When you first bring your newborn home from the hospital, it seems like all she wants to do is eat. And in fact, she eats every two to three hours or more during those first few weeks. The question of how often to feed your baby during the first year depends on whether you're breastfeeding or using formula, as well as your child's routine. There is no "one-size-fits-all" answer when it comes to feeding babies.
Breastfed Babies Under 4 Months
Because mother's milk is more easily digested in a baby's stomach, a breastfed baby needs to eat more frequently than a formula-fed one. Pediatricians recommend nursing your newborn on-demand -- every time your infant shows signs of hunger, such as sucking on her hands or crying -- for a total of eight to 12 times a day during the first month. As your baby starts sleeping longer at night, fewer overnight feedings are necessary. The total number of feedings drops to between six and eight times a day through 4 months of age. A child who sleeps for longer stretches at night needs more feedings during the day than a baby who wakes frequently to nurse.
Formula-Fed Babies Under 4 Months
Parent-led schedules -- as opposed to on-demand feedings -- are easier for formula-feeding parents because they can see exactly how much formula a baby consumes at any given meal. Bottles between 4 to 6 oz., given every three to four hours, are appropriate for formula-fed babies under 4 months of age, with the size of the bottles increasing and the frequency of the feedings decreasing as the child grows. The exact time of these feedings depends on your child's nighttime sleep pattern.
Introducing Solid Foods: 4 to 6 Months
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life before introducing other foods, although some research suggests starting solid foods at 4 months of age is appropriate. Whenever you choose to start solid foods, they should not replace breast milk or formula as your baby's primary source of nutrition. Introduce solids by giving your baby a small amount of rice cereal after your nurse her or she has had her bottle. As your child ages, give her small amounts of first foods during mealtime; many parents do this at dinner in hopes of getting their baby to sleep longer at night, but there's no research to back this up. Your baby still needs 24 to 36 oz. of breast milk or formula daily. Since your child should be sleeping longer at night, she'll get most of this milk during about four daytime feedings.
Mastering Solid Foods: 7 to 12 Months
Once your baby is comfortable eating basic solid foods, introduce more complicated flavors and textures. A 7-month-old needs 24 to 32 oz. of breast milk or formula each day. He'll eat solid foods two times a day, while a 12-month-old eats solids three times a day. At this point, his solid food needs match up with standard mealtimes, so you can feed him at breakfast, lunch and dinner along with the rest of the family.
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Breastfeeding Initiatives
- "British Medial Journal"; Six Months of Exclusive Breast Feeding: How Good Is the Evidence?; Mary Fewtrell, et al; January 2011
- KidsHealth: Feeding Your 1- to 3-Month-Old; August 2008
- BabyCenter: Sample Baby Sleep, Feeding and Play Schedules for Your Child's First Year
