How Do I Know If My Baby is Getting Enough Milk?

One of the most common questions I get asked from families is how to know when their baby is getting enough milk. Often, conflicting advice they have received puts doubts in their minds.

When I have consultations with families, I always find out what cues they have been looking for to determine signs of hunger and satisfaction. I will gain an understanding of how many times a baby feeds in the day, whether the mother is using one breast or both, and what the baby’s nappy output is.

Nappy output tells us a lot about how a baby is feeding- input = output. If your baby is making plenty of wet and dirty nappies, your baby is getting milk. This, coupled with steady weight gain, can reassure parents that their babies are indeed getting enough milk.

One of the biggest hurdles I see parents trying to overcome is falling into the top-up trap. This usually stems from initial weight loss in the first two weeks of birth and being advised to top their baby up with expressed milk or formula. It’s important to understand that weight loss in the first few weeks, up to 10%, is within normal parameters. However, understandably, as new parents, being told your baby has lost weight (without normalising weight loss parameters) can be worrisome.

Working with parents to wean down on top-ups after breastfeeds takes time, patience, and reassurance. Closely monitoring nappy output and the baby’s presentation helps to build parents’ confidence that their baby is getting enough milk. Going through signs of hunger and satisfaction and supporting them in learning what their baby is telling them is crucial.

Most importantly, assuring them that a crying baby does not always mean a hungry baby is essential. Babies cry for many different reasons—discomfort, tiredness, or simply wanting to be held.

When I work with families to wean off top-ups or to achieve a more comfortable feeding experience that doesn’t involve round-the-clock breastfeeding, pumping, and bottle feeding, the most noticeable difference seen first is their baby’s reduction in crying episodes.

By providing consistent support and education, I help parents navigate these challenges.