Sometimes it seems as if your baby wants to feed all the time. Here are some of the reasons why.

Growth spurt

It could be a growth spurt. Many mums notice an initial small spurt around two weeks, and a bigger one around six weeks. Some women think they have ‘lost their milk’ as their baby feeds more often. This is often accompanied by a softening of your breasts, as they have got used to producing the right amount of milk at the right time.

Teething

When your baby is ill or teething, he may want to feed a lot. Sometimes he will
feed for much of the time for a day or so before he develops an illness. When he is ill, breast milk is the best thing for him.

Hungry

Your baby may be hungry because he is not reaching the fat-rich hind milk. If he is mostly taking foremilk, which is thinner, he will want to go back to the breast more often. Check that he is well attached on the breast. Let the baby complete one breast, but offer the second even if he doesn’t want it!

Fretful

If your baby is fretful, he may really need to rest, rather than feed. You may find that your partner can settle him more easily as he will not smell of delicious breast milk!

If you’re worried about non-stop feeding, talk to your health visitor, contact your local breastfeeding support group, or telephone the NCT breastfeeding helpline on 0870 444 8708.