How much should newborns eat?

Even when babies no longer act hungry, some parents worry about whether all of their nutritional needs are being met. Every baby is different. Learn how much and how often your baby will likely breastfeed during the first days, weeks, and months of life.

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 Much Should Breastfed and Formula-Fed Babies Eat?

Whether your little one is breastfed, formula-fed or a combination of both, figuring out how much they  should be eating can feel overwhelming. The good news is that babies tend to be really good at letting you know when they’re ready to eat, eating when they’re hungry and stopping when they’re full. 

How Much and How Often to Breastfeed

As babies grow, their bellies also grow. Your baby will gradually be able to drink more breast milk at each feeding. Over the first few weeks and months, the time between feedings will start to get longer. On average, most exclusively breastfed will feed about every 2 to 4 hours. Some babies may feed as often as every hour at times, often called cluster feeding. Or may have a longer sleep interval of 4 to 5 hours.

How often do newborns eat?

Your newborn will nurse about 8 to 12 times per day during the first weeks of life. In the beginning, mothers may want to try nursing 10–15 minutes on each breast, then adjust the time as needed. Breastfeeding should be on demand (when your baby is hungry), which is generally every 1–3 hours. As newborns get older, they’ll nurse less often and have longer stretches between feedings. Newborn babies who are getting formula will likely take about 2–3 ounces every 2–4 hours. Newborns should not go more than about 4–5 hours without feeding.

Some signs that your baby may be hungry include: 

• moving their heads from side to side
• opening their mouths
• sticking out their tongues
• placing their hands and fists to their mouths
• puckering their lips as if to suck
• nuzzling against their mothers’ breasts
• crying

Signs that your newborn is getting enough to eat

A baby who is fussing, crying, seems hungry, does not appear satisfied after feeding, and has fewer wet diapers may not be getting enough to eat. If you’re concerned that your baby isn’t getting enough to eat, call your doctor. Most infants “spit up” a small amount after eating or during burping, but a baby should not vomit after feeding. Vomiting after every feeding might be a sign of an allergy, digestive problem, or other problem that needs medical care. If you have concerns that your baby is spitting up too much, call your doctor.