About the Breastfeeding Timer
This breastfeeding timer lets you time a nursing session one side at a time. Tap Left or Right to start, tap the other side to switch, and tap Stop when your baby is done. It records how long each side lasted, which side you started on — so it can suggest starting on the other side next time — and how long it has been since the last feed began, which is how feeding intervals are normally measured.
It is built for tired parents in the newborn weeks who cannot remember which side they used last or when the baby last fed, and for anyone who wants a simple record to share with a pediatrician or lactation consultant. Feeds are stored only in your browser on this device. Below the timer, a calculator works out the next feed time and daily feed count from a feed you have already done.
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that breastfed newborns usually nurse about every 2 hours, counted from the start of one feed to the start of the next — around 10–12 sessions in 24 hours — and that feeds gradually space out over the following months. Feed on cue rather than by the clock; the interval here is a reminder, not a rule.
How to use the breastfeeding timer
- 1Tap Left or Right when your baby latches to start the timer on that side.
- 2Tap the other side when you switch; the timer keeps each side separate.
- 3Tap Stop when the feed ends — it is saved to your log.
- 4Check “Start next on” and the time since the last feed began before the next session.
- 5Use the calculator to plan the next feed from a feed you timed elsewhere.
Formula and method
Feeding intervals are measured from the start of one feed to the start of the next, so a feed that starts at 7:30 with a 2½-hour interval puts the next feed around 10:00 no matter how long the first one lasted. The break before the next feed is the interval minus the total time spent nursing. Times wrap past midnight automatically.
The suggested starting side is the opposite of the one you started on last time, which is the usual way to alternate breasts. If only one breast was used, the next feed starts on the other one. The daily count assumes the same interval all day; real feeding is on demand and often bunches together in the evening.
- Start
- Clock time the last feed began (24-hour HH:MM)
- Interval
- Hours from the start of one feed to the start of the next
- Left / Right
- Minutes spent on each breast
Worked examples
7:30 feed, 12 + 8 minutes, every 2½ hours
Starting at 07:30 and adding 2.5 hours puts the next feed around 10:00. The feed lasted 12 + 8 = 20 minutes (60% on the left), ending at 07:50 and leaving a 130-minute break. Because it started on the left, the next one should start on the right. A 2½-hour rhythm equals 9.6 feeds a day.
Night feed on one side only
A 23:15 feed with a 3-hour interval puts the next one at 02:15, after midnight. Only the right breast was used, so the next feed starts on the left. Every 3 hours is 8 feeds in 24 hours — fewer than the 10–12 typical for breastfed newborns, though common overnight once feeding is established.
Every 2 hours, even sides
Two hours after 13:40 is 15:40. Twenty minutes of nursing leaves a 100-minute break, and feeding every 2 hours works out to 12 feeds in 24 hours — the upper end of the 10–12 sessions typical for breastfed newborns.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a newborn breastfeed?+
The AAP says breastfed newborns usually nurse about every 2 hours, measured from the start of one feeding to the start of the next, which works out to around 10–12 sessions in 24 hours. Feeds gradually space out as your baby grows.
How long should each breastfeeding session last?+
There is no set length: some babies finish in 10 minutes, others take 30 or more, especially in the early weeks. Let your baby finish the first breast — signs include slowing sucking and relaxed hands — before offering the second.
Should I switch sides every feed?+
Most guidance suggests offering both breasts at each feed and starting on the opposite side from the one you started on last time. That evens out stimulation and supply. The timer remembers your last starting side for you.
Do you time feeds from the start or the end?+
From the start. If a feed begins at 1:00 and lasts 30 minutes, and the next starts at 3:00, the interval is 2 hours — not 1½. That is why newborn feeds can feel almost constant.
What is cluster feeding?+
Cluster feeding is when a baby wants to nurse very frequently over a few hours, often in the evening or during growth spurts. It is normal and helps build milk supply; the timer will simply show short intervals during these periods.
Is my feeding log private?+
Yes. The timer stores feeds only in your browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded, and you can clear the log at any time from the timer panel.
This tool gives general estimates and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or qualified professional about your health, diet or training.