How much to feed your baby? What to feed your baby? How often to feed the baby? Every parent is fretting over their newborn’s feeding schedule.

Talking honestly newborns do nothing. They don’t do a lot, they just eat and sleep. But that does not mean that they can be fed with anything available. They should be taken care of properly because they are just newborn babies. Their growth and development depend on what they eat.

Every parent is worried about their newborn baby and wonders just how much their newborn really needs to eat. Here’s a feeding guidence for your newborn.

Month By Month Feeding Guide for Newborn 

How much should newborn babies eat the day they are born?

After going through birth, the baby is tired on the first day. So they sleep in the first 24 hours of life. Don’t feed too much if the baby isn’t showing interest in eating every two hours on the schedule.

According to a study –on average newborns who were breastfed ate around eight times and had three wet or dirty diapers in the first 24 hours of life. It is true for the first day of life, the newborn is actually eating through breastfeeding. Make sure that until mother’s milk comes in, the baby is drinking colostrum only. Colostrum contains calories and nutrients, which is why it is adequate even in its small amounts the first couple of days. On an average, a newborn will drink only about ½ ounce in colostrum over the first 24 hours of life. So think quality over quantity.

When should you start feeding your newborn ?

Don’t miss the very active stage to start breastfeeding as soon as possible because the baby may be more sleepy later, which makes it harder to practice latchig on for that first initial feeding. If the baby is not showing any signs of wanting to latch, they the mother should continue to offer the breast every two to three hours. Otherwise, your doctor will help to determine if the baby needs some additional encouragement to nurse or other nutritional supplements.

How much formula should a newborn eat ?

One advantage to formula feeding is parents can measure every ounce of milk baby guzzles down. An explaination given by The American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) that after the first few days, the formula-fed for a newborn will be around 2 to 3 ounces ( that is around 60 to 90 mililiters)of formula with every feeding. They’ll need to eat about three to four hours. By the time the baby is 1 month old, they should be eating around 4 ounces every four hours. And by the end of the first month, feed up to 4 ounces. In general, 32 ounces of formula a day is the most a baby will ever need.

How much do breastfed babies need to eat ?

Simply feed the baby on demand and whenever they want to eat. In general, for the first months of life, a newborn will eat around every two to three hours which may vary accordingly. Like if the baby starts eating at 2 pm and nurses for 40 minutes, they may be ready to eat again at 4 pm. So feeding timeline starts when the baby starts nursing.

Nursing is a comfort mechanism and immune booster. Sometimes the baby may nurse more or less frequently. The baby will nurse more when they are sick.

World Health Organization suggest breastfeeding a baby on demand. When baby suckles, it stimulates the breasts to produce just the right amount of milk to meet the nutritional needs. When baby needs more, suckles more.

Don’t worry about the overfeeding because they will signal by pushing away or by stopping latching on their own, once they are done. Do follow self care practices to help keep the milk supply up and watch the baby’s cues for how much to feed them. Do feed them when they are hungry. Talk to the doctor whether the baby is growing and developing properly.

How often to feed the baby ?

Breastfeed as much as every two to three hours or 8 to 10 times a day. It can take up to 20 to 45 minutes per feeding or even more. But all this suckling helps to establish the milk supply to the baby. Checking baby’s diaper can give a clue as to whether baby is eating enough. A wet diaper every three to four hours is a good sign. Stools can be more variable, some babies poop every time they eat, others just once a day. By measuring baby’s weight gain, the doctor will be able to tell if the baby is thriving. Baby usually gain about half an ounce to two ounces per day for the first three months.

 It is normal for newborn to lose weight in the first few days of life and the doctor may advise supplement with formula to ward off dehydration and low blood sugar. Contact your pediatrician if baby has a fever, is lethargic, refusing to eat or vomiting a lot in between feedings, isn’t urinating at least every four to six hours, or if baby’s urine is dark yellow that is concentrated.

Age feeding guide-

• For 1 week to 1 month newborn drinks about 1.5 to 3 ounces (45 to 90 mililiters) every 2-3 hours.
• For 2 months baby takes about 4 to 5 ounces (120 to 150 mililiters) at each feeding for every 3-4 hours.
• For 4 months baby takes about 4 to 6 ounces (120-180 mililiters) at each feeding for every 3-4 hours.
• For 6 months baby takes about 6 to 8 ounces (180-230 mililiters) at each feeding for every 4-5 hours.

What are the signs that baby’s getting the right amount of formula ?

• Steady weight gain– baby is gaining weight after first two weeks and maintains the same pattern of growth during the first year.
• Wet diapers- around 5 to 6 diapers are used.
• Happy baby- relaxed and satisfeid after a feeding.

Conclusion:

The newborn should be properly feeded and taken care of for the proper development and growth. Contact the doctor for any details about the baby.