KellyMom.com

  • Home
    • About
    • Translations
      • Bulgarian
      • German
      • Portuguese
      • Russian
      • Spanish
    • Sponsors
      • Become a sponsor
      • Previous Sponsor Posts
  • Hot Topics
    • COVID-19
  • Pregnancy
    • Preparing to Breastfeed
    • Breastfeeding when pregnant
  • Breastfeeding
    • Got Milk?
    • What is Normal?
    • Can I Breastfeed if…?
      • Lifestyle choices
      • Illness, Surgery & Medical Procedures
      • Medications & Vaccines
      • Herbs/natural treatments
      • Chemical exposure
    • Common Concerns
      • Child Concerns
      • Mother’s Concerns
      • Finding Help
      • Legal issues
    • Pumping & Employment
      • Pumping & supply
      • Feeding baby
      • Milk handling/storage
      • Employed moms
    • Advocacy
  • Ages & Stages
    • Adoptive BF/ Relactation
    • Premature Infant
    • Newborn
      • Breastfeeding Basics
      • Common Newborn Concerns
      • Newborn Challenges
    • Older Infant
    • After the First Year
    • Tandem Breastfeeding
    • Weaning
      • Considering weaning
      • How to wean
  • Parenting
    • Parenting FAQ
    • Nighttime parenting
    • Reviews
    • Fun
      • Humor & Wisdom
      • Trivia
  • Health
    • Baby’s Health
    • Growth & Development
    • Mom’s Health
    • Can I Breastfeed if…?
  • Nutrition
    • Solid Foods
    • Mother’s Diet
    • Vitamins/ Supplements
    • Milk
  • Shop
    • Support KellyMom – amazon portal
    • Free Handouts
Home » Is my older baby getting enough milk?

Is my older baby getting enough milk?

By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC

IS BABY GETTING ENOUGH? — QUICK REFERENCE CARD
~~~ AFTER 6 WEEKS ~~~
WEIGHT GAIN:
If baby is gaining well on mom’s milk alone, then baby is getting enough. More on weight gain. Average weight gain for breastfed babies:

0 – 4 mo 6 oz /week 4 – 6 mo 4 – 5 oz/week 6 – 12 mo 2 – 4 oz/week
WET DIAPERS: 4 – 5+ sopping wet diapers per day.
To feel what a sufficiently wet diaper is like, pour 4-6 tablespoons (60-90 mL) of water into a clean diaper (if baby wets more often, then the amount of urine per diaper may be less). Diapers may be wetter in the morning, especially with older babies. Urine should be pale and mild smelling.
DIRTY DIAPERS: Depends on your child.
Number ranges from many per day to one every 7 – 10+ days. After 4 – 6 weeks, some babies switch to an infrequent stooling pattern. This is normal as long as baby is gaining well, and stools are soft and profuse if several days have passed. More on infant stooling.
OTHER POSITIVE SIGNS: After a feeding, mom’s breast feels softer and baby seems reasonably content. Baby is alert, active and meeting developmental milestones.

Want to print the above information? Go to PDF Quick Reference Cards

Now infants can get
all their vitamin D
from their mothers’ milk;
no drops needed with
our sponsor's
TheraNatal Lactation Complete
by THERALOGIX. Use PRC code “KELLY” for a special discount!

Most nursing mothers are familiar with how to tell if a newborn is getting enough milk, but what about when baby gets older? Can you use the same criteria? At some point, many moms will wonder about their milk supply and whether it is “keeping up” with baby’s growth.

Following are signs that your older baby is getting enough milk. (If baby is younger than 6 weeks, then see how to tell if your newborn is getting enough milk.) If baby is getting enough milk, then you can rest assured that your milk supply is just fine.

  • Baby has adequate weight gain. If your baby is gaining weight well on breastmilk alone, then baby is getting enough milk and you do not have a problem with milk supply.
  • Baby (older than 6 weeks) should wet at least 4-5 disposable diapers (5-6 cloth diapers) every 24 hours and the diapers should be really wet. At all ages, urine should be pale and mild smelling. As baby grows, so also does his bladder and its ability to hold more urine. For this reason, your baby may not wet as often as he did as a newborn, but typically the diapers will be wetter than when baby was younger. To feel what a sufficiently wet diaper is like, pour 4-6 tablespoons (60-90 mL) of water into a clean diaper (but keep in mind that if baby wets more often, then the amount of urine per diaper will be less). It’s also normal for diapers to be wetter in the morning, especially with older babies. Note: If baby is getting significant liquids in addition to breastmilk (formula, water or juice), then this diaper count will let you know that baby is well-hydrated, but will not be a reliable gauge of whether baby is getting enough breastmilk. Breastmilk should be baby’s main source of nutrition throughout the first year.
  • Baby is stooling within normal parameters (for your baby). Older breastfed babies (after the first 6-8 weeks) can go several days without a stool. Ten days or more is not uncommon! The long periods between stools in a baby who is obviously thriving is not a cause for concern if the baby’s abdomen remains soft, and the baby is content and alert. As long as the stool is no thicker than toothpaste when passed and profuse if several days have gone by, it’s still within the norm. Keep in mind that ANY formula or other supplemental foods given to the baby can alter the color, consistency, and frequency of the stool.
  • Your breast feels softer after the feeding.
  • Baby seems reasonably content immediately after the feeding.
  • Baby is alert, active and meeting his/her milestones.

Many times, the normal changes that occur as breastfeeding continues past the first few weeks or months can make mom feel like her milk supply is decreasing, even though it isn’t. See Is your milk supply really low? for more information.

Additional information

@

  • Is baby getting enough milk?
  • PDF Is baby getting enough? – Quick Reference Cards
  • PDF Human Milk Storage Quick Reference Card
  • Normal Growth of Breastfed Babies
  • How does milk production work?
  • Balancing solid foods and nursing
  • Increasing Low Milk Supply, including “Is your milk supply really low?”
  • Is your baby nursing all the time?

@ other websites

  • Breastfeeding as Baby Grows by Becky Flora, IBCLC
  • Hidden Hindrances to a Healthy Milk Supply by Becky Flora, IBCLC

Updated on November 21, 2023Filed Under: Growth & Development, Older Infant, Supply worries, What is Normal?

SEARCH

CONNECT

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

FEATURED ARTICLES

Breastfeeding your newborn — what to expect in the early weeks

COVID-19: Guidance – International

COVID-19: Guidance – National

COVID-19: Mental Health, Anxiety, and Social Stresses

More Featured Posts

TOPICS

RECENT ARTICLES

  • Breastfeeding your newborn — what to expect in the early weeks
  • My baby fusses or cries when breastfeeding – what’s the problem?
  • Help — My Baby Won’t Nurse!
  • Engorgement
  • How much expressed milk will my baby need?

Copyright © 2023

  • Home
    ▼
    • About
    • Translations
      ▼
      • Bulgarian
      • German
      • Portuguese
      • Russian
      • Spanish
    • Sponsors
      ▼
      • Become a sponsor
      • Previous Sponsor Posts
  • Hot Topics
    ▼
    • COVID-19
  • Pregnancy
    ▼
    • Preparing to Breastfeed
    • Breastfeeding when pregnant
  • Breastfeeding
    ▼
    • Got Milk?
    • What is Normal?
    • Can I Breastfeed if…?
      ▼
      • Lifestyle choices
      • Illness, Surgery & Medical Procedures
      • Medications & Vaccines
      • Herbs/natural treatments
      • Chemical exposure
    • Common Concerns
      ▼
      • Child Concerns
      • Mother’s Concerns
      • Finding Help
      • Legal issues
    • Pumping & Employment
      ▼
      • Pumping & supply
      • Feeding baby
      • Milk handling/storage
      • Employed moms
    • Advocacy
  • Ages & Stages
    ▼
    • Adoptive BF/ Relactation
    • Premature Infant
    • Newborn
      ▼
      • Breastfeeding Basics
      • Common Newborn Concerns
      • Newborn Challenges
    • Older Infant
    • After the First Year
    • Tandem Breastfeeding
    • Weaning
      ▼
      • Considering weaning
      • How to wean
  • Parenting
    ▼
    • Parenting FAQ
    • Nighttime parenting
    • Reviews
    • Fun
      ▼
      • Humor & Wisdom
      • Trivia
  • Health
    ▼
    • Baby’s Health
    • Growth & Development
    • Mom’s Health
    • Can I Breastfeed if…?
  • Nutrition
    ▼
    • Solid Foods
    • Mother’s Diet
    • Vitamins/ Supplements
    • Milk
  • Shop
    ▼
    • Support KellyMom – amazon portal
    • Free Handouts