Why Is My Baby Nursing All the Time Again?

Just when you think you’ve found a rhythm, your baby suddenly wants to nurse every hour again. What gives?

It might be a growth spurt. These are common and totally normal. During a growth spurt, babies need more milk to help fuel their rapid development. Their way of doing that is to nurse more often, which tells your body to make more milk.

This can be tiring and confusing, especially if you thought the days of round-the-clock feeding were behind you. But hang in there. This phase usually only lasts a few days. Here are three helpful things you can try:

Follow Baby’s Lead

If your baby is asking to nurse more, go ahead and offer the breast more often. This helps boost your supply naturally and keeps your baby calm and full. Sometimes they just need that extra connection too. Trusting the process can make the whole thing feel less stressful, even if you’re nursing all day long.

Mix in Comfort for You

If you’re going to be sitting and nursing more, set yourself up for comfort. Make a cozy spot with snacks, water, your phone or a book, and a place to rest your feet. This is a great time to binge-watch a show or scroll guilt-free. Frequent feeding doesn’t have to mean frustration. It can also be an excuse to slow down.

Make a Flexible Plan

If you have other things going on, like older children, work calls, or errands, you can still respond to the baby's needs in a way that works for your whole family. Maybe that means wearing baby in a sling and nursing on the go, or planning quiet nursing breaks between tasks. Being flexible doesn’t mean doing it all. It means adjusting what you have to do so you can meet the baby's needs and yours.

Three Families, Three Different Ways

Let’s meet three parents who handled frequent feeding in their own ways during a growth spurt. Their babies were all around three to four months old. Maybe one of these stories will sound a little like yours.

Meet Claire

Claire is a first-time mother on maternity leave. She started noticing her baby wanted to nurse every 45 minutes around week 12. At first, she panicked. Was she losing her milk supply? But after talking to a friend, she realized it might be a growth spurt.

She chose to follow her baby’s lead. She got comfy on the couch, made sure her water bottle was always full, and just nursed as much as her baby wanted. She caught up on a podcast and ordered grocery delivery. After four days, her baby settled back into a more predictable rhythm.

“I didn’t change anything,” Claire said. “I just gave in to the chaos for a few days. It wasn’t easy, but it passed.”

Meet Jen

Jen is a parent of three. Her middle child is four months old, and she knows a thing or two about growth spurts. But that doesn’t mean it’s always smooth sailing.

This time, Jen knew her baby was in a fussy, feed-all-day phase. So she made a flexible plan. Nursing sessions in the morning with cartoons on for the toddler, lunch at the table with baby in a wrap, and some babywearing in the afternoon while she helped her oldest with homework. She nursed a lot, but not always in the same spot or the same way.

“It wasn’t picture-perfect, but it worked,” Jen said. “Everyone got fed, including me. Eventually, things settled down.”

Meet Malik

Malik and his partner co-parent their four-month-old daughter, Zoe. Malik stays home during the day. When Zoe suddenly started wanting to nurse all the time, he wasn’t sure what was going on and texted their local LLL Leader: “Is it normal for her to act like she’s starving all day?”

They learned it was a growth spurt and decided to make things more comfortable. Malik created a little nursing station in the living room. Snacks for him, a charging cord, water, and even a mini footstool. He let go of some of the housework for the week.

“I used to feel like I had to do something while she nursed,” Malik said. “Now I just let it be a break. For both of us.”

Your Way Is the Right Way

Growth spurts are real. They can be messy, tiring, and a little overwhelming. But they’re also temporary. You might find peace in slowing down like Claire, balance with a flexible plan like Jen, or comfort in setting up a cozy routine like Malik. There’s no one right way to get through this phase.

The important thing is to trust your instincts. You know your baby. You know yourself. And the right solution is the one that helps both of you feel supported.

Still wondering how to handle your baby’s feeding changes? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Come to an LLL meeting and talk it through with other parents who’ve been there. It’s a great way to hear different ideas, get support, and feel a little more confident in your own plan.

You’re doing a great job. We’re here for you.