My Breastfeeding Journey

Normalising the Rhythm: Two Years of On-Demand Breastfeeding

This is not a guide or a set of clinical rules, nor is it advice. It is simply a reflection from lived maternal experience, from someone who has breastfed exclusively on demand for two full years and counting.

In a culture that often expects infants to adhere to rigid feeding schedules and sleep through the night by arbitrary milestones, frequent nursing is frequently pathologised. Mothers are routinely told that a baby feeding around the clock must be “fussy,” lacking milk, or using the breast as a dummy. My hope is to share our story to help normalise just how frequently little ones can feed, and to reassure you that this intensity is biologically normal.

Our Reality: Hourly Nights and Frequent Days

From the day my son was born up until around 18 months of age, he breastfed on demand throughout the entire night, roughly every single hour.

After 18 months and continuing right up to today at age two, his rhythm shifted slightly: he now feeds anywhere between every 1 to 4 hours, day and night.

To the modern ear, that level of demand sounds unbelievable or exhausting, and it is exhausting! But frequent nursing is not a flaw in infant development; it is how human infants are wired to feed, seek reassurance, and regulate their nervous systems.

Every Latch and Journey is Unique

It is important to acknowledge that every mother and baby dyad has different needs:

• Rule Out Physical Constraints First: When a newborn feeds constantly, is unsettled, or seems unable to settle, it is always wise to rule out physical hurdles such as oral ties or latch dysfunction. A baby feeding hourly could very well benefit from expert, skilled assessment. If you are experiencing pain, worry about weight gain, or feel stuck, seeking professional guidance from an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) or trusted organisations like The Breastfeeding Network or the National Breastfeeding Helpline is invaluable.
• Our Experience: Because my son was born prematurely, we had dedicated IBCLC support right from the beginning, which gave us a solid start. My boy did not have a tongue-tie. We had, and still have, what healthcare professionals describe as the “perfect” latch. He has always received plenty of milk and grown steadily. The simple truth was that he was simply a naturally frequent feeder. Constant feeding doesn’t automatically mean low milk supply; for many babies, it is simply their chosen pattern.

Co-Sleeping: Practicality, Connection, and Biological Design

The only way a mother can sustain feeding every hour through the night without total physical breakdown is through closeness.

The first night my boy was born, I tried putting him into a Next2Me bedside crib. I gave up after just two attempts. He to be next to me, so we began co-sleeping right away—and we never looked back. We still co-sleep today at two years old.

If you are breastfeeding, co-sleeping makes the journey manageable. Biologically, human babies are not designed to sleep isolated in an empty cot across the room; they expect to feel your warm skin, smell your milk, and hear your heartbeat. Wanting to be close, to touch you, and to feed constantly isn’t “clinginess”—it is fundamental infant biology.

For my son, he simply wants his mummy. Breastfeeding, or “baboo,” as he affectionately calls it, is his ultimate safe harbour. It provides nutrition, but more than that, it gives him safety, grounding, and security.

Safe Sleep Support

If you choose to bed-share or find yourself feeding in bed, having the right evidence-based safety information is essential:

• The Lullaby Trust: Please visit The Lullaby Trust for comprehensive, evidence-based guidance on safer sleep arrangements, bed-sharing safety criteria, and creating a clear, firm sleep environment for you and your baby.

This page is shared for informational purposes and peer solidarity, based on my personal lived experience. Every family’s feeding and sleeping circumstances are unique; always reach out to your midwife, health visitor, or an IBCLC if you need tailored feeding support.