A newborn should be fed on demand, typically every 2 to 3 hours, which amounts to about 8 to 12 feedings in a 24-hour period
. Feeding frequency may be as often as every hour in the first few days, especially if the baby shows signs of hunger such as rooting, sucking on hands, or fussiness
. Key points about newborn feeding frequency:
- Most newborns feed every 2 to 3 hours, both day and night
- Newborns should not go more than about 4 to 5 hours without feeding
- Feeding on demand means feeding whenever the baby shows hunger cues, rather than strictly following a schedule
- In the first few days, babies may feed very frequently, sometimes every hour, and gradually settle into a pattern of 8 to 12 feedings per day
- Parents are often advised to wake newborns to feed if they sleep longer than 4 to 5 hours, especially in the first weeks
Summary:
Newborns typically eat every 2 to 3 hours, about 8 to 12 times daily, feeding
on demand according to hunger cues. They should not go longer than 4 to 5
hours without feeding, especially in the early weeks
