Fast Feeder?

[Janos]

No doubt some of you will remember me from previous threads, anyway here I am with yet another feeding question!

My 8 week old is BF but doesn't sem to stay on for very long (usually about 10-15 minutes max). He seems to be putting weight on OK and can often drop of during a feed. After feeding like this he will usually go down for a nap - last night fed him like this and he slept for 4 hours.

Is he getting enough staying on this long? Will he be getting the right foremilk/hindmilk? he does seem to be almost bolting the milk down and sometimes pulls his head back or comes off completely. Is this normal?

[tiktok]

Sounds fine to me, Janos....no need to worry about foremilk/hindmilk in a baby who is doing well and sleeping well. It sounds as if you have a generous supply - this would account for the pulling head back/coming off suddenly, as babies sometimes to do this to cope with a very fast flow.

10-15 mins is enough for some babies to get what they need, and you can see by his behaviour and growth it is enough for him

[ghosty]

Janos .... Hi!
My baby was always a quick feeder ... even from day 1 she never fed for longer than 20 minutes total ... by the time she was 8 weeks it was 10-15 minutes and by 4 months it was only 5 or so minutes.
She has always been a content baby and a good sleeper ...
If your baby is sleeping well and going happily for 2 - 3 hours between feeds and seems content within himself then he is just an efficient feeder and you are an efficient milk producer ... well done you!!!

[DoesntChristmasDragOn]

Both DSs used to feed for 15mins max and both piled on weight and slept well. Much to the disgust of friends with longer feeding babies.

If he's happy and gaining weight, don't worry, just be grateful he's not a slow feeder

[Twiglett]

10 mins max with both DS and DD .. I'm a speed-feeder too

if it helps both of mine were / are between 50th and 75th centile throughout (DD now 7 months hovers at around 65)

[Janos]

Thanks everyone

He weighed 6lb at birth, and I think is about 10lb now. he must be getting more efficient at feeding as he gets older.

[kbaby]

I also had a fast feeder. I read all the books about feeding for 40 mins and panicked as dd only fed for 7-9 mins (yes i was that obsessed i used to time every feed) she gained weight well and when I looked at friends feeding their lo's I could see that they suck much slower than dd which is why she was so quick. If dd's gaining weight and seems contented dont worry. Thank your lucky stars that you never have to feed for 40 mins during the night

[NotQuiteCockney]

I've had one slow and one fast. The fast one had sucking blisters over his entire upper and lower lips, which only now, at three months, seem to have gone away.

And the slow feeder gained weight slowly, while the fast one is staying on his centile line. I'm so glad to have a fast one now, as feeding for hours at a time while chasing a three-year-old around would be a bit tricky.

He feeds for 5-10 minutes normally. Once in a while he has a real half-hour feed, which means a growth spurt, I think.