Baby feeding schedule
It's simple: you should breastfeed or offer a bottle whenever your baby
is hungry during the first few months after birth. And your child will let you
know it loud and clear! But crying isn't the only clue.
Following your child's lead instead of trying to stick to a strict
time-based schedule is often referred to as "feeding on demand" or
"feeding on demand." Since your child can't really say "I'm
hungry," you need to learn to look for signals that it's time to eat.
These may include:
- Leaning towards your breast or bottle
- Sucking hands or fingers
- Opening their mouth, sticking out their tongue, or puckering their lips
- Fussiness
- Crying is also a sign of hunger. But if you wait until your baby is very upset to feed him, it can be difficult to calm him down.
How often should I feed my baby?
All children are different. It also depends on whether your baby is
drinking breast milk or formula, as he digests breast milk faster.
If you are breastfeeding, your newborn will probably want to breastfeed
every 1.5 to 3 hours. As they age, they gradually begin to breastfeed less
often and fall into a more predictable lifestyle.
Newborns should be breastfed 8 to 12 times a day for the first month;
When your baby is 4 to 8 weeks old, he will probably start suckling seven to
nine times a day.
If he drinks formula, your baby will probably want a bottle every 2-3
hours at first. As your child grows, he should be able to go without food for
3-4 hours.
Newborn growth spurts and hunger
You may notice that your child sometimes wants to eat more often or in
larger quantities than usual. This usually happens when the child is growing
rapidly. Your child may have growth spurts around this age:
- 7-14 days
- 3-6 weeks
- 4 months
- 6 months
How much should I feed my child?
There are general guidelines, but not hard and fast rules about how much
milk your baby should have at each feed. It depends on their own habits and
growth rate, as well as several other factors such as their age and feeding
frequency.
Babies usually drink more as they get older and their stomach can hold
more. If you are breastfeeding, your baby may drink a little less each time,
but more often than formula-fed babies.
Most babies add about 30 ml to what they drink at one feeding every
month. This stabilizes when they are about 6 months old, when they usually
drink 200-240 ml per feeding. Here's roughly how much your baby should drink at
each feed when he:
- Newborn up to 2 months. In the first few
days after the baby is born, he may only want 15 ml of milk or formula at each
feed. This will quickly increase to 30-60 ml. At 2 weeks of age, they should
drink about 60-90 ml per feeding.
- 2-4 months. At this age, your baby should drink 120 to 150 ml per feeding.
- 4-6 months. At 4 months old, your baby
should be drinking between 120 and 180 ml per feeding. By the time your baby is
6 months old, he will probably drink up to 240 ml each time you feed him.
Not sure if your child is eating enough? You can probably relax. If your
baby has four to six wet diapers a day, is having regular bowel movements, and
is gaining weight, he is probably doing well. If you have any concerns, call
your pediatrician.
When to start solids
Your child must reach certain developmental stages before you can add
solid foods to his diet. If you are breastfeeding, experts advise breastfeeding
your baby only until he is about 6 months old. Many children already at this
age are ready for solid food.
Here's how to tell if your baby is ready for solid foods:
- They can hold their head straight and keep it still while sitting on a highchair or other child seat.
- They open their mouths for food or reach for it.
- They put their hands or toys in their mouths.
- They may take food from a spoon and swallow it instead of swallowing it whole.
- They have doubled their birth weight and weigh at least 6 kilograms.
When to wean
Most babies are ready to be bottle weaned between 12 and 18 months of
age, but the exact time is up to you and your baby. Your child may be ready to
start weaning when he:
- Eat more solid foods
- Eat on a regular schedule
This process takes time, and you can help your baby make the switch by
having him try a cup when he's about 6 months old. As a general rule, you
should stop using the bottle by the time your child is 2 years old.
If you are breastfeeding, you continue to feed your baby breast milk and
solid foods until he is at least 1 year old. Your baby may give you hints that
he is ready to wean. They can:
- Show more interest in solid food or drinking from a cup
- Not want to sit still while you breastfeed
You may want to wean your baby for your own reasons. The process works
best when it is gradual. If this is what you and your baby want, you can
continue breastfeeding after your baby is one year old.