HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

Feeding Your Baby Newborns should breastfeed at least 8 to 12 times every 24 hours during their first month of life. Because breast milk is easy to digest, your baby will want to eat often. By around 1 to 2 months of age, they will want to nurse around 8 times a day. FEEDING CUES When your baby is ready to breastfeed, they’ll show you signs or behaviors called “feeding cues.” Placing your baby skin-to-skin on your chest makes it easier to learn their feeding cues and begin breastfeeding. If your baby is crying, they may be too upset to breastfeed. Try calming the baby first by gently rocking them side to side or holding them skin-to-skin.

SCAN + PLAY

LIP SMACKING AND TONGUE SUCKING

HEAD TURNING TO LOOK FOR THE BREAST

OPENING AND CLOSING MOUTH

HANDS AND FISTS MOVING TO MOUTH

BECOMING MORE ALERT AND ACTIVE

NEED TO KNOW

Crying is a late feeding cue, and crying babies are challenging to breastfeed. You’ll want to calm your baby first by gently rocking them or holding them skin-to-skin.

102 Your Guide to Labor and Birth