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Today I’m sharing about my transition to breastfeeding twice a day with my first baby. I’m sharing an update on what it has been like going through this dropping down to nursing twice a day with all four of my babies at the end of the post. I hope this is helpful for anyone else that was wondering the question: can you breastfeed only two times a day?
Breastfeeding twice a day
Today we’re talking food, but not so much about recipes. Hunter food. The boob food.
Between 9 and 10 months we made a big switch in our daily nursing routine.
At 9 months he was nursing 4-5 times a day.
Then at 10 months we dropped down to 2-3.
Now at almost 11 months, we are just at twice a day.
Can you breastfeed only two times a day?
When I originally made the switch to less than 4 nursing sessions, I had lots of questions. So I went to the internet searching… and I came up disappointed.
I couldn’t find that much info on when or how to do it.
So I went with my mommy instinct and dove in. While I am no expert in nursing or babies, I thought it would be helpful to answer the questions that I had, in hopes I can help another mom out there.
This is what worked for Hunter and I. Remember, every baby is different!
I should also note that Hunter does not feed on demand.
While we do follow the baby-led weaning approach for his food, I did not follow the ‘let him nurse whenever’ approach. We have a flexible routine, which I’ll outline, but it’s still a routine nonetheless.
Q & A: dropping down to nursing twice a day
When does Hunter nurse?
In the morning before breakfast.
If he wakes before 7 am, I’ll have him play for a bit until 7 am, then we nurse and have breakfast.
If he wakes after 7 am I nurse him right when he wakes.
He nurses again at 7 pm before getting ready for bed.
When did you know that Hunter was ready to drop a feeding?
A few months ago I remember reading about some other babies that were nursed just twice a day, that was the same age as Hunter.
I thought to myself, I don’t think Hunter will ever get there!
Well, at the time he wasn’t ready. He was eating solids well, but still, I think his solids vs. nursing was split 50/50.
Then around 10 months (or a little before), I decided one day to just try nursing 3 times – morning, mid-day, and before bed.
On that day he instantly made a switch to eating more solids. He didn’t fuss about nursing less, it just seemed natural.
I was already at the point where he was eating solids first, and then nursing.
How old was he when he dropped a feeding? How many nursing sessions for 9 month old?
Between 9-10 months he dropped down from 4-5 times a day, to 2-3 times a day.
Now at 10 1/2 months, he only nurses twice a day.
How did we drop the feedings?
Cutting out the midday feeding was a more gradual thing.
He would eat lunch between 11-12 pm, then I would nurse him about an hour later.
He didn’t always seem to need it, but I did it anyway.
Then one day we were busy and I just forgot. Thankfully he didn’t seem to mind.
For a couple of weeks he would want it (he’d get fussy), so I’d nurse him.
Then last week I just decided not to anymore and it’s been fine.
He eats soooooo much food. I think nursing has become more of a comfort than anything for him.
Do I pump now that he is nursing less?
When we first went down to 3 times a day, I was still pumping.
I wanted to make sure my milk supply stayed up in case he really wasn’t ready to nurse less.
Then on the days I only nursed him in the morning and night, I pumped midday.
Now I don’t pump midday. I have seen a huge decrease in my milk supply, but I figured that will happen as he needs it less and less.
Nursing and solids, how does it work together?
When Hunter first started eating solids, I would always nurse first, then offer solids.
Then as time went by I picked one meal a day to offer solids first, and then nurse.
Then as we continued on over the weeks I’d offer solids first at more and more meals, to where he was always eating solids first, and then nursing.
I tried to make sure solids and nursing were within an hour of each other so that it was a big meal, instead of two separate snacks.
When will I stop nursing?
My goal was always to nurse for 1 year, and I know we’ll make that goal. After that, I”m not sure.
This is probably a selfish reason, but I want to get pregnant again, and breastfeeding has definitely been working as birth control for us. I’ll see where we’re at when he turns a year.
An update on dropping down to nursing twice a day
My mama instinct was right with this strategy I outline. It worked really well with all of my babies (after Hunter we had 3 girlies).
Out of all of my kids, Hunter was the least attached to nursing. I breastfed him only a little bit past 1 years, and the girls between 14-16 months.
Do you have more questions about breastfeeding twice a day?
Please ask them in the comments! I love helping mamas out and sharing any insights I might have. Of course, every baby is different and every situation needs it’s own plan.
I hope this is helpful to you nursing mamas out there. Please let me know if you have any questions I didn’t answer!
Have a great day!
XO
Heather
This is so reassuring! My son dropped down to 3 nursings a day at about 11 months and just now refused his afternoon milk in favor of story time (his bookshelf is right next to the nursing chair and he cried until I let him pick out a book 😂), so it looks like he may start to be getting down to 2 nursings a day 2 weeks before his first birthday. He also eats a ton of solid food (3 big meals and 2 snacks). I asked the pediatrician if I should maybe introduce a little bit of cow’s milk slightly early to make up for the lessened breast milk intake—since I plan on weaning him at 12 months anyway—but she was adamant that he shouldn’t have cow’s milk until after the stroke of midnight on the morning of his first birthday 🙄 All of the guidance online makes it sound like he’ll starve to death unless he nurses every 3-4 hours, so it’s a relief to know there are other babies like him that are way more interested in solids than nursing!
Hi Lorna! I’m so glad you found reassurance in this! There is so much information online and it’s hard to know what’s right and wrong. Sounds like your little guy is doing a great job telling you what he needs. Keep up the good work!
Hello!
My son is 11.5 months old now and was nursing 4 times a day. But now it just seems like he isn’t interested in nursing in the day and sometimes even right away in the morning when he wakes. He is like snacking on the boob instead of long full nursing sessions where he gets alot of milk. He eats soooo much food like hunter does. 3 full meals and snacks in between. He just love food and is a great eater. I’m just wanting to make sure he’s getting enough nutrients from milk vs solid food since he isn’t a year yet. Maybe I should try dropping to 3 times a day and see how that goes?
Definitely sounds like my son who was really into food! Yeah, you could totally drop down and just keep offering how ever many nursing sessions feel good. He’ll get how ever much he needs. Great job mama!
I found your post while googling for my 10.5 month old baby who seem to be fine feeding twice a day. Thank you for sharing your experience, it has provided me some reassurance that we are doing fine and I don’t need to overextend myself to pump / add in a feed during the day.
I’m so glad it offered reassurance Angela! 🙂
Forgive me if this question has already been asked, but did you supplement with formula or whole milk when he dropped down to 2 feedings? My 10mo is starting to drop feedings but has a milk allergy. We’ve never done formula and are planning to BF to a year.
I don’t want to start trying out different formulas for just a few months, but I want to make sure he’s getting all his nutrients.
What do you suggest? What worked for you?
Hi Brie! When he started nursing less, his food naturally increased. I didn’t supplement with formula or milk, but that’s what worked for us! He was eating a good amount of whole foods, and the nursing twice a day supplemented it. Hope that’s helpful!