Q: How do I know when the baby is full?
Facebook 
Get Our Newsletter! 
Print
Expert: Karen Smith
Most babies will naturally pull off the breast or fall asleep at the breast when they are full. Sometimes this presents an opportunity to burp and change the baby, after which the baby is ready to nurse on the other side. However, it is not necessary to nurse on both sides at each nursing session. If baby is truly snoozing and not interested in taking the other side at one nursing session, just remember to offer that side first at the next nursing session.
If baby falls asleep at the breast but still has a death grip on your nipple, gently insert a finger into the corner of his or her mouth to break the suction, then remove the breast.
See All Answers from This Expert
Great backyard summer treat for the kids. Frozen fruit pops on a stick. 
Comment by Caroline on Jun 08 2010 08:13:12:
When he was younger (6 months and younger) my little one would simply fall asleep. As he got older, he would just start to turn his head away after he started to become full. It’s hard to know, once they start doing that… so just to be sure I would try a few more times and I could usually get him to take a little more milk, until he really resisted. Then I would let him stop, and burp him.
Hope that helps