Schedule breastfeeding for newborns up to 6 months of age

When the baby is not yet 6 months old, exclusive breastfeeding is still the only main food. Even though they are not given other food or drinks, babies who only breastfeed still have their own eating schedules like adults. Do not forget, you also need to pay attention to the signs when the baby is hungry and full and wake the baby in the right way on the breastfeeding schedule.

So, so that the baby's nutritional needs are always properly fulfilled, it is important to know the right breastfeeding schedule. How are the rules?

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What is the schedule for breastfeeding the baby every day?

Breastfeeding a baby with breast milk can be done from birth. Although it is possible that there are various myths of breastfeeding mothers and the challenges of breastfeeding, there are no obstacles to continuing to breastfeed.

Because there are many benefits of breast milk for babies and mothers. The schedule for a nursing baby does not form immediately after birth.

It takes time and feeds many times until the baby has a regular schedule of breastfeeding every day.

Broadly speaking, the following is the schedule for breastfeeding newborns until they are 6 months old, aka during the exclusive breastfeeding period:

Schedule for breastfeeding newborns

When first breastfeeding or early initiation of breastfeeding (IMD), usually the time for breastfeeding the baby is approximately 15 minutes.

If the IMD has been completed, the baby may not breastfeed again within 2-2.5 hours after that.

The Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) explained that the schedule for breastfeeding newborns should be around 8-12 times a day. Meanwhile, for the span of time in one breastfeed, babies usually need approximately 10-15 minutes.

When breastfeeding is valid for one side of the breast, while breast milk from the other side can be given at the next breastfeeding session.

In the first few weeks of life, a baby's schedule for breastfeeding generally depends on his wishes.

The time lag between each breastfeeding schedule for a newborn is around 1.5-3 hours.

This is because in the early days after giving birth, usually your body and the baby still have to adapt first. Your baby can show signs that he is hungry and wants to feed at any time.

However, as you get older, your baby's breastfeeding schedule will generally become more routine and regular.

Breastfeeding schedule for babies 1-6 months

When the baby is one month old, the time for breastfeeding the baby will usually change quite regularly. This means that you can better predict at what time the baby usually feels hungry and wants to suckle.

After a few days after giving birth until the age is around 1 month, the baby's desire to breastfeed can arise every 2-3 hours. So in a day, the schedule for breastfeeding newborn babies can be counted around 8-12 times.

Meanwhile, the duration of time each time the baby breastfeeds can take 20-45 minutes. The duration of this breastfeeding can decrease as he gets older.

In the second month of age, the frequency of the baby to breastfeed ranges from 7-9 times a day.

Likewise, entering the third, fourth, and fifth months of age, the baby will probably breastfeed about 7-8 times a day with a span of approximately 2.5-3.5 hours.

When entering the end of exclusive breastfeeding or in the sixth month, the baby's breastfeeding schedule may decrease to only 4-6 times a day.

Meanwhile, the length of time to breastfeed babies aged 6 months can range between 5-6 hours.

How long does the baby nurse on each schedule?

Besides paying attention to the schedule of breastfeeding, you may sometimes observe the length of the baby during breastfeeding can be different. Sometimes it can be short, but at other times it may feel quite long.

In fact, there are various factors that determine the length of time a baby breastfeeds, such as:

• Production of the available milk in your breasts
• Sooner or later the flow of the milk that is sucked in
• Smoothness let down reflex or a reflex that stimulates milk to pass smoothly while breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding position
• The baby is in a drowsy condition
• Babies are easily distracted by things that are happening around them

The age of the baby also affects the length of time spent breastfeeding. At the beginning of the breastfeeding period, the baby takes 20 minutes and sometimes even 45 minutes to be full.

As they get older, the length of time a baby can breastfeed may only be 10-15 minutes. While the baby is feeding, let him feel satisfied and avoid suddenly releasing your breast.

If the baby has had enough with the first side of the breast, you can replace the baby with the other side of the breast.

Sometimes, babies fall asleep while feeding in the mother's arms. The cause of the baby falling asleep while breastfeeding is because it feels very comfortable.

When hungry, babies tend to be fussy and restless. Meanwhile, when he is given breast milk and feels full, the baby is easy to fall asleep.

In addition, another reason why babies fall asleep while breastfeeding is because they require much more sleep than adults.

How to wake a baby on a breastfeeding schedule?

When it is time to breastfeed, do not hesitate to wake the baby in the right way even though they are fast asleep.

Early in life, your baby may seem to be sleeping so much that you can't bear to wake him up.

In fact, newborn babies need to breastfeed more often.

As quoted from IDAI, it is recommended that you wake the baby if they are still asleep and have not received breast milk for 4 hours.

The reason is, babies must get breast milk regularly and in sufficient quantities every day as their main food. Not only that, your breasts also have to regularly express breastmilk.

The more often you breastfeed and express breast milk, the more it will stimulate the breasts to produce more milk.

As your baby gets older, you can adjust the appropriate time and way to wake the baby according to the breastfeeding schedule.

There are several ways you can try to wake a sleeping baby, namely:

1. Invite your little one to talk

Source: Bebez Club

Just like waking up a deep sleeper, you can also try to talk to the baby as a way to want to breastfeed.

This method aims so that when you wake your little one can wake up from his sleep until then wake up slowly. The way to wake a baby for breastfeeding is not always the same.

Even so, there is nothing wrong with calling the baby's name gently while saying that this is part of the breastfeeding schedule as a way to wake him up.

By hearing the mother's voice as a way of waking up, the baby may immediately wake up and wake up to be ready to feed.

2. Touch your little one slowly

Sometimes just calling her name and talking to her doesn't work to wake the baby. If that doesn't work, you can try to gently touch it.

If one or two touches don't bring her back to her senses, try moving the baby's body slowly as a way to wake her up when she is fast asleep.

You can also rub the arms, legs and back to help wake the baby from sleep.

3. Bring and direct the baby to the breast

Already confused and about to give up because your little one won't wake up? Try a different way than usual so that he will wake up.

To wake him up, try holding him while he is still asleep, then bringing his body close to your breast as if he were about to suckle.

Even if the baby is still asleep, try to bring the baby's mouth directly in front of your nipple and touch it a little at a time.

In addition, you can also touch the baby's cheek while holding him as if giving a "code" that it is time to suckle.

Reflex rooting naturally in a baby may make him wake up and conscious to feed, even though he is still in a drowsy state.

4. Change the baby's diaper closer to the schedule of breastfeeding

Movement and changes in body position when you try to change your baby's diaper can cause him to wake up.

This is the reason why you can try ways to wake your little one up to breastfeed.

5. Lap and wake the baby according to the feeding schedule

Another way to wake your baby that you can try is to lift him up and then place him on your lap.

This method can be done by placing the baby on your thighs with the feet close to the stomach and head on the knees.

The next step, lift his body into a sitting position slowly as if he was doing sit-ups .

Repeat this movement several times until the baby is completely conscious. While doing this movement, you can also invite the baby to talk.

How to know when a baby is hungry and full

In addition to understanding the schedule for breastfeeding the baby every day, it is also important to recognize the various signs that indicate a baby is hungry and full.

Here are some pointers that you should know when your baby is hungry and full:

This is a sign that the baby is hungry and wants to suckle

Some of the following behaviors are signs that your baby is already on the schedule for breastfeeding:

• Smack his lips
• Suck on his fist
• Sticking out his tongue
• Opening and closing the mouth many times
• Make a move rooting reflex or the rooting reflex, where the baby opens its mouth spontaneously when its cheek is touched
• Turning your head towards your breasts as if looking for something
• Looks uncomfortable
• Fussy and whining
• Crying loud
• Shows body movements such as restlessness

A sign that the baby is full

Some of the following behaviors are signs when your baby is breastfeeding enough on the breastfeeding schedule:

• Looks satisfied and happy after feeding.
• No longer shows signs of being restless and uncomfortable.
• No longer fussing, whining, and even crying out loud.
• The movement of the mouth when you suck your breast seems to be slower than at the beginning when you are hungry.
• The baby's grip on your breast is slowly released.
• Babies look much more comfortable than ever when they are fussy and hungry.

By looking at the various signs above, at least you will understand more about the schedule for the baby to breastfeed every day.

If the milk production is too much but the baby is showing signs of being full, you can use the breast pump and store it.

However, still pay attention to how to store breast milk so that it doesn't spoil easily.

Could it be that the baby vomits after feeding?

There are several things that can cause a baby to vomit after breastfeeding.

Causes of vomiting for a baby after feeding include breastfeeding too many times on a breastfeeding schedule, allergies to certain foods or drinks, and experiencing gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD).

GERD in babies occurs when gas and stomach acid from the baby's stomach back up into the esophagus.

Babies who vomit after breastfeeding or drinking breast milk are usually treated in different ways depending on the cause.

If vomiting after a baby feeds or drinks breast milk occurs because the amount of milk that is drunk is too much, the solution automatically is to reduce the amount.

Not that you have to limit the amount. It's just that, make sure the baby is breastfed sufficiently, so as not to make him feel full until he finally vomits.

In addition, if your baby's vomiting is caused by GERD, your little one usually gets better on her own over time.

However, you can help improve the increased stomach acid by placing the baby in a sitting position while breastfeeding.

Try to keep the baby in a sitting position for about 30 minutes after feeding. It is different if the vomiting condition is due to sensitivity to certain foods and drinks.

In this case, you should find out what food or drink is bothering the baby so that it makes him vomit after drinking breast milk.

Because the food and drinks you consume can be mixed with breast milk.

So, it's good to reduce or avoid the consumption of sensitive foods and drinks in babies to prevent vomiting after drinking breast milk.

Could it be that the baby doesn't want to drink milk?

The baby is said to be in a state of not wanting to drink milk when he refuses when you offer your breast. In fact, maybe some time before your little one had been suckling very well.

This condition of babies who do not want to breastfeed can last at any time and for some time. Either it lasts for a while or even for several days.

Usually, refusing to breastfeed is just your baby's way of telling you something is uncomfortable. This is because your little one has not been able to speak openly about what he is feeling and experiencing.

So don't be discouraged and think that a baby who is reluctant to breastfeed doesn't need you.

Because basically, this condition should actually make you more "sensitive" to the conditions your little one may be experiencing.

The cause of the baby does not want to drink milk

Various causes for babies not wanting to drink milk even though they have entered the breastfeeding schedule, namely:

1. Difficulty sucking on the nipples

Newborn babies are usually not used to it so they have difficulty sucking on the mother's nipple.

When the way the baby sucks or clings (latch on) between the baby's mouth and the nipple is not quite right, the milk will automatically be difficult to get out.

In fact, it is possible that at that time the baby is very hungry and wants to breastfeed immediately. The hungrier the baby is, the more difficult it will be to suckle the nipple and latch on properly.

In other words, your little one may feel anxious about not being able to properly suckle the nipple. This condition then makes the baby not want to suckle directly at the breast.

2. The taste of breast milk changes

Changes in the taste of breast milk are usually caused by the influence of your daily diet and drink. This also applies when you smoke while breastfeeding which in a way will make the milk taste change.

In addition, hormonal changes also have an effect on the taste of breast milk, quoting the Mayo Clinic.

Hormonal changes that you can experience include the return of menstruation after giving birth, getting pregnant again, or taking birth control regularly for breastfeeding mothers.

When your baby doesn't really like the taste of breast milk, he may be reluctant to breastfeed.

3. The baby has pain

Pain and discomfort in the mouth, such as teething, gum pain, fever, or canker sores can be one of the reasons why the baby is reluctant to breastfeed.

In addition, ear infections can also cause pressure or pain when breastfeeding, which causes the baby to refuse to drink milk.

4. The baby is stressed

Babies can also experience stress due to environmental changes such as traveling long distances, breastfeeding in a noisy room, or moving to a new house.

The mother's overreaction when the baby bites the nipple can also scare her and refuse to breastfeed.

How to deal with babies who have difficulty drinking milk

In addition, there are several ways you can deal with babies who don't want to drink milk on a breastfeeding schedule, namely:

• Try breastfeeding when your baby is very sleepy. Many babies refuse to breastfeed while they are awake.
• Try to change the breastfeeding position and find something that makes the baby feel comfortable. Babies may feel comfortable in one position and uncomfortable in another.
• Breastfeeding your baby while rocking or walking may make the baby more comfortable.
• Breastfeeding in a place that is free from distractions, such as in a dimly lit and quiet room, away from radio or television sounds.
• Give your baby skin-to-skin contact, for example by breastfeeding without wearing clothes.

The reason babies have difficulty drinking milk can also be because it is time for him to be weaned. Understand how to wean children properly so that it will be easier to practice later.

Formula feeding, especially over six months of age, can replace breast milk if the baby is no longer able to get breast milk.

However, it is better not to give breast milk mixed with formula (sufor) in the same bottle.

If there are problems with breastfeeding mothers even though they seem trivial, it never hurts to continue to consult a doctor.

Doctors can find out the cause, treatment, and provide safe drugs for breastfeeding mothers if needed.