy which probably wasn't the case.

Not sure about nite feeds. My DD also always takes both boobs & nursed for 40+mins for a long time.