How to Know How Often to Feed a Newborn

Every newborn will want to eat at different times. Generally, newborns will eat 8 to 12 times in a 24 hour period. They will usually have their own signs to help you determine when they are hungry. If a newborn is crying you can always try feeding them to see if that was the problem. There are a few things you can look for when deciding if your newborn is hungry or not.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

How to Know How Often to Feed a Newborn

1. Look for cues from your newborn. One cue may be that his or her eyes are open and has their hand near their mouth and making sucking motions. This is one of the first cues your newborn will give you to tell you they're hungry.
2. Listen for the type of cry your baby makes when he or she is hungry. It may sound a little different than other cries they have. This may take a few weeks for you to learn, but it will help you know what your baby is asking for. Crying is a late cue from your baby to tell you its hungry and if you're able to pick up on his or her earlier cues they won't cry.
3. Look out for rapid eye movement when your baby is sleeping. This is also an early cue for hunger and can be very helpful when your baby is sleeping more often. Even if a newborn isn't fully awake, he or she will probably start to nurse when you put her to your breast.
4. Remember that breast milk will digest quicker than formula. Therefore, if you're breastfeeding your baby they may want to eat more frequently than other children that are being fed with formula.
5. Don't watch a clock to determine when to feed your baby. Your baby will have their own schedule that you will need to go by. A newborn that is only a few days old will want to sleep more than eat, but they will let you know when they're hungry.

Tips & Warnings

• Your baby will know when they're hungry or not. If they spit up after a feeding -- don't worry. This is just their stomach emptying what it doesn't need.
• While spit up is common, if your baby vomits and it shoots out, this may be a sign of a bacterial infection and you should speak to your doctor.