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Having a newborn baby is a whirlwind ride, and as a new parent, there are a lot of questions that you need answers to.
You're no doubt wondering how much formula or breast milk your baby should have per feed, and how often they need to feed in a day.
Well, we've got all the answers to your newborn feeding queries! Read our handy guide on how much milk a newborn should drink to learn more.
When your baby is first born, their stomach is tiny - about the size of a marble!
At first, you'll find that you're feeding them on demand, little and often. They could be feeding up to 12 times per day. Over the first few months, their appetite will grow, and so will the gaps between feeds.
Here's a guide to how much breast milk or formula your baby should be drinking by age:
|
Baby's Age |
Approximate Amount Per Feed |
Approximate Frequency |
Daily Milk Intake |
|
0-1 Months |
30-90ml |
10-12 feeds per day every 2-3 hours or on demand |
700ml |
|
1-3 Months |
90-120ml |
6-8 feeds per day every 3 hours |
830ml |
|
3-6 Months |
120-240ml |
4-6 feeds per day |
830ml |
How much milk a baby needs depends on their age, and the amount that a baby eats varies from one baby to the next. So, don't worry if these rough guidelines are different to your feeding schedule.
The older your baby gets, the more predictable their feeding routine will be. You'll soon get into the swing of things!
Choosing how to feed their baby is one of the things that new parents think about the most. It can sometimes be difficult or stressful to make a decision. For some, plans change because they've experienced problems - perhaps their baby has a tongue tie and they're struggling to latch, or they're experiencing pain while feeding.
The benefits of breastfeeding are widely talked about, and it's an amazing way to give your newborn a great start in life. It's also a wonderful opportunity for mother and baby to bond.
If, for whatever reason, you decide not to breastfeed, that's okay too. Bottle feeding or combination feeding still supports your baby's growth and allows you to bond.
A baby's tiny tummy digests formula slightly slower than breast milk. So, formula-fed babies often don't need to be fed as frequently as breastfed babies.
It's best to feed your baby on demand rather than according to a set schedule and satisfy their appetite whenever they show signs of being hungry. This applies whether they're fed breast milk or formula.
Looking out for your newborn’s feeding cues is a good way to know if they're hungry and ready to feed.
These feeding cues can include your baby...
The sooner you notice these cues, the less distressed your baby will be. That means you'll not need to calm them down before attempting to feed. Crying is often the last hunger cue to appear.
Newborn babies grow fast and need to feed frequently. They shouldn't go longer than 4 or 5 hours between feeds.
Yes, if your baby is sleeping through their scheduled feed times, you should gently wake them for a dream feed to make sure they eat and get the nourishment they need.
You should never over-feed your baby or force them to finish a full feed if they don't want to. You can look out for signs that your baby needs a break mid-feed or is full and ready to stop feeding. These can include...
Parenting comes hand in hand with worry, it's unavoidable! If you have established a good feeding routine, you may become worried if your baby is suddenly asking for more feeds than usual. But in fact, babies often want to feed more frequently than normal if they're cluster feeding or going through a developmental growth spurt.
In general, you can be assured that your baby is eating enough if their weight stays on their growth curve. If you're concerned that your baby isn't eating enough, you should always consult your doctor, health visitor or midwife for advice.
Explore the Range
Newborn babies need to eat little and often, and sometimes they can seem hungry even after feeding. Here are a few reasons why:
If your baby is still hungry after feeding, here are some things you can do:
If your baby is breastfed, it's not possible to overfeed them. Although it may seem like your baby is feeding a lot, this is simply because their tummy is tiny at first and breast milk is easily digested.
It can be easier to accidentally overfeed a bottled-fed baby. This is because it's harder for them to control the speed at which their milk flows through the bottle's teat as they feed. You should never force your baby to finish a bottle if they don't want to.
Yes, you can feed a newborn with hiccups. Hiccups are a common and harmless reflex in babies. They are caused by spasms of the diaphragm, the muscle that helps you breathe. These spasms can be triggered by eating too quickly, swallowing air, or even being overtired.
If your baby has hiccups, there is no need to stop feeding them. But, you might want to slow down the feed and burp them more often. You can also try changing their position or offering them a soother.
If your baby's hiccups are severe or if they are accompanied by other symptoms, such as vomiting or difficulty breathing, you should contact your doctor.
