The question of how long a newborn should breastfeed on each side is one of the most common anxieties for new parents. The answer is more nuanced than a stopwatch can measure. The early days focus on establishing a robust milk supply and learning your newborn’s unique hunger and satiety signals. This initial period is a dynamic learning curve where the duration of a feeding session is highly variable.
The Core Rule: Feeding on Demand, Not by Clock
The most effective approach to newborn feeding is “on demand,” or responsive feeding, which means watching the baby, not the clock. A newborn’s stomach capacity starts tiny and expands rapidly, which necessitates frequent feeding. Newborns typically need to feed between 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period, or roughly every 1.5 to 3 hours.
Trying to adhere to a rigid schedule or specific time limit can be counterproductive, particularly in the first few weeks, as it may interfere with establishing a full milk supply. The length of a feeding session can vary greatly, ranging from as short as 10 minutes to over an hour. Allowing the baby to lead the session ensures they receive the nourishment required for growth.
Look for early hunger cues like licking lips, sticking out the tongue, or rooting—turning the head and opening the mouth—before the baby becomes distressed and starts crying. Responding to these subtle signals promotes more successful and calmer feeding sessions.
Understanding Foremilk and Hindmilk
The importance of time on the first breast relates to the changing composition of the milk during a single feeding. Milk released at the beginning is known as foremilk, which is thinner, more watery, and higher in lactose. Foremilk’s primary role is to hydrate the baby and provide quick energy.
As the feeding progresses, the milk gradually transitions into hindmilk. This milk is creamier, thicker, and significantly higher in fat content and calories. The higher fat content in hindmilk is absorbed more slowly, providing sustained energy, promoting satiety, and supplying the fatty acids necessary for neural development and healthy weight gain.
The change from foremilk to hindmilk is a gradual process, not a sudden switch. If a baby is taken off the first breast too soon, they may fill up primarily on the lower-fat foremilk, which can lead to inadequate caloric intake and potential weight gain issues. Allowing the baby to effectively “drain” the first side ensures they receive the full spectrum of nutrients, including the calorie-dense hindmilk.
Practical Guidelines for Switching Sides
Instead of setting a timer, look for specific physical cues from the baby and the breast to determine when to switch sides. The most reliable indicator is a change in the baby’s sucking and swallowing pattern. Active swallowing—a deep, rhythmic suck-swallow-breath pattern—will slow down and eventually change to a light flutter sucking when the breast is mostly empty.
Other physical signs include the breast becoming noticeably softer or “emptier” than it was at the start of the session. The baby may also begin to pull away, become drowsy, or seem less focused and active at the breast. Once these cues are observed, the baby can be gently unlatched by slipping a finger into the corner of their mouth to break the suction.
In the first six weeks, it is recommended to offer both breasts at each feeding to help adequately stimulate and establish the milk supply. If the newborn falls asleep while feeding on the first side, gently rouse them before offering the second breast. If the baby declines the second side, start the next feeding session on the breast that was offered last.
Monitoring Intake and Output
The ultimate measure of successful breastfeeding is not the time spent on each side, but the newborn’s overall intake and progress. Parents can find reassurance by monitoring a few reliable indicators of sufficient milk transfer. The first metric is the number of wet diapers the baby produces in a 24-hour period.
By about day four of life, a newborn should have at least four to six thoroughly wet diapers daily, which indicates adequate hydration and milk intake. The second metric involves bowel movements, which should transition from the sticky, dark meconium to a lighter, mustard-yellow, seedy consistency by the third or fourth day. From day four onward, a breastfed baby typically has three or more bowel movements daily.
Consistent weight gain, as tracked by a pediatrician, is the most authoritative sign that feeding is going well. While newborns may lose up to 10% of their birth weight initially, they should regain this weight by about two weeks of age. They should continue to gain between 150 to 200 grams per week in the first three months.