2 months baby feeding quantity

How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?

By: Sanjeev Jain, MD, FAAP

One of the most common questions new parents have is how often their baby should eat. The best answer is surprisingly simple: in general, babies should be fed whenever they seem hungry.

How do I know when my baby is hungry?

For babies born prematurely or with certain medical conditions, scheduled feedings advised by your pediatrician are best. But for most healthy, full-term infants, parents can look to their baby rather than the clock for hunger cues. This is called feeding on demand, or responsive feeding.

Hunger cues

A hungry baby often will cry. But it's best to watch for hunger cues before the baby starts crying, which is a late sign of hunger and can make it hard for them to settle down and eat.

Some other typical hunger cues in babies:

Licking lips
Sticking tongue out
Rooting (moving jaw and mouth or head in search of breast)
Putting his/her hand to mouth repeatedly
Opening her mouth
Fussiness
Sucking on everything around

It is important to realize, however, that every time your baby cries or sucks it is not necessarily because he or she is hungry. Babies suck not only for hunger, but also for comfort; it can be hard at first for parents to tell the difference. Sometimes, your baby just needs to be cuddled or changed.

General guidelines for baby feeding

It is important to remember all babies are different―some like to snack more often, and others drink more at one time and go longer between feedings. However, most babies will drink more and go longer between feedings as they get bigger and their tummies can hold more milk:

Most newborns eat every 2 to 3 hours, or 8 to 12 times every 24 hours. Babies might only take in half ounce per feeding for the first day or two of life, but after that will usually drink 1 to 2 ounces at each feeding. This amount increases to 2 to 3 ounces by 2 weeks of age.
At about 2 months of age, babies usually take 4 to 5 ounces per feeding every 3 to 4 hours.
At 4 months, babies usually take 4 to 6 ounces per feeding.
At 6 months, babies may be taking up to 8 ounces every 4 to 5 hours.

Most babies will increase the amount of formula they drink by an average of 1 ounce each month before leveling off at about 7 to 8 ounces per feeding. Solid foods should be started at about 6 months old.

Concerns about overfeeding or underfeeding your baby

Too full?

Babies are usually pretty good at eating the right amount, but they can sometimes take in more than they need. Infants who are bottle feeding may be more likely to overfeed, because drinking from a bottle may take less effort than breastfeeding.

Overfed babies can have stomach pains, gas, spit up or vomit and be at higher risk for obesity later in life. It's better to offer less, since you can always give more if your baby wants it. This also gives babies time to realize when they're full.

If you are concerned your baby wants to eat all the time―even when he or she is full―talk with your pediatrician. Pacifiers may be used after feeding to help sooth healthy-weight babies who like to suck for comfort, rather than nutrition. For babies who are breastfed, it's best to wait to offer pacifiers until around 3 to 4 weeks of age, when breastfeeding is well-established.

Trouble gaining weight?

Most babies will double their birth weight by 5 months of age and triple their birth weight by their first birthday. If your baby is having trouble gaining weight, don't wait too long between feeding―even if it means waking your baby. Be sure to talk with your pediatrician about how often and how much to feed your baby.

How do I know if my baby is getting enough to eat?

Daily diapers

A newborn's diaper is a good indicator of whether he or she is getting enough to eat. In the first few days after birth, a baby should have 2 to 3 wet diapers each day. After the first 4 to 5 days, a baby should have at least 5 to 6 wet diapers a day. Stool frequency is more variable and depends whether your baby is breastfed or formula fed.

Growth charts

During regular health check-ups, your pediatrician will check your baby's weight and plot it on a growth chart. Your baby's progress on the growth chart is one way to tell whether or not they are getting enough food. Babies who stay in healthy growth percentile ranges are probably getting a healthy amount of food during feedings.

Remember

Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns about your baby getting the right amount to eat.

More information:

Making Sure Your Baby is Getting Enough Milk
Amount and Schedule of Formula Feedings
Is Your Baby Hungry or Full? Responsive Feeding Explained (Video)
Remedies for Spitty Babies
Ask the Pediatrician: With the baby formula shortage, what should I do if I can't find any?
Ask the Pediatrician: How should we feed our baby if we're running low on money?
Airplane Choo Choo: A Feeding Guide for Children (National Dairy Council)

About Dr.

Jain:

Sanjeev Jain, MD, FAAP, is a Clinical Associate Professor of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Within the American Academy of Pediatrics, he is a member of the Section on International Child Health and the Wisconsin State Chapter.

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings

In the first week after birth, babies should be eating no more than about 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 ml) per feed.
During the first month, babies gradually eat more until they take 3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 ml) per feed, amounting to 32 ounces per day. Formula-fed babies typically feed on a more regular schedule, such as every 3 or 4 hours. Breastfed babies usually take smaller, more frequent feedings than formula-fed infants.

If your baby sleeps longer than 4 to 5 hours during the first few weeks after birth and starts missing feedings, wake them up and offer a bottle.

By the end of the first month: Your baby will be up to at least 3 to 4 ounces (120 mL) per feeding, with a fairly predictable schedule of feedings about every 3 to 4 hours.
By 6 months: Your baby will consume 6 to 8 ounces (180–240 mL) at each of 4 or 5 feedings in 24 hours.

Formula feeding based on body weight

On average, your baby should take in about 2½ ounces (75 mL) of infant formula a day for every pound (453 g) of body weight. But they probably will regulate their intake from day to day to meet their own specific needs, so let them tell you when they've had enough. If they become fidgety or easily distracted during a feeding, they're probably finished. If they drain the bottle and continues smacking their lips, they might still be hungry.

There are high and low limits, however. If your baby consistently seems to want more or less than this, discuss it with your pediatrician. Your baby should usually drink no more than an average of about 32 ounces (960 mL) of formula in 24 hours. Some babies have higher needs for sucking and may just want to suck on a pacifier after feeding.

On-demand feeding

Initially it is best to feed your formula-fed newborn a bottle on demand, or whenever they cry with hunger. As time passes, your baby will begin to develop a fairly regular timetable of their own. As you become familiar with their signals and needs, you'll be able to schedule their feedings around their routine.

Eating & sleeping patterns

Between 2 and 4 months of age (or when the baby weighs more than 12 lb. [5.4 kg]), most formula-fed babies no longer need a middle-of-the-night feedings. They're consuming more during the day, and their sleeping patterns have become more regular (although this varies considerably from baby to baby). Their stomach capacity has increased, too, which means they may go longer between daytime feedings—occasionally up to 4 or 5 hours at a time.

If your baby still seems to feed very frequently or consume larger amounts, try distracting them with play or with a pacifier. Sometimes patterns of obesity begin during infancy, so it is important not to overfeed your baby.

Getting to know your baby's feeding needs

The most important thing to remember, whether you breastfeed or bottlefeed, is that your baby's feeding needs are unique. No book―or website―can tell you precisely how much or how often they need to be fed or exactly how you should handle them during feedings. You will discover these things for yourself as you and your baby get to know each other.

More information

How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?
Making Sure Your Baby is Getting Enough Milk
Is Your Baby Hungry or Full? Responsive Feeding Explained (Video)
Remedies for Spitty Babies

Last Updated: 5/16/2022

Source: Adapted from Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 7th Edition (Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Pediatrics)

How much should a newborn eat: feeding chart

0-6 months

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As soon as the long-awaited event has happened and the baby is born, the mother is faced with many questions. One of the most frequently asked: how to feed and how much should a newborn eat? Indeed, this is a very important point, since a properly selected and debugged diet allows the child to grow and develop harmoniously, promotes good health and strengthens the immune system. How to calculate the norm for a baby from the first days of life to a year?

8 min. for reading Feb. 17, 2022

Calculated norms

1. The first month of life

As soon as the baby is born, it is immediately brought to the mother's breast to feed. This helps to strengthen the immunity of the baby and stimulates lactation in the mother. During this period, there is still no milk in the breast, but there is a very nutritious transparent sweetish liquid - colostrum. It is released in the first two or three days after birth and supplies the child with all the necessary substances. To eat, the baby needs a few drops: on the first day of life, the small stomach holds only 7 milliliters. On the second day of life, the baby begins to eat more often. It needs to be fed on demand or every two to three hours, while the baby eats within 10-20 milliliters at one time. Thus, per day the norm will be approximately 90 milliliters. Starting from the third day after birth, the mother actively produces breast milk, the volume of which increases as the child grows. In the first week of life, the baby should eat from 50 to 80 milliliters of milk at a time, and 400 milliliters per day. At two weeks of age, the daily ration should be 20% of the weight of the newborn, and closer to a month - about 600 milliliters. It is important to note that these figures are approximate. Each baby needs its own, certain amount of milk or mixture, depending on individual characteristics: height, weight, mother's milk quality, calorie content of the mixture and the rate of development of the baby.

See also: Breastfeeding: the first steps after childbirth

2. From one to four months

Every day the baby grows, gains weight and increases its daily portions of milk. Having reached the month, the baby is already eating 90-100 milliliters six to seven times a day. After one month, the norms become as follows:

At two months, the child should eat from 120 to 150 milliliters at a time. The daily norm, therefore, is 700-800 milliliters.
A three-month-old baby should eat between 150 and 180 milliliters. In this case, it is recommended to observe the frequency of feeding no more than six to seven times a day.
From the fourth month, babies need 180-210 milliliters of milk or infant formula. The average amount per day is not less than 1/6 of the baby's weight.

3.Five-six months

A six-month-old child normally eats 210-240 milliliters at a time, and the total amount of food per day should be 1/7 of body weight, or 800-1000 milliliters. Also, if there are no contraindications, complementary foods are introduced from six months.

4. From seven to twelve months

During this period, a single portion of breast milk for a baby ranges from 210 to 240 milliliters. At the same time, the average amount per day is not less than 1/8 of the child's body weight. Vegetable, fruit and meat purees, dairy-free and milk porridges are introduced into the diet (if the baby is not allergic to cow's milk proteins).

Below is a table that describes in detail the daily intake of a newborn for each age up to a year.

How much breast milk should a newborn eat: table

Child's age	The amount of milk eaten per feeding, ml	The amount of milk eaten per day, ml
3-4 days	20–60	200–300
1 week	50–80	400
2 weeks	60–90	1/5 weight of child
1 month	100–110	600
2 months	120-150	800
3 months	150–180	1/6 child weight
4 months	180-210	1/6 child weight
5-6 months	210-240	1/7 child's weight (800-1000)
7-12 months	210-240	1/8 weight baby

Important!

Remember that every child is unique, has individual characteristics and needs. Therefore, slight deviations from the standard indicators are quite possible.

Not enough breast milk or not at all: what to do

When a baby cries after waking up, he is hungry. Modern doctors do not advise mothers to maintain any strict feeding schedule. If the mother gives the baby a breast when he asks, and the baby eats for her own pleasure and at the same time sleeps soundly and well, smiles and is not naughty, then she is full and completely satisfied.

But if the baby cries and sleeps badly, then perhaps he does not have enough milk. In this case, check if the baby is eating his age norm, and try to keep track of this indicator in the future. Found that you don't have enough breast milk? Do not worry, it is better to immediately consult a doctor. The specialist will help you find a way to support milk production and improve lactation.

If you cannot solve the problem and normalize lactation, consult a pediatrician and find the right supplemental formula for your child. With strict observance of all the doctor's recommendations, instructions for preparation and dosages indicated on the package, the mixture makes it possible to compensate for the lack of breast milk and provide the baby with the necessary amount of nutrients.

Important!

Even if you don't have enough breast milk to fully meet your baby's needs, try to remain on partial breastfeeding for as long as possible. After all, the ideal food for a child is mother's milk.

Norms and stages of introduction of complementary foods

As a rule, complementary foods are introduced at the age of six months. Before you start exploring new products, you should consult with your pediatrician. In general, different types of food are introduced in stages, starting with very small portions.

1.First step - vegetables

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the best product to start with is a one-component vegetable puree, such as zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower or potatoes. If everything goes well, you can try pumpkin, carrot, pea and tomato puree a little later.

It takes seven to ten days to fully introduce the product into the baby's diet. We start with half or a whole teaspoon once a day until breastfeeding. If there are no allergic or other adverse reactions, you can continue the introduction of this product, gradually increasing the dose to a full serving - 100-150 grams.

2. The second stage - cereals

After the introduction of vegetable puree, we recommend diversifying the baby's menu with cereals. For acquaintance, it is better to choose liquid one-component gluten-free cereals, for example, rice or buckwheat. Then you can add oatmeal or semolina.

The initial portion of porridge is half or one teaspoon. Gradually increase the portion to a full - 150 grams.

3. The third stage — fruits

We also start complementary foods with one-component low-allergenic purees, such as apple, pear, plum, banana. These products are not only tasty, but also contain vitamins and minerals necessary for the child.

Fruit purees are also introduced with caution, starting with half or a whole teaspoon. Gradually, the portion increases to 100-150 grams.

Find out more: Gerber Baby Food: Puree Range

4.Stage Four - Meat

Meat is an essential product for development, rich in iron and protein, which is well absorbed in the body. It is introduced in the form of a homogeneous one-component puree from dietary turkey, rabbit, chicken, veal or lamb.

At the beginning we give a try - half or one teaspoon, over time we bring the portion to 60 grams.

5. The fifth stage - new tastes

After the successful introduction of the above products, the baby forms a full-fledged varied menu. So you can introduce the young gourmet to new flavors that could previously provoke an allergy: multi-component purees, fruit and cereal cocktails, children's snacks, pieces of fresh fruits and vegetables.

See also: Introduction of complementary foods to children with food allergies

See also: Baby nutrition at 7 months: making a menu for the baby

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Breastfeeding: benefits for the baby, health for the mother 12 rules of healthy nutrition for children Baby does not eat well, how to feed?

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Daily routine of a child at 2 months: development, sleep, feeding

03/21/2019

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At 2 months your baby is not the same as it was only 4 weeks ago. The baby becomes more active, his sense organs develop, his sleep and wakefulness change. We tell you what you need to consider when shaping the daily regimen of two-month-old children on breastfeeding and artificial feeding.

Night sleep

By 2 months, you will notice that your baby's sleep patterns have begun to change. The biological rhythms of the baby continue to form, and the duration of night sleep gradually increases. The child will begin to go into the night earlier - at 22.00-23.00 hours. But for the time being, bedtime is not as important as whether the baby gets enough sleep. Many children sleep around 9-10 hours at night with awakenings for feeding. How long you should be between night feeds is best discussed with your pediatrician. The time of the morning rise is also not yet constant and not always at 7 in the morning.

Daytime sleep

The duration and time of daytime naps are still different, as well as the time of wakefulness between them. In general, a two-month-old baby sleeps approximately 4-5 hours during the day. And sleep segments are now usually from 30-40 minutes to an hour. During the day, the child sleeps from 4 to 6 times - depending on the time of getting up and leaving at night.

Baby can be active for up to 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes. But you should not allow overwork and focus also on the signs of fatigue and the duration of the previous sleep.

If a two-month-old baby calms down, loses interest in surrounding objects, starts rubbing his eyes, directs his eyes to one point, for no reason starts to get nervous and ask for food, then he wants to sleep and it's time to go to bed.

How many hours of sleep do you need in general? A newborn needs 14-16 hours of sleep a day.

By this age, you already understand the baby better, and it will be easier to follow a more or less understandable schedule. Although the exact daily routine has not yet been organized.

Why can a two-month-old baby not sleep?

If bedtimes are prolonged and it is difficult for the child to fall asleep during the day, the causes of sleep disturbances should be found out and, if possible, eliminated:

At this age, the baby begins to be distracted by the surrounding objects, so be sure to darken the room. Darkness will help calm the baby and set him to sleep. This is especially important if you have trouble falling asleep in the evening. From 2.5 months, the sleep hormone melatonin begins to be produced. Therefore, remember that bright light destroys it, and darkness, on the contrary, contributes to the formation of melatonin in the child's body.
At 2 months, the senses are actively developing in babies. Now the child reacts to any rustle. And those sounds that he did not notice before can now wake him up during sleep. The use of a white noise generator will help here to protect the baby from extraneous noise. It is not recommended to buy special white noise toys that are placed in the crib, as this is unsafe.
Even an extra 5-10 minutes can affect the child's well-being this month and lead to more overwork. If this happens, use different ways to calm the baby and put him to bed.

Now is the time to introduce a ritual that will help set the baby up for sleep. Daily repetition of activities facilitates the process of falling asleep and improves night sleep. Start by bathing, lightly massage your baby, swaddle, feed in dim light, walk with your baby upright to ease spitting up.

At the end, read a story or sing a lullaby. Separating feeding and falling asleep will help your baby learn to fall asleep on his own in the future, not relying only on the breast. Gradually, food will become part of the ritual, and not the only way for the child to fall asleep.

Sleepy, but awake, put the baby in the crib, stroking the head and tummy if necessary.

If it’s hard to adjust the baby’s sleep and routine on your own, come to the Club REGIME FROM A TO Z.

How to avoid confusion between day and night

When you are awake, take your baby outside, turn on the lights and open the curtains. Let the child be surrounded by familiar everyday sounds while playing.

Avoid bright lights at night, feed and change diapers with minimal light if possible. If the baby wakes up at night, be quiet and do not play with him.

In the table you will find the norms of sleep and wakefulness of a child at 2 months

Feeding and daily routine of a child of 2 months

The daily routine of a 2-month-old baby on breastfeeding and on artificial feeding is almost the same. The only difference is the feeding schedule. Since the mixture is digested more slowly, meals will be less frequent. The feeding regimen should be discussed with the doctor observing the child. As in the case if the baby was born prematurely or does not gain weight.

At two months, the number of attachments with natural feeding during the day is about 6-9, at night - from 2 to 4 times. For a two-month-old baby, about 800-900 ml is enough. milk or 700-750 ml. mixture per day. The menu should not include other fluids while breastfeeding. Feeding on demand usually occurs at 2 months for 15-20 minutes.

A baby of the second month of life has a need for contact with the outside world. He begins to be distracted by environmental stimuli during breastfeeding and eats less milk or formula during the day than he needs. Have you noticed this with your child?

Therefore, offer breasts during sleep and after waking up. And during feeding, retire with the baby in a quiet place, darken the room so that nothing distracts the baby, and offer him the breast in a calm environment.

Baby development at 2 months

At this age, babies develop a reflex that makes them look at their outstretched arms when they wave them. The child gets used to his body and learns it. Surely, your baby loves to take his fingers in his mouth and touch his legs with his hands! And now you will notice the first smile - smile and you will respond in order to establish contact with the child.

A 2-month-old baby turns its head to sounds, follows objects with its eyes, holds its head and starts pushing with its arms while on its stomach.

2 months - a period of active development of strength, balance and coordination of the child, which is important for the formation of motor skills of the baby.

During waking hours it is useful to walk in the fresh air with the baby, communicate and play with the child.⠀

Continue to use the developmental mat that you can hang toys on. Place them around so your baby turns his head, follows them and reaches for them. Or read picture books so that the baby also actively follows the story with his eyes.