Feeding Schedule For Babies
Whether you’re a first-time caregiver or a seasoned parent, figuring out why your baby is crying can feel like a guessing game. Having a feeding schedule for babies can help reduce some of this guesswork. Your child will naturally start to fall into a feeding pattern as their tummy grows and they can take in more breast milk or formula in one sitting. This may begin to happen between 2 and 4 months of age. However, on day one of your baby’s life, their stomach is only the size of a marble meaning they can hold just 1 - 1.4 teaspoons of a liquid at a time. At what age and at what rate should you start to increase their intake? Is the feeding schedule for babies different depending on if they’re formula-fed or breastfed? Whether your little one’s a newborn, a 6-month old, or even a 1-year-old, read on to find out how to come up with a feeding schedule and adjust it to your baby’s needs as they grow and develop.
Feeding Schedule For Babies: At A Glance
Here are all the necessary details in the chart below, including feeding frequency and portion information:
Feeding Schedule For Babies: Breastfed
From the moment your baby is born, she begins to grow at a surprisingly quick pace. To fuel their development and keep them well-fed, you should be prepared to nurse about every two to three hours.
By the time they’re a week old, your little one may begin to nap for longer periods, giving you more time between feedings. If they are sleeping, you can maintain their feeding schedule by gently waking them up when it’s time to feed.
General Breastfeeding Pattern:
1 to 3 months: Your baby will feed 7 to 9 times per 24 hours.
3 months: Feedings take place 6 to 8 times in 24 hours.
6 months: Your baby will feed around 6 times a day.
12 months: Nursing may drop to about 4 times a day. The introduction of solids at about 6 months helps to fuel your baby’s additional nutritional needs.
Tips to keep in mind if you’re breastfeeding:
The length of time between feedings is measured from when your baby begins nursing, not when she stops.
Ensure your little one latches on properly. This can be difficult when you’re starting out, especially for first-time moms, but over time your baby may begin to latch comfortably. Speaking to a lactation consultant could be helpful.
As your baby grows she may nurse at a faster rate.
Alternate between breasts during each feeding.
Look for signs that your baby is full. She may turn away from the breast, nurse at a slower rate, or lose interest. Once she seems full, end the feeding
Your baby’s healthcare provider may recommend adding vitamin D oral supplements to your baby’s diet. Follow the provider's instructions to ensure your baby gets the proper dosage.
Feeding Schedule For Babies: Formula-Fed
Like breastfed babies, bottle-fed newborns should eat on demand. On average, that’s about every 2 to 3 hours.
General Formula-Fed Pattern:
Newborn: every 2 to 3 hours
At 2 months: every 3 to 4 hours
At 4 to 6 months: every 4 to 5 hours
At 6+ months: every 4 to 5 hours
Note: This pattern is just one example. Different babies have different paces and preferences, along with other factors that influence the frequency of feedings.
Feeding Schedule For Babies: Tips For Both
You must not give liquids other than formula or breast milk to babies that are under a year old. That includes juices and cow’s milk. They don’t provide the right nutrients and can upset your baby’s tummy. Water can be introduced around 6 months when you start offering a cup.
Don’t add baby cereal to a bottle.
It can create a choking hazard.
A baby’s digestive system isn’t mature enough to handle cereal until about 4 to 6 months of age.
You could overfeed your baby.
Don’t give your baby any form of honey until after their first birthday. Honey can be dangerous for a baby, occasionally causing what’s called infant botulism.
Remember to adjust your expectations based on your baby and their unique needs. Premature babies are likely to follow feeding patterns according to their adjusted age. If your baby has challenges like reflux or failure to thrive, you may need to work with your doctor on the appropriate feeding schedule and amount they should be eating.
Feeding Schedule For Babies: How To Tell If Your Child Is Hungry
It goes without saying that raising a child is rewarding yet somewhat stressful, making a feeding schedule the holy grail of every parent. Your child will naturally start to fall into a feeding pattern as their tummy grows and they can take in more breast milk or formula at one sitting. This may begin to happen between 2 and 4 months of age.
There are certain cues your baby will give you when they’re hungry:
Rooting around your chest, looking for a nipple.
Putting their fist in their mouth
Smacking or licking their lips
Fussing that can escalate quickly (don’t wait till they have a full-blown tantrum!)
Once your baby is a few months old, you may be able to introduce a sleep/feed schedule that works for you.
Feeding Schedule For Babies: How To Introduce Solids
If your baby does the following, then they are most likely ready for solids:
They have good head control
They seem interested in what you’re eating
They reach for food
They weigh 13 or more pounds
According to research, it doesn’t really matter much in what order you introduce foods. The only real rule is to stick with one food for 3 to 5 days before offering another. This means that if your baby has an allergic reaction (rash, diarrhoea, vomiting are common first signs), you’ll know which food is causing it.
Around 8-10 months of age, it is recommended that you move your baby from pureed food to food with more texture such as scrambled eggs or mashed banana.
Your local supermarket should offer a variety of baby food products, but if you want to make your own, it is best to keep it sugar and salt-free. Additionally, at this stage, don’t feed your baby anything that could be a choking hazard, including:
hard foods, such as popcorn or nuts
hard, fresh fruits, like apples; cook to soften or chop into very small pieces
any meat that isn’t well cooked and very well chopped (this includes hot dogs)
cheese cubes
peanut butter (though talk to your paediatrician about this one — and the benefits of introducing diluted peanut butter before the age of 1)
By 8 months, babies are drinking about 30 ounces a day.As your baby nears their first birthday, they should be eating a variety of foods and taking in about 4 ounces of solids at each meal. Continue to offer breast milk or formula.
