Newborns typically need to eat every 2 to 3 hours, or 8 to 12 times per day during their first few weeks
. It is important to feed newborns on demand, meaning when they show signs of hunger like moving hands to their mouth, sucking on fists and fingers, lip smacking, or turning their head to look for the breast
. Feeding patterns for newborns:
- Breastfed newborns should nurse 10 to 15 minutes on each breast every 1 to 3 hours
- Formula-fed newborns typically eat every 2 to 4 hours, taking in about 2 to 3 ounces
. A general recommendation is to give a newborn 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of their body weight daily
During the first week, a newborn may want to feed every hour, but will eventually have longer, less frequent feedings after a few days
. After the first few days, babies generally need about 0.5 to 1 ounce per feeding, increasing over time
. By the time they are one month old, babies typically need at least 4 ounces per feeding
