Newborn Feeding Guide

How Much & How Often to Feed Newborns

In partnership with ByHeart. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that align with our core values, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we trust and believe in. This content/guide reflects the views of Eat Say Play and not necessarily those of ByHeart. Always consult with your baby’s HCP if you have questions or concerns about your baby’s specific feeding needs. 

The “newborn” period is defined by most as babies that are 0-8 weeks old, and some define it as 0-12 weeks old. In this blog, we consider newborn babies those who are 0-3 months old.

Feeding newborn babies, no matter what their age, isn’t so black and white, as each baby will eat on a slightly different schedule. Newborn feeding schedules will change based on growth spurts, nap changes, and more. Just when you think you have a schedule down pat, a new transition will come your way and you’ll have to pivot again.

Despite all the variables of feeding a baby, it’s great to have some general guidelines about how often and how much to feed your newborn! No matter which way you are feeding: nursing, pumping, offering formula, or a combination of all three, here are some sample feeding schedules and quantities to keep in mind! 

What are Newborn Hunger Cues?

Before we dive into charts, ounces, and length of feeds, it’s important to remember that no matter which way you are feeding your baby, keep hunger cues in the forefront of your mind. Your baby is not a robot and they likely will not eat at the same time every day, and that’s okay! 

Keep an eye out for these common hunger cues:

• Baby brings hands to mouth (before 2-3 months of age. After ~3 months, this is not always a hunger sign.)

• Baby demonstrates a rooting reflex (turns head to the side, as to look for a nipple).

• Baby is unable to be soothed by other means (e.g., rocking, bouncing, patting on butt, etc.)

• Baby makes a specific cry (parents usually can identify within a few weeks of age!)

Common Newborn Feeding Behaviors:

• It is normal for babies to not always follow a specific routine or eat in exact 2-3 hour increments. 

• Nursing to sleep can be common, as suckling at the breast can be soothing as well as nutritious.

• Cluster feeding (at the breast or with bottle feeds) is very common in the first few months of life. After 2-3 months of age, feedings typically spread out. There is more on this below!
  

Newborn Feeding Schedule

On average, newborn babies eat about 8-12 times in a 24 hour period, which is about every 2-3 hours around the clock. 

It is important to keep the phrase “feed on demand” in mind as you are navigating those early weeks of feeding. This means focusing firstly on your baby, and secondly on the clock. When baby shows that they are hungry, even if it’s more than 12 times in a 24 hour period, or it’s only been 90 minutes and not 2 hours, it’s important to offer a feeding when they cue that they are hungry.

To ensure that your newborn baby is eating often enough, it’s important to not go too long between feedings. If baby is approaching that 3-hour mark between feedings and is sleeping, it is recommended to wake baby to feed, especially if they are still gaining back weight that they may have lost in the first week or two after birth. Talking with your pediatrician will be important to best understand your baby’s feeding needs. 

Below are charts that detail how much and how often newborn babies eat depending on if they are receiving breastmilk, formula or a combination of both!  

How Much Breastmilk Does a Newborn Baby Need?

How Much Formula Does a Newborn Baby Need?

Combination Feeding a Newborn Baby

How Long Are Newborn Feedings? 

Typically, feedings at the breast or with a bottle should take no more than about 20 minutes. Some feeds may be shorter and some longer, but newborn babies should take full feeds in about 20 minutes. 

If you are noticing that feedings are taking very long, upwards of 30 minutes, or feeds feel like a struggle at the breast or with a bottle, reaching out to a lactation consultant/feeding specialist, and your pediatrician is recommended. 

How to Navigate Cluster Feeding

If your baby is showing signs of hunger more often than “normal” for them, or more often than 8-12 times in a 24 hour period, you’re likely experiencing cluster feeding. Sometimes their feeds are very short, or they are eating their “typical” amount, just more often. This is very normal, and is usually accompanied by a growth spurt soon after. So, this should be celebrated- your baby is growing! 

Cluster Feeding While Nursing

If you are nursing and baby is showing signs of cluster feeding, bring baby to your breast often and answer those hunger cues when you see them. This is great for helping establish your milk supply, as breastfeeding relies heavily on supply and demand. It can feel like you’re feeding your baby every hour, but rest assured- cluster feeding does not last forever! 

Cluster Feeding While Pumping

If you are offering baby expressed breastmilk in a bottle and you are noticing that baby is showing signs of cluster feeding, I know it can feel overwhelming to make bottles of breastmilk several times a day and not know how much baby will take. 

Tip: Leave a bottle of pumped milk in the fridge that you can pull from when you notice your baby is cluster feeding. Pour from that bottle into another bottle and try to offer one ounce or so at a time during those “extra” cluster feeding sessions. That way if baby doesn’t finish the bottle during one of their cluster feeding sessions and the bottle “expires”, you aren’t “wasting” too much milk. You can freeze it and save it for a milk bath later! 

If you start to offer a bottle of breastmilk to baby and they do not finish it, it’s best to offer the remainder of the bottle within 2 hours. After 2 hours, that bottle is “expired” and it’s best to discard that milk as there is a risk for bacterial growth. (1)

Milk Storage Guidelines

Cluster Feeding While Formula Feeding

Using “The Pitcher Method” is a great solution for cluster feeding when offering formula! Make a pitcher of all the formula your baby is likely to drink that day and leave it in the fridge (make sure to carefully mix the correct amount of water with the formula!) 

When it’s time for a bottle, pour the formula into the bottle and serve. For babies cluster feeding this is a great way to have formula mixed and on hand so you can make a new bottle quickly once baby shows signs that they are hungry. 

Pre-made formula can last in the fridge for 24 hours, so this is a great way to get ahead for the day. Just remember that if baby doesn’t finish their bottle, you can offer what remains within one hour from when feeding begins. Once the nipple is in baby’s mouth, bacteria can grow, so it’s best to use within one hour to limit bacterial growth. (1)

Our top formula recommendation is ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. It mixes very well, and it has a patented protein blend that gets closest to breastmilk.

Cluster Feeding While Combination Feeding

A combination of the guidelines in the above sections will likely work best for mothers who are combo feeding their newborns using breastmilk and formula. We have more information on combination feeding here and how to prioritize your breastmilk supply while also offering formula.

Each day of feeding a newborn may look different! It’s not that you’re doing anything wrong, it’s just that they are changing before your eyes. Remember to read your baby’s cues over all else, and keep these schedules in mind! 

If you’re interested in learning more about our top formula recommendation for parents, you can learn more about ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula here!

This content/guide reflects the views of Eat Say Play and not necessarily those of ByHeart. Always consult with your baby’s HCP if you have questions or concerns about your baby’s specific feeding needs.