Is Your Baby Gaining Enough Weight?
How often should a baby eat?
A breastfed newborn usually eats seven to 12 times every 24 hours. As your milk comes in fully and your baby becomes more efficient at nursing, the frequency of feeds may drop to six to 10 times every 24 hours. During growth spurts (usually around three, six and nine weeks of age), a baby’s appetite increases and you’ll probably find yourself feeding her more frequently.
If your baby is formula fed, she will typically drink one half to two ounces per feed in the first few days, and then two to three ounces per feed by the first month. A good rule of thumb is that a baby will drink (in ounces) twice her age in months (so a two-month-old typically drinks four ounces during a feed, while a three-month-old drinks six ounces, etc.).
By age three to six months, a nursing baby may feed six to eight times every 24 hours (sometimes more or less). If you’re supplementing with formula, time and amounts at the breast may drop. A baby will also likely nurse less once you start solid foods.
