Next to "will I ever sleep again?" the biggest questions many new parents take are all about feeding.

Whether your little one is breastfed, formula-fed or a combination of both, figuring out how much he should be eating — and whether that fussing is related to hunger or something else — tin can feel overwhelming, especially in the very start.

The good news is that babies tend to be really expert at letting you know when they're ready to consume, eating when they're hungry and stopping when they're full.

So with a little chip of cognition on your part, you lot can learn to tell when it's fourth dimension to offering a meal, how much milk your fiddling one needs and whether he's getting the right amount.

How much should my breastfed baby consume?

Breastfed babies should eat equally oft and every bit long every bit they want, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Nearly newborns nurse every two to iii hours, counting from the beginning of each nursing session. That adds up to around eight to 12 feedings a twenty-four hour period.

But y'all should let your baby guide you instead of the clock, so offer your breast whenever he shows signs of hunger. If your baby seems very sleepy, yous should wake him to make sure he gets at least 8 feedings within 24 hours.

As for how much he should potable during each nursing session? Again, there'southward no right or wrong respond. But you can generally await your newborn to nurse for xx to 30 minutes per feeding.

It'due south time to end the session when your baby lets become of the nipple, or when his sucking pattern slows down to four sucks per swallow. (That'due south a sign that he's probably just comfort sucking and not actually drinking anymore.)

Another thing to keep in mind: It'south totally normal for your footling ane to occasionally want to nurse nonstop. Called cluster feeds, these bursts of hunger tend to coincide with growth spurts. It tin can experience similar all you're doing is nursing, merely just follow your babe's lead — and know it'll probably only last for a twenty-four hour period or two.

All Almost Breastfeeding

How much should my formula-fed baby eat?

There'southward no single number that works for everyone. The amount your formula-fed baby eats will depend on his weight, age and appetite (which can vary from 1 day to the side by side, only like yours does).

As a rule of pollex, infants under 6 months who haven't yet started solids will accept in 2 to two 1/2 ounces of formula per pound of body weight inside a 24-hour menstruum. (That'south 20 to 25 ounces per day for a 10-pound babe.)

Your baby volition need to eat more frequently in the outset, merely his feedings volition space out more as he gets older and his stomach gets bigger.

Here'southward a general idea of how much formula your bottle-fed infant will take:

  • During the kickoff few weeks: 1 to three ounces of formula every 3 to four hours (closer to two to 3 ounces a feeding subsequently the first few days or week). Wake your baby for a feeding if he sleeps longer than five hours.

  • Past the first month: At least 4 ounces every four hours.

  • By 6 months: 24 to 36 ounces spread out over 4 or 5 feedings a day.

Still, go on in mind that every baby is different, then pay attention to your niggling one'south cues.

If your infant is notwithstanding showing hunger signs later finishing a bottle, offer more. If he seems fidgety or distracted earlier the canteen's empty, he's probably had plenty, then don't force him to cease it.

How much should my baby eat if I'm breastfeeding and formula-feeding?

Combination feeding doesn't take to exist complicated. You can adapt the basic guidelines for breastfeeding and formula-feeding based on your baby'south historic period. Paying attention to his hunger and fullness cues tin can help you figure out the right rhythm too. If you're nevertheless unsure well-nigh amounts, your babe'due south pediatrician tin offer more than guidance.

How much breast milk or formula should I give my infant after starting solids?

Breast milk or formula should make up the bulk of your infant's nutrition until he's a year onetime. Simply every bit he starts eating more solid food, the corporeality of breast milk or formula he drinks will slowly taper off. Specific amounts are different for every babe, of course, but here are some basic rules of thumb:

  • 6 months: Nurse five to six times a day for a full of 24 to 36 ounces of breast milk, or offer four to five bottles a twenty-four hours with 6 to eight ounces of formula each.

  • 7 months: Nurse five to six times a day for a total of 24 to 30 ounces of chest milk, or offering four to five bottles a day with 6 to 8 ounces of formula each.

  • viii months: Nurse four to 6 times a day for a total of 24 to 30 ounces of breast milk, or offer 3 to five bottles a day with 7 to eight ounces of formula each.

  • 9 months: Nurse iv to vi times a twenty-four hour period for a total of 24 to 30 ounces of breast milk, or offering iii to four bottles a day with vii to viii ounces of formula each.

  • 10 months: Nurse four times a day for a total of 24 to 30 ounces of breast milk, or offering iii to 4 bottles a twenty-four hours with vii to viii ounces of formula each.

  • 11 months: Nurse or bottle-feed three to 4 times a mean solar day for a full of 24 ounces (or less) of breast milk or formula.

  • 12 months: 24 ounces (or less) of breast milk or formula a day, edging closer to 16 ounces past your baby's starting time birthday.

Baby eating chart

Hither's a handy baby eating chart summarizing how many ounces of milk a baby should exist getting depending on the situation:

how much should baby eat chart, baby eating chart

Signs infant is hungry

Picking up on your baby's hunger cues helps y'all know when he'south ready to swallow (or accept some more than). Plus, taking detect of his early hunger signs means y'all can get him fed before he starts crying. Your little one might let you know he's looking for a meal by:

  • Nuzzling against your breasts

  • Sucking on his hands (or on other things, like your arm or shirt)

  • Opening his oral fissure

  • Showing the rooting reflex — turning his head to the side with his oral fissure open, ofttimes after his cheek is stroked

  • Sucking on his lip or natural language, which might await like he'south sticking his tongue out

  • Smacking his lips

  • Crying, frequently with a short, depression-pitched wail that rises and falls

How can I tell if my babe isn't getting enough to swallow?

Your infant's mood will often be the first indicator. If your little 1 isn't getting enough to eat, he might cry, fuss or suck on his fingers even after a full feeding. (Go along in listen that these could too be signs of colic or gas, though.)

Some other signs that your babe isn't eating plenty and may need more than:

  • Likewise few moisture or dirty diapers. Infants should have at least vi wet diapers within a 24-hour period, and the urine should be stake yellow. Equally for bowel movements? Breastfed newborns should have at to the lowest degree 5 poop diapers within 24 hours, and formula-fed newborns should take at to the lowest degree iv.

  • Little or no weight gain. The average newborn gains 4 to seven ounces per week, so if your baby is gaining less, he may not exist getting plenty to consume. The pediatrician tin help y'all figure out whether your babe's growth is on rail.

If you suspect that your babe isn't eating plenty, permit the pediatrician know. He or she tin can decide whether your baby has an underlying feeding issue (similar a mouth, natural language or palate problem or GERD) and assist yous figure out a healthy feeding program for your little one.

How can I tell if I'thousand feeding my baby too much?

Babies are good cocky-regulators — they tend to consume when they're hungry and cease when they're satisfied. Simply it's yet possible for infants to accept a little likewise much, peculiarly if they're beingness bottle-fed, since it takes less work to drink from a bottle than from the breast.

Babies who've overeaten might come away from a meal with stomach pains or gas, or they may spit-up or even vomit. Overfeeding can likewise up the risk for obesity after in life, but just because your baby is on the bigger side at present doesn't mean he's eating likewise much.

Nevertheless, information technology'south a good idea to talk with your baby's pediatrician if y'all're worried about his eating habits.

Figuring out how much milk to give your babe can feel a piffling overwhelming. But have heart in knowing that your niggling ane tends to be skilful at getting what she needs, so follow her lead while keeping the general guidelines in mind. You'll settle into a comfy routine before long — and become a baby feeding pro.