Expert answer: The BabyCenter Editorial Team
Yes, short nursing sessions are normal – and perfectly fine unless your baby is having trouble gaining weight.
"As long as your baby is growing well, it's okay if he or she only wants to nurse for two minutes," says pediatrician Tanya Remer Altmann, editor of The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones.
"Some babies are snackers – they nurse for a minute or two, take a break, and then go back," says Altmann. "Other babies can drain the breast in two minutes and be satisfied for a few hours. It depends on how much milk you have and your letdown."
If your newborn baby falls asleep at the breast after just a few minutes of nursing, however, it's a good idea to wake him or her up so your baby can have a full feeding – and reach the fattier, more satisfying milk that comes toward the end of a feeding. To keep your baby awake and eating, gently tickle your baby's feet or blow on his or her face. Or, as Altmann suggests, strip your baby down to a diaper before your nursing session. Keeping babies cooler may prevent snoozing.
You'll know your newborn's nursing pattern is too short if he or she isn't gaining enough weight. Your baby's doctor will pay close attention to this – it's why weigh-ins are such an important part of babies' doctor appointments.
Altmann says there's no harm in an older baby continuing to "snack" – as long as the mother is all right with it and it fits with her schedule. It can be challenging to meet the needs of a breastfeeding snacker, however, because nursing sessions will be more frequent.
If that's true for you, Altmann advises trying to lengthen feeding sessions by lifting your baby back to your breast after that first pull-away to see if he or she will keep eating. Says Altmann, "Sometimes all your baby needs is an extra burp to nurse longer."