Breastfeeding isn’t an exact science, by any means. Every baby and every mom are different. What works for one doesn’t necessarily work for all. And, some babies are going to have their own approach to breastfeeding. That being said, there are times when your baby seems as though she wants to nurse more than usual. It can feel, at times, like your baby wants to nurse constantly, and that you’ve got your baby at your breast the entire day.

There are a number of reasons why your baby might want to constantly nurse is because it’s just a “high frequency” day. Some days, baby needs plenty of nutrition to keep going and to keep growing.

At other times, an increase in nursing can be a sign that your baby is trying to fight off an illness. Increased nursing can actually help your baby fight illnesses because of the various antibodies and immunities that are contained in breast milk, and that are specifically made by your body for your baby.

In some cases, your baby may want to nurse constantly because he’s had a reaction to a food that you have eaten. For example, your baby’s feeding patterns might change based on your changing diet. This could be due to a food allergy, so watch for signs of an allergic reaction from your baby.

There may be other reasons baby wants to nurse constantly. There might be a significant change, such as moving. It could be that there are lots of strangers around. It could be that your baby is starting to teethe. Just about any change to your baby’s life or disruption in her schedule can cause her to want to feed more frequently.

There are some specific times when you should expect frequent breastfeeding, and for it to last several days at a time. Ages three weeks, six weeks, three months and six months all tend to be heavy feeding times.

The key is to follow your baby’s cues. If your baby needs to feed more frequently at time, let him. Chances are pretty good that he actually needs it, for one reason or another.

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