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

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

The adept news is that babies tend to be really good at letting you know when they're gear up to eat, eating when they're hungry and stopping when they're full.

So with a niggling scrap of cognition on your part, you can larn to tell when it's time to offer a repast, how much milk your niggling ane needs and whether he's getting the right amount.

How much should my breastfed baby eat?

Breastfed babies should eat equally ofttimes and as long as they desire, according to the American University of Pediatrics (AAP). Most newborns nurse every two to 3 hours, counting from the beginning of each nursing session. That adds up to around 8 to 12 feedings a twenty-four hour period.

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

As for how much he should beverage during each nursing session? Again, there's no right or wrong answer. Merely you can generally expect your newborn to nurse for 20 to 30 minutes per feeding.

It's fourth dimension to end the session when your baby lets go of the nipple, or when his sucking pattern slows down to four sucks per swallow. (That's a sign that he'southward probably just condolement sucking and not actually drinking anymore.)

Another thing to keep in mind: It'south totally normal for your picayune one to occasionally want to nurse nonstop. Called cluster feeds, these bursts of hunger tend to coincide with growth spurts. It can feel like all y'all're doing is nursing, simply just follow your baby'south lead — and know it'll probably simply last for a day or ii.

All About Breastfeeding

How much should my formula-fed infant swallow?

There's no single number that works for everyone. The amount your formula-fed babe eats will depend on his weight, age and appetite (which tin vary from i day to the adjacent, just like yours does).

As a rule of thumb, infants nether 6 months who oasis't yet started solids will take in ii to two 1/2 ounces of formula per pound of trunk weight within a 24-hour catamenia. (That'southward 20 to 25 ounces per 24-hour interval for a 10-pound infant.)

Your babe will need to eat more frequently in the beginning, but his feedings will space out more as he gets older and his stomach gets bigger.

Here'south a general idea of how much formula your canteen-fed baby volition take:

  • During the outset few weeks: i to three ounces of formula every three to four hours (closer to 2 to 3 ounces a feeding after the first few days or week). Wake your infant for a feeding if he sleeps longer than five hours.

  • By the showtime calendar month: At least 4 ounces every iv hours.

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

Still, keep in listen that every infant is different, and so pay attending to your fiddling one'south cues.

If your baby is all the same showing hunger signs after finishing a canteen, offer more. If he seems antsy or distracted before the bottle's empty, he'south probably had enough, then don't forcefulness him to finish information technology.

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

Combination feeding doesn't have to be complicated. You tin adapt the basic guidelines for breastfeeding and formula-feeding based on your baby'due south historic period. Paying attention to his hunger and fullness cues tin can help you figure out the right rhythm too. If y'all're still unsure most amounts, your infant's pediatrician tin can offering more guidance.

How much breast milk or formula should I give my babe afterwards starting solids?

Breast milk or formula should make upwards the bulk of your infant's nutrition until he's a year one-time. But every bit he starts eating more than solid food, the amount of chest milk or formula he drinks will slowly taper off. Specific amounts are different for every baby, of class, just here are some basic rules of thumb:

  • 6 months: Nurse v to six times a day for a full of 24 to 36 ounces of breast milk, or offer 4 to five bottles a twenty-four hours with 6 to 8 ounces of formula each.

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

  • eight months: Nurse four to six times a day for a full of 24 to thirty ounces of breast milk, or offer three to 5 bottles a day with 7 to viii ounces of formula each.

  • 9 months: Nurse four to vi times a day for a total of 24 to 30 ounces of breast milk, or offering 3 to four bottles a day with seven to 8 ounces of formula each.

  • 10 months: Nurse four times a day for a total of 24 to 30 ounces of chest milk, or offer three to four bottles a solar day with 7 to viii ounces of formula each.

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

  • 12 months: 24 ounces (or less) of chest milk or formula a twenty-four hour period, edging closer to sixteen ounces by your baby's first birthday.

Baby eating nautical chart

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

how much should baby eat chart, baby eating chart

Signs baby is hungry

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

  • Nuzzling against your breasts

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

  • Opening his mouth

  • Showing the rooting reflex — turning his head to the side with his mouth open, oftentimes later on his cheek is stroked

  • Sucking on his lip or natural language, which might look like he's sticking his natural language out

  • Smacking his lips

  • Crying, often with a curt, depression-pitched wail that rises and falls

How can I tell if my baby isn't getting enough to eat?

Your baby's mood will often be the offset indicator. If your niggling one isn't getting enough to consume, he might cry, fuss or suck on his fingers fifty-fifty later on a full feeding. (Continue in heed that these could also exist signs of colic or gas, though.)

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

  • Too few wet or muddy diapers. Infants should have at to the lowest degree six moisture diapers inside a 24-hour period, and the urine should be stake yellow. As for bowel movements? Breastfed newborns should have at least five poop diapers within 24 hours, and formula-fed newborns should take at least four.

  • Fiddling or no weight gain. The boilerplate newborn gains 4 to 7 ounces per week, and so if your baby is gaining less, he may non be getting enough to eat. The pediatrician tin can help you figure out whether your baby's growth is on runway.

If you lot doubtable that your infant isn't eating plenty, let the pediatrician know. He or she can decide whether your infant has an underlying feeding outcome (similar a oral cavity, natural language or palate problem or GERD) and help you figure out a good for you feeding plan for your little one.

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

Babies are good self-regulators — they tend to eat when they're hungry and stop when they're satisfied. Merely information technology's still possible for infants to have a little too much, especially if they're being 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 fifty-fifty vomit. Overfeeding can also up the take a chance for obesity later in life, but just because your baby is on the bigger side now doesn't mean he'southward eating too much.

Nevertheless, it'due south a good thought to talk with your baby's pediatrician if you lot're worried about his eating habits.

Figuring out how much milk to requite your baby can feel a little overwhelming. But take centre in knowing that your piffling one tends to be good at getting what she needs, then follow her lead while keeping the general guidelines in mind. You'll settle into a comfortable routine soon — and become a baby feeding pro.