How Long Should It Take to Breastfeed at Each Feeding? (2024)

How long you should breastfeed your baby each time depends on several factors, including your baby's age and your breast milk supply. An average feeding might last 10 to 20 minutes, but a baby can breastfeed anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes at each session. Of course, the timing truly depends on the age of the baby; newborns can cluster feed for 25-45 minutes, which is normal and expected.

Here's a guide to help you get an idea of how many minutes newborns and older babies spend breastfeeding, what changes breastfeeding times, what short and long feedings can mean. You will also find advice on when to call the doctor.

Factors That Affect Breastfeeding Time

Some breastfed babies can take a full feeding in 8 minutes. Others need 30 minutes or more to get the same amount of breast milk. Factors that influence a baby's feeding time include:

• Age: An older baby can typically get enough breast milk in a shorter period.
• Alertness: A sleepy baby may not breastfeed as well or as fast as a baby who is awake and alert.
• Flow: If your breast milk flows quickly and you have an active let-down reflex, there is more milk available for your baby right away. However, if your flow is slow and your let-down is difficult or delayed, it can take longer for your baby to get enough milk.
• Health: A premature baby or a baby born with a health issue may tire out easily while breastfeeding; frequent breaks can prolong feeding time.
• Latch: A good latch helps a baby more effectively remove breast milk and therefore get a full feeding in less time.
• Milk supply: If you have a low breast milk supply or your baby is going through a growth spurt, your baby may spend more time breastfeeding to try to get more breast milk.

How Long Should I Breastfeed My Baby Each Time?

Age may have the greatest effect on how long it takes to breastfeed. Newborns need time to practice and learn, while older infants become pros who can empty a breast in no time.

Newborns

A newborn should be put to the breast at least every 2 to 3 hours and nurse for 10 to 15 minutes on each side. But rather than worry about duration, it's important to know that the best way to ensure that the baby is getting enough breast milk is by feeding frequency, wet and dirty diapers, and weight gain.

3 to 4 Months

During the first few months, feeding times gradually get shorter and the time between feedings gets a little longer. By the time a baby is 3 to 4 months old, they should be breastfeeding well, gaining weight, and growing. It may only take your baby about 5 to 10 minutes to empty each breast and get all the milk they need; however, this is different for everyone.

6 to 9 Months

By about 6 months, your baby may start eating solid foods and drinking from a cup. They also may be starting to crawl and move around more freely. Older infants may only take quick feedings at the breast, then head off to play. But they may spend more time breastfeeding in the evenings and at night.

Toddlers

While breastfeeding continues to be beneficial for one- and two-year-olds, it should not be the central part of their diet. Toddlers should be eating and drinking a variety of foods.

Your toddler may only breastfeed occasionally and quickly. However, they may spend more time at the breast if they are looking for security or comfort, such as during an illness or after an injury.

Adjusting Your Breastfeeding Routine

At all ages, it's a good idea to follow your baby's lead when it comes to breastfeeding time; try not to worry about the clock. When latched on properly and actively sucking, your baby should be allowed to nurse for as long as they want.

Once the baby stops sucking or falls asleep, you can break the suction of the latch, remove the baby from your breast, burp them or change their diaper, and offer them the other breast. However, if the baby is fast asleep, they may not be awake enough to continue the feeding.

In some circ*mstances, you may experience variations in how long it takes your baby to breastfeed. You may need to adjust your routine to accommodate the changes to your baby's needs.

Growth Spurts

Babies need more breast milk during and after a growth spurt. During times of rapid growth, a child may breastfeed more often and spend more time than usual at each feeding.

The increase in breastfeeding time is to try to get more nutrition and energy to support their growing bodies. It also sends a signal to your body to make more breast milk.

Growth spurts can happen at any age, but they are common around 2 to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months of age. Growth spurts only last a few days, and then the baby usually settles back into a more normal breastfeeding routine.

Very Short Feedings

It can take a few minutes for your milk to let down and begin flowing well. If your baby falls asleep or stops nursing before the let-down, they won't get enough milk.

Ending a nursing session before let-down also leaves your breasts full of milk. It can put you at risk for painful breast engorgement, plugged milk ducts, a decreased milk supply, and some of the other common problems of breastfeeding.

Try to keep your baby awake and actively sucking at your breast for as long as possible. If your baby is only nursing for a short time (less than 5 minutes) at most feedings, contact a healthcare provider. Poor nursing could indicate a medical issue.

Very Long Feedings

During the first few days of breastfeeding, it's not uncommon for a baby to nurse for a more extended period, or to nurse very frequently. However, by the fifth day, your milk supply should increase, and your child should be able to get all the breast milk they need within 45 minutes.

If your baby is actively sucking at your breast for over 45 minutes at each feeding, it could mean that they are not getting enough milk. Call your healthcare provider, your baby's pediatrician, or a lactation professional to evaluate the problem and help to resolve it as soon as possible

Bottle vs. Breast Feeding Time

Babies suck differently on the bottle compared to at the breast. Some babies have a difficult time with the bottle and feedings can take a long time. But because the flow of infant formula or breast milk from a bottle nipple is steady, a bottle-fed baby with a regular, consistent suck can generally finish a bottle in about 10 minutes.

Breastfed babies adjust their suck speed to the flow of breast milk. They suck approximately once per second or slower when the milk is flowing quickly, and speed up the sucking when the milk flow slows down. So the time it takes to breastfeed depends on the amount and flow of breast milk and the baby's suck.

Breastfeeding Challenges

If you are worried about how long your baby's feedings are or if you have any questions about breastfeeding your baby, talk to your baby's pediatrician. You should also call a healthcare provider if your baby shows certain warning signs, like too few wet diapers.

A Word From Verywell

Every baby is different, and so is every parent. Your baby may latch on and breastfeed well from the first feeding or take a while to catch on. You also may have no trouble at all with your let-down reflex and milk supply, or you may have a difficult let-down and a delay in your milk production. There are many things that can affect how long a feeding will take.

In the beginning, patience is the key. You and your baby need time to learn together. It can definitely be tough and exhausting if you're breastfeeding for 40 minutes every 2 hours. But don't give up.

Before you know it, you'll have a healthy breast milk supply, your baby will get the hang of breastfeeding, and feeding times will be quicker and easier. Of course, if you're worried about feeding times that are too long or too short or if you have any questions, a healthcare provider is the best source of information.