Feeding schedule for 4 month old breastfed baby

3- and 4-month-old feeding schedules

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At 3 and 4 months old, babies are still eating frequently throughout the day but are capable of going for longer stretches at night. Breastfeeding parents can expect their baby to continue to eat often, anywhere from eight to 12 times a day. If you're formula-feeding your little one, they'll be ready for 4- to 6-ounces bottles six to eight times a day. As your baby grows out of the newborn stage, you may notice them starting to develop a more predictable schedule for feeding, sleep, and play.

Photo credit: iStock.com / Hiraman

At 3 and 4 months old, your baby may be naturally falling into a schedule. You can encourage them by adding more consistency to their days. Keep their naptimes, mealtimes, and bedtime routine about the same from day to day. Babies are awake and alert more now, making it a good time to start getting them on a more predictable schedule.

It can be a big help to see what other moms and dads are doing. Below, you'll find several sample schedules based on those of real parents and reviewed by a pediatrician on our Medical Advisory Board.

As you're creating a schedule for your baby, here are a few things to keep in mind:

The schedule for a formula-fed baby may look different than the schedule for a breastfed baby. At 3 to 4 months old, your formula-fed baby will have around 32 ounces of formula each day over five to eight feedings of 4 to 6 ounces each. (See whether your baby is getting enough formula.)
If you're breastfeeding, your baby will eat five to eight times a day, every two or three hours. (Here's how to tell whether your baby is getting enough breast milk. )
By focusing on longer feedings every three to four hours during the day, you can start encouraging your baby to sleep for longer stretches at night. Babies can go through the night without a feeding as early as 3 months, but it more commonly happens later, around 5 or 6 months

Sample 3-month-old feeding schedule

7 a.m.: Nurse.

8 a.m.: Daycare drop off; playtime.

9:45 a.m.: 4 ounces of expressed breast milk.

10 a.m.: Naptime. (Mom pumps at work.)

12 p.m.: Playtime.

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12:45 p.m.: 4 ounces of expressed breast milk.

1:30 p.m.: Naptime. (Mom pumps again.)

2:30 p.m.: Playtime.

4 p.m.: 4 ounces of expressed breast milk. (Mom pumps again.)

4:30 p.m.: Naptime.

5:15 p.m.: Daycare pickup.

5:45 p.m.: Playtime.

6:30 p.m.: Nurse.

6:45 p.m.: Playtime and tummy time.

7:30 p.m.: Nurse, then bedtime routine.

12 a.m.: Nurse.

4 a.m.: Nurse.

Sample 4-month-old feeding schedule

5 a.m.: Nurse, then back to sleep.

7 a.m.: Nurse and back to sleep again.

9 a.m.: Wake up.

10 a.m.: Nurse, then tummy time and playtime.

12 p.m.: Naptime.

2 p.m.: Nurse.

2:30 p.m.: A walk in the stroller.

3 p.m.: Short nap.

4 p.m.: Nurse.

5 p.m.: Playtime.

7 p.m.: Bedtime routine – bath, read a few books and sing a lullaby.

7:30 p.m.: Nurse and bedtime.

1 a.m.: Nurse, then back to bed.

Tips for feeding your 3- or 4-month-old

You may be breastfeeding exclusively, pumping and breastfeeding, exclusively pumping, formula-feeding, or supplementing with formula. No matter how you're feeding your 3- to 4-month-old baby, here are some tips for helping it go smoothly.

If you're breastfeeding, continue to nurse or pump often to keep your milk supply up. Offer both breasts at each feeding to keep signaling to your body that it needs to make enough milk to keep up with your baby's hunger.
It's hard to overfeed a breastfeeding baby, but at 3 to 4 months it's also okay to encourage them to go for slightly longer stretches between meals. By focusing on longer feedings, you can fill their belly and try to avoid your baby "snacking" all day long.
Eat plenty of nutritious foods to keep yourself fueled for feeding your baby. Breastfeeding moms need more calories (450 to 500 extra calories each day), and dieting can decrease your milk supply.
If your baby is nursing exclusively but you're ready to introduce a bottle, it can sometimes be a challenge. Here are some tips for giving your breastfed baby a bottle.
If you're exclusively pumping and you notice a sudden drop in milk supply, try power pumping. The idea is to pump frequently over an hour to increase supply. One commonly suggested power pumping schedule is pump for 20 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes. You can power pump once or twice a day.
Practice paced bottle feeding if your baby is drinking formula or breast milk from a bottle. By feeding your baby in a more upright position and taking regular breaks to burp them, you allow them more control over how quickly and how much milk or formula they drink.
Keep your bottle-fed baby safe from foodborne illness by practicing safe bottle feeding. Wash your bottles thoroughly between feedings and be sure you're storing formula safely. Expired or compromised formula can be dangerous for babies, so double-check the label before feeding your baby from a new container of formula.

Learn more:

Your 3-month-old baby's growth and development
Your 4-month-old baby's growth and development
3-month-old sleep guide
4-month-old sleep guide
When can my baby start sleeping through the night?

Mary Sauer

Mary Sauer is a freelance parenting and health writer living in Kansas City. She is a mom of four and loves to hike with her kids, read, and knit. Cooking a complicated meal her kids probably won't eat is one of her favorite pastimes.

4 Month Old Feeding and Sleep Schedule

With over 10 years of experience as a sleep consultant, we share sample 4 month old sleep schedules with feedings. These sample schedules include milk feedings for breastfeeding and formula-feeding babies, solids, naps, and nighttime sleep.

4 Month Old Baby’s Sleep and Development

Pediatricians disagree high and low about when a baby is capable of sleeping through the night and only a handful of parents who reach this page will have a 4 month old who sleeps all night without even a single feeding (those that do are LUCKY!).

Most 4-month-olds need 11-12 hours at night and 3-4 hours during the day. And, many 4-month-olds are still eating 1-2 times a night and some naps are just 30 minutes. In addition, most 4 month olds will take 4 naps a day. Consequently, short naps are normal development at this age as it’s highly unusual for babies to take four 1-hour naps.

At this age, if you are not lucky enough to have a baby who sleeps through the night, many 4-month-olds are still waking 1-3 times to eat at night and many breastfeeding babies will continue to eat 1-2 times until 9+ months of age. On the other hand, formula-fed babies will often be night-weaned by 6 months old. More night feedings than that and likely you have a sleep association problem.

How Many Naps for a 4 Month Old?

Most 4-month-old babies take 4 naps each day totaling 3-4 hours of sleep. The reason for so many naps is primarily because babies this age can’t stay awake longer than 1-2 hours at a time. 4 month old wake windows are still short. Therefore, t’s still common to spread out daytime sleep among multiple sleep periods. However, some babies this age can stay awake longer and drop the fourth nap transitioning to a 3-nap schedule early.

4 Month Old Wake Windows

The typical 4-month old wake window is 1 to 2 hours with the first wake window being one of the shortest. Sometimes, that first wake window is just 75 to 90 minutes.

When Your 4 Month Old’s Sleep Gets Worse

If your baby has recently started sleeping worse, you may want to read more about 4 month old baby sleep. Keep in mind that one of the biggest sleep challenges families face around 4 months is the 4 month sleep regression. During this time period, babies change their sleep permanently and will wake up frequently at night and take shorter naps.

Obviously, all babies vary, but here are some sample (loose) schedules you can use to make your own for your unique baby. Most babies, at this age, can’t be on a strict schedule because many babies are still taking shorter naps while their brain matures and they simply can not stay up very long to get to the next scheduled nap-time. So, at this age, it’s likely naps are still on the short side, but come frequently and every day will still likely be different.

Don’t worry, that will change!

Babies typically transition to just 3 naps around 6 months or 7 months.

If you’re having trouble with naps, you might be interested in helping your baby nap better.

4 Month Old Feeding

Breast milk or formula should be the primary nutrition for the first year and solids come secondary. Below are the amounts we recommend if your pediatrician recommends solids before 6 months, the age at which most are recommending now. For more information on starting your baby on solid food, we have a series of blog posts dedicated to the subject. We include recommendations about how and when to start solids, as well as helpful information on food allergies, recommended products, baby-friendly recipes, and more.

Average amounts per day:

• At least 5-6 breastfeeding sessions per day or 2 1/2 ounces formula for each pound of weight (approx. 20-30 ounces) (decrease solids if your baby is not taking in at least this much)

• Water is unnecessary (breast milk and formula have plenty of water in them).

And, if your pediatrician recommends solids this young (it is now recommend at 6+ months):

• Up to 1-2 servings baby cereal (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons dry)
• Up to 1-2 servings fruit (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons)
• Up to 1-2 servings vegetable (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons)

Note: With your doctor’s approval and guidance, you will start with just one teaspoon of solids (before mixing w/ breast milk or formula) and work your way up. Don’t forget to wait at least 3-4 days before introducing a new food for food allergy reasons.

“Thank you for your articles, they’ve shown me that my 4 month old baby is perfectly normal and I’m doing the right things in relation to his sleep. This is such a relief! So many sources just don’t seem to give realistic information about baby sleep – not for myself or for any other mum I know.

Great care has obviously been taken by The Baby Sleep Site in reflecting a realistic and true picture of what a ‘normal’ baby is. Thank you.”
-Sincerely, Elizabeth

This schedule assumes a baby can stay up 1 hour 15 minutes before needing to sleep again. At this age, wake-time should be 1-2 hours TOPS, to avoid baby getting overtired.

4-Month-Old Sleep Schedule
Time	Activity
6:30 AM	Wake and Breast milk or Formula
7:15 AM	Solids (Only if your pediatrician has recommended starting this early)
7:45	Nap
8:15-8:45	Breast milk or Formula
9:45-10:00	Nap
10:45-11:15	Breast milk or Formula
11:45-12:00	Nap
1:15-1:45	Breast milk or Formula
2:00	Nap
3:45-4:15	Breast milk or Formula
4:45	Nap
5:45	Begin bedtime routine
6:00	Breast milk or Formula
6:15	Bedtime (Goal to be asleep at this time)

+Plus probably 1-3 nighttime feedings

Note: This schedule follows the eat-play-sleep routine, however, it is sometimes hard to do at this age when the amount of time between naps is not long enough and your baby wakes too early from his nap because of a feeding.

Want more information about how to help your 4 month old sleep well? Check out our detailed case study about Nadia, Brad, and their 4 month old, Abigail.

Abigail’s Story

Read how they helped Abigail learn to sleep longer stretches at night and take better naps – and how they helped to change those sleep associations that were keeping her awake! Just join our VIP Members Area, and access the case study instantly. And that’s not all – our VIP Members Area is packed with additional premium content and resources: e-Books, assessments, more case studies, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! And best of all, members receive 20% of all consultation services – should you need more help!

Want FREE sleep help that you can put to use right away? Download a copy of our free guide, 5 Ways To Help Your Child Sleep Through The Night! The guide is available to download instantly, which means you can start using the techniques in it as early as tonight. So download now, and learn why your baby is waking at night – and what you can do about it.

Click here to learn more about how to get your free guide.

A better night’s sleep could be just a few clicks away. So don’t wait – download now, and start your journey to better sleep tonight!

You May Also Be Interested In:

The 4 Month Sleep Regression: What It Is and How To Fix It
Which Sleep Coaching Method Fits? (Members Area quiz)
Abrupt Changes In Sleep Habits (Members Area article)
4 Month Sleep Regression Checklist

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Struggling with your baby’s sleep? We can help. Since 2008, we have helped thousands of families around the world with their babies' sleep problems, and we can help you, too! Tap into 10+ years of experience and take a look at our consultation packages to see which one looks like a good fit for you.

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Need Baby and Toddler Sleep Help? We Have the Resources You Need!

For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.

Or, join our VIP Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a VIP member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant. And the best part – members receive 20% off all sleep consultation services!

How to introduce complementary foods while breastfeeding: Monthly chart

Reviewer Kovtun Tatyana Anatolievna

34941 views

24 November 2021

Before every parent one day the question arises - how to introduce complementary foods for months and do it right?

When to start complementary foods

The question of the timing of the introduction of complementary foods is still debatable. Over the past decades, doctors have agreed that the introduction of complementary foods with any type of feeding should be started at 4-6 months. However, the principle of an individual approach to each child remains unshakable in the organization of complementary foods. There are quite a few factors that affect the age of the first complementary foods. Therefore, before giving your baby new products, you should consult a pediatrician ^{[1, 2]} .

The order of introduction of products is also determined individually. So, for example, porridge is recommended to be administered first with a lack of body weight. If the baby's weight is normal or in excess, it is better to start with vegetable puree. However, these recommendations should be based only on the opinion of the pediatrician.

Which products should be preferred: ready-made or homemade

Experts answer this question as follows: let's say any option, depending on the individual conditions, developmental characteristics and health status of the baby, the capabilities and desires of the family. However, the decision must also be made after consultation with your pediatrician. Industrial products have a number of advantages. Firstly, for their preparation only safe raw materials are used, which pass all the necessary checks and quality control. In addition, for the manufacture of baby food, technologies are used that meet all hygienic standards. Secondly, when developing their composition, the required level of grinding is taken into account. Thirdly, specialists who are responsible for safety are involved in the manufacture of complementary foods. nine0005

Where to start complementary foods

Dairy-free cereals

For the first acquaintance with grain products, rice or buckwheat baby porridge is suitable. It is better to give preference to cereals of industrial production. Despite the great desire of parents to cook porridge on their own, it must be understood that during cooking, cereals can lose a number of important nutrients. Instant cereals, that is, soluble, are distinguished by the fact that during their production the substances necessary for a small organism are preserved. In addition, the required degree of grinding is taken into account and observed at the baby food production plant. nine0005

Vegetables

It is better to start complementary foods with one-component puree of broccoli, cauliflower or courgettes ^[1] . All these products should be introduced in turn, observing the reaction. If the baby has taken well one type of vegetable, you can offer another, gradually expanding the diet. Experts recommend starting a child's training in vegetables with industrial baby purees. This approach guarantees the safety of the first complementary foods, because their production undergoes a multi-stage test. The FrutoNyanya baby puree contains only natural vegetables, without the addition of starch, salt or preservatives. nine0005

Breastfeeding complementary feeding chart by month

These recommendations are generalized and do not take into account the individual characteristics of each child, so the exact scheme and timing of the introduction of complementary foods should be checked with your pediatrician.

nine0053 - nine0053 five nine0053 1-3

_{* without vegetable raw materials added not for first foods * according to indications from 6 months ****added to vegetable puree}
Product names (g, ml)	4–5 months	6 months	7 months nine0054	8 months	9-12 months
vegetable puree	10 - 150	150	150	150	150
Porridge	10 - 150 nine0054	150	150	180	200
Meat puree of industrial production*/boiled meat	-	5–30/ 3–15	40–50/ 20–30	60–70/ 30–35 nine0054	80–100/ 40–50
Fruit puree**	5 - 50	60	70	80	90-100
Cottage cheese (not earlier than 5.5 months)***	-	-	10-40	50
Yolk (pcs. )	-	-	¼	½	½
Fish puree nine0054	-	-	-	5-30	30-60
Fruit juice	-	-	-	5-60	80-100 nine0054
Kefir and other non-adapted dairy drinks for children	-	-	-	200	200
Baby biscuits	-	3	five	five
Wheat bread, crackers	-	-	-	five	10
Vegetable oil****	five	five	6	6
Butter*****	1-3	four	four	five	five nine0054

General rules for the introduction of complementary foods

Complementary feeding schedule - the age of introduction, the type and amount of products - should be determined by the pediatrician. Only a doctor can develop an individual scheme for the first feeding for a baby by months, because he knows about the features of the growth and development of the baby. nine0271
Complementary foods should be introduced gradually, ½ tsp in the first half of the day, before the main feeding for 5–7 days, increasing the volume in accordance with the age norm. After mastering one type of complementary foods, you can proceed to the next.
The first complementary foods should be puree-like consistency. Gradually, the dishes should become thicker, and by 8-10 months, pieces may appear in them.
It is better to introduce new products in the morning, so it is easier to follow the reaction of the baby during the day. After the first “tasting”, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the skin, stool and evaluate the general behavior of the child. If everything is in order, then the body has accepted a new product and you can continue to adapt to it. It is recommended to keep a food diary. nine0271
You need to offer the child complementary foods from a spoon, after checking the temperature of the food - it should correspond to body temperature. During the trial of new products, the baby should be seated in high chair (if the baby is already sitting well). It provides an anatomically correct posture for eating.
If the child is breastfed, after each feeding during the introduction of complementary foods, it is recommended to apply it to the breast. This will help maintain lactation. nine0271

List of sources

1. The program for optimizing the feeding of children in the first year of life in the Russian Federation: guidelines / FGAU "NMIC of Children's Health" of the Ministry of Health of Russia. — M.: b. i., 2019. - 112 p.

2. Borovik T. E., Skvortsova V. A., Netrebenko O. K. Complementary foods in infant nutrition // Pediatrics. Journal them. G. N. Speransky. 2008. No. 4.

Reviewer Kovtun Tatyana Anatolievna nine0005

Scientific adviser to PROGRESS JSC, candidate of medical sciences

All expert articles

Complementary foods in 4 months | Useful tips from the Tyoma brand

It is well known that the ideal time to introduce complementary foods is between 4 and 6 months of age. The presence of a child's teeth or the ability to sit are not signs of a child's readiness for complementary foods. It is important that the baby does not have a reflex of pushing the spoon with his tongue, and he can swallow food thicker than breast milk or formula well. nine0005

The pediatrician will help determine the exact start date for complementary foods, and in most cases this is the golden mean of 5-5.5 months. But there are situations when complementary foods need to be started from 4 months, including even a child who is exclusively breastfed.

In what cases are complementary foods introduced from 4 months?

The child is not gaining weight well or is lagging behind in physical development.
The child has functional digestive disorders (regurgitation, constipation). nine0271
The mother has little breast milk or it is poorly absorbed.
The child has a reduced appetite or is not digesting formula well.
The child has signs of iron deficiency (anemia).
The child has a pronounced food interest: he watches with interest the food of adults, reaches for food.
The child stopped eating formula and began to demand food more often. nine0271

How to start complementary foods at 4 months?

The first product of complementary foods, regardless of the age and type of feeding of the baby (breast or artificial), should be energy-intensive foods: either porridge or vegetable puree. Porridge can be chosen first if the child has loose or unstable stools, and also if the child is underweight. After 4-5 days from the beginning of the introduction of porridge, butter can be gradually added to it (up to 5 g per serving of porridge in 150 g) nine0005

Mashed vegetables can be the first meal of the day if a child is prone to constipation, when it is better to choose zucchini, which can have a mild laxative effect on the child's stool. Starting from the 4-5th day of the introduction of vegetable puree, vegetable oil can be gradually added to it (up to 5 g per serving of vegetables in 150 g).

What foods can be introduced into the diet of a child at 4 months?

Kashi

Of the first cereals, it is better to give preference to buckwheat or rice. They must be dairy-free and can be diluted with water or breast milk, or the mixture that the baby eats. Later, you can introduce corn and oatmeal. nine0005

Vegetables

The first vegetable puree can be zucchini, broccoli, or cauliflower.

Fruit

The third type of complementary food can be fruit puree from apples or pears. Later, you can introduce mashed banana or apricot. At first, fruit puree can not be given to the child separately, but it is better to mix it with cereal or vegetables so that the child does not begin to prefer the sweet taste of fruits. When the amount of fruit puree reaches 50 g or more, it can also be given separately, for example, after the child has eaten porridge or for an afternoon snack. nine0005

Juices

Juices should not be the first feeding, in addition, they can not be introduced into the baby's first year of life at all, given their sweet taste and low nutritional value.

Can you make your own first meal?

You can prepare the first complementary foods yourself, but it is safer to use hypoallergenic monocomponent cereals or commercially produced purees prepared to high quality standards for baby food. In addition, it is important to consider that industrially produced baby cereals are often fortified with vitamins and minerals, which makes them especially useful for the first feeding. nine0005

How to start the introduction of a new product?

Complementary foods are introduced before breastfeeding or formula. The introduction of a new product should be gradual. But how is it?

On day 1, give your baby 1 tsp. complementary foods before breastfeeding or formula
On day 2 - 3 tsp. (15 g)
On day 3 - 6 tsp. (30 g)
Day 4 - 50 g
Day 5 - 70 g nine0271
Day 7 - 100 g
For 8-10 days - bring to 150 g.

Please note that if complementary foods are introduced from 4 months, then the introduction of 1 new product may take longer than the introduction of complementary foods from 5 or 6 months, namely up to 10 days or more, depending on the reaction of the baby.

Important!

If on the 8-10th day of the introduction of a new product, the baby still cannot eat 100-150 ml of porridge or puree at once, then this amount can be divided into 2 or even 3 doses, for example, give 50 ml of porridge in the morning, 50 ml in the afternoon and 50 ml in the evening. Why do this? So that the child gradually gets used not only to the new product, but also to its quantity. In the future, you need to try to gradually increase the one-time amount of the product to the age volume.