During the first month, breastfed babies begin to root (reflexively turn toward the breast) or put their fists in their mouth and start sucking, indicating an interest in feeding.
It’s easier to persuade the baby to latch on and eat when they are showing early symptoms of rooting or lip-smacking.
Crying is a late-appearing sign of hunger. It is recommended to look for early cues as the baby might not settle down quickly and not feed properly.
Your infant should be fed on demand every 2-3 hrs, with an overall target of 8-12 feedings each day. Day and night may be mixed throughout the first two months. Feeding times might range from 10 minutes to 45 minutes.
Feed the other breast if they still seem hungry after a decent meal on the first breast, or if they wake up during a nappy change.
Long feedings do not necessarily imply that the infant is not getting enough milk. The baby may desire to suck on an empty breast to feel secure and connected to the mother. Sleep sucking can cause sore nipples in the mother, therefore attempt to detach gently after 30 minutes of sucking.
