What are the feeding patterns in a breastfed infant?
Answer (by Debbie Albert, PH.D., IBCLC): So you have a newborn and you wonder if he/she is eating correctly? Perhaps you have been told that the baby should eat on a schedule? You will be surprised to know that there are a number of feeding patterns that are quite common, and that no one way is absolutely correct. Just make sure that the baby is eating at least 8-12 times and you are getting at least 6-8 wet diapers in a 24 hour period. And by the way, just when you think you know the pattern, baby will change it for one particular reason or another. Four basic patterns are easily discernible: grazing, sleeping, cluster, and angelic. Babies who graze tend to nurse fairly often through the 24 hour period. There seems to be no set pattern, and it is quite common for them to nurse one side at a time. Sleepy babies must be roused to be fed. Often this occurs due to the uterine sleep pattern that they developed during pregnancy, and you often hear “(s)he has her days and nights mixed up.” I
