A Complete Guide To Your Baby Feeding Schedule
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Every parent knows that even something as simple and easy as keeping your baby fed is a huge ordeal when they are just a few months old. A newborn needs to feed every hour or so which can make the nursing process time consuming and exhausting. Sometimes, it can be easy to feel like you don’t have time for anything else but filling up bottles or breastfeeding. This is why it’s always smart to come up with a baby feeding schedule. This way you can keep track of how often you need to feed the baby, when you need to feed them and how much. All of these factors are greatly influenced by the age of your baby. And even one month can make a huge difference. So do you want to know how to make the perfect feeding schedule for your baby? Then this is the article for you. Read on to know more!
What Is A Baby Feeding Schedule?
The concept of a baby feeding schedule is quite straightforward. It’s a plan that outlines how you will manage all your baby’s feedings throughout the day and night, which can be quite frequent, especially with a newborn. During the first few months, you should feed your baby whenever they’re hungry, and they’ll communicate their hunger in various ways, not just by crying. It’s essential to follow your child’s cues rather than trying to adhere to a rigid time-based schedule that may not suit their needs. This approach is commonly referred to as “demand feeding” or “feeding on-demand.”
Although your infant can’t use verbal communication to express their hunger, there are several non-verbal signs and cues to watch for, indicating they’re ready to be fed. Here are a few of these signs:
Your baby may exhibit any combination of the following hunger cues:
- Bringing their hands to their mouth or sucking their fingers
- Turning their head in search of the breast or a bottle
- Squeezing their lips, licking, or smacking them
- Clenching their hands
- Opening and closing their mouth actively
- Nuzzling or putting their head on the mother’s chest while being held
- Becoming unusually alert and active, which may lead to extended periods of wakefulness
- Pulling up their legs
- Squirming around restlessly
By observing your baby’s behavior between feeding sessions, you can become more adept at recognizing the hunger signals they are conveying.
How Often You Should Feed Your Baby
It’s crucial to recognize that each child is unique, making it challenging to establish a precise feeding schedule. Additionally, the type of milk your baby consumes, whether breast milk or formula, can influence their feeding frequency. For those exclusively breastfeeding, feeding intervals may range from every hour and a half to three hours initially. As your baby matures, their nursing frequency is likely to decrease and become more consistent. If your baby is being fed formula, they might require a bottle every two to three hours initially. With their growth, they should eventually be able to extend the time between feedings to three to four hours.
How Much To Feed The Baby?
Newborn To 2 Months
During the first few days after birth, it’s perfectly normal for your baby to consume approximately half an ounce of milk or formula at each feeding. This amount will gradually increase to 1 to 2 ounces, and by the time your little one reaches 2 weeks of age, they should be drinking about 2 to 3 ounces per feeding.
2 To 4 Months
Between 2 to 4 months of age, your baby’s feedings should consist of approximately 4 to 6 ounces per session. Despite their steady growth, they continue to rely entirely on breast milk or formula for their nourishment and hydration.
4 To 6 Months
At 4 months, your baby’s feedings should remain at around 4 to 6 ounces per session. By the time your baby reaches 6 months of age, they will be able to consume up to 8 ounces per feeding. Towards the end of their sixth month, you can gradually introduce your baby to a tablespoon of water, providing a refreshing addition to their regular diet.
Making sure you’re feeding your baby often and enough can be frustrating and worrying. That’s why it’s important to come up with a schedule to keep you on track. This way you’ll know exactly when your baby wants to be fed and how much. Happy parenting!
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