How often should a newborn be breastfed?

Newborns typically should be breastfed every 2-3 hours, which aligns with the recommended feeding schedule for infants in the early weeks of life. This frequency is crucial for several reasons:

First, newborns have small stomachs and require frequent feedings to meet their nutritional needs and support growth and development. The 2-3 hour interval allows them to digest breast milk and maintain adequate caloric intake.

Secondly, feeding on demand, often in the range of every 2-3 hours, encourages the mother’s milk supply to adjust according to the baby's needs through the process of supply and demand. When a newborn suckles frequently, it signals the mother’s body to produce more milk.

Additionally, frequent breastfeeding promotes bonding between the mother and baby, and helps to prevent complications such as jaundice and hypoglycemia in newborns, which can occur if feeding is spaced too far apart.

The other suggested intervals, like every 1-2 hours or every 3-4 hours, may not adequately support the newborn's needs or promote healthy breastfeeding patterns. Feeding too frequently could lead to ineffective feeding sessions, while spacing feedings too far could cause the newborn to miss necessary milk intake. Therefore, the 2-3 hour